Firewall Settings - Norton and/or D-Link Router

Thanks to Newt and the folks over on the Networking Forum, my home network is up & running. It took the purchase of a router/switch [D-Link DI-604] and turning off my firewall to get the network to communicate... BUT it's working. Two PCs = Win2K box and a WinXP Home box via D-Link / Dial-up Internet (so the D-Link is operating as a switch only)

My goal is to share some folders and the individual printers on both PCs.​

Here are the questions:
1) Should I use the D-Link firewall or Norton's firewall?
2) If I use the D-Link, how should it be configured?
2a) If I use Norton, how should it be configured?
3) Can the two be used in tandem?

THANKS for your ideas and suggestions!

 

With only the switch piece of the router/switch in use I'm really not sure if the hardware firewall on the D-link would be effective. Note - it might be; I really just don't know.

If it is, you can certainly use both at the same time. Firewalls don't fight like AV apps would so no problems using 2 or 3 or 10. But the setup is more trouble than it would be worth. Especially with dial-up connections I'd say just use the Norton product on both PCs.

I seem to remember that with the Norton firewall you can set to allow any and all traffic from specific IP addresses. In that case you want to set it for the addresses of your PCs so each will be wide open to the other PC. Otherwise just normal settings to keep out bad stuff from the rest of the world.

 

Newt, DOH! I didn't think this through before posting the query. The router/switch will only have an effect between the two PCs. Since traffic is not routed directly from the Internet to the second PC AND I'm not sharing the Internet connection between PCs, there is nothing the hardware firewall would handle in that regard.

OK, so on to Norton. The settings are fairly straight forward, but I'm weary of Low, Medium, High settings as blanket coverage. I chose Medium (Block trojan like activity), but I'd like to be more specific if possible.

If anyone knows how to nail this down a bit more, please let me know. THANKS! I love Windows BBS -- everyone is so helpful.

[PS to Newt - I live in NC, too. I think you're in the western part of the state. I live about an hour from Wilmington. Planning to head westward in July -- for a mission trip to the Spruce Pine area.]

 

Can't help you with specifics on Norton settings but can on my location. I'm in Concord which touches Charlotte on it's NE corner. So south central part of the state. I like your area better but jobs for me are more common here. Ah well.

I moved here from Elizabeth City and have to tell you we all really appreciated Wilmington folks for their willingness to trap hurricanes and take the damage instead of us.