After installing Tableau Server on a Windows system, you find that the server is not accessible from client machines in the network. What should be your first step in troubleshooting this network accessibility issue?
A. Reinstalling the network drivers on the Windows server hosting Tableau Server
B. Checking the Windows server's firewall settings to ensure the necessary ports for Tableau Server are open
C. Upgrading the client machines to a compatible operating system version
D. Configuring a static IP address for the Windows server hosting Tableau Server
B. Checking the Windows server's firewall settings to ensure the necessary ports for Tableau Server are open
Explanation:
Why B is Correct?
Firewall blocking ports is the most common cause of Tableau Server inaccessibility after installation.
Tableau Server requires specific ports (e.g., 80/HTTP, 443/HTTPS, 8850/TSM) to be open for client connections.
Windows Firewall (or third-party firewalls) often blocks these by default.
Tableau’s Port Requirements Documentation lists critical ports to verify.
Why Other Options Are Less Likely First Steps?
A. Reinstalling network drivers: Rarely needed unless there’s evidence of driver corruption (e.g., no network access at all).
C. Upgrading client OS: Irrelevant—client OS compatibility doesn’t prevent server access.
D. Static IP address: Helpful for stability but doesn’t resolve connectivity if ports are blocked.
Reference:
Tableau’s Firewall Configuration Guide.
Final Note:
Start with B—firewall issues account for ~80% of post-install access problems. If ports are open but issues persist, then investigate IP/DNS (D) or drivers (A).