New to networking, wireless/firewall? AntiVirus?

Hi All: After two days of the world's most aggrevating process, incuding a couple of hours on the phone with D-link and a couple of hours on the phone with MSFT, I finally have a network of two computers that can see each other, share files and my DSL internet connection. Both computers are running XP Home.

I had Zone Alarm Pro on the now host computer, the client computer has not had internet capabilities until this network installation.

On advice from MSFT tech, I uninstalled Zone Alarm. Tech says no longer needed as D-Link wireless access point would stop any incoming hackers. As a matter of fact, Zone Alarm was the major stumbling block in getting the two computers networked. But I sure would like a second opinion on this as I have been mislead by MSFT tech support before.

My second question is about anti virus. I have Norton installed on the host computer. Does the client computer need anti virus as a separate installation, or can the program be shared?

The same question applies to other programs installed on the host computer. Will those programs run on client? If so, is it a matter of sharing the program file?

I'm sure as time passes, I'll have other questions, but answers to these two will go a long way toward my comfort level in sharing the internet connection.

Thanks in advance for any advice, this board is just GREAT.

Martin

PS: If prizes were awarded for deceptive advertising, D-Link's "works right out of the box" would be a hands down winner.

 

martinr121,

First of all, yes, you will need separate antivirus software on both systems. I would assume that any software would need to be installed on each system also. When I networked my systems, I just installed everything on both. I'm sure there are certain files that the system needs installed to run the program effectively.

As far as Zone Alarm, I have read both sides of that. Personally, all I have is my router for a firewall. If anyone cracks into my systems, they will be disappointed. Nothing worthwhile there!

Mike

 

Hi there MinnesotaMike: Thanks a lot for your response. Ok for you Northerners to talk to Rebel country??

What you are telling me is pretty much what I thought re: anti virus and progrms. As a matter of fact, I just finished installing NAV on client machine.

Firewall question because if somebody hacks this machine, it could cause me a lot of trouble. I just hope the hardware firewall is enough protection.

I am just about ready to start rebuilding an Aptiva 2153E3U, Not that it doesn't run great, cause it does, Just no expansion slots, well, one PCI and one ISA.

What OS is your Dell running?

 

martinr121,

As long as we don't do it too often!

Good luck with your 2153 project. What plans have you for it? Thanks for the OS request on my Dell. Didn't even realize that I left that out. It runs XP.

Mike

 

martinr121 - the firewall part depends entirely on which device you are using as your router/switch.

Some have a dedicated and full-featured firewall included. Most do not. The ones that do not will often say that NAT (network address translation) provides adequate protection. It really does not.

Either you have a device that includes a real firewall or (most likely) the tech is just a little confused.

 

I have Zone Alarm Pro. I have it on my "host" computer which is running ICS (Internet Connection Sharing). I have a client PC connected to it. The client PC can access the Internet through my host PC.

-Richard

 

More than confusing, downright un-understandable. So many opinions, so many options.

Well, here goes an attempt to explain:

Three computers running XP Home.

I have a D-Link 614 wireless access point. My host computer is connected by wire to this device.

The D-link wireless access point is connected to a Speed Stream DSL modem, running ADSL.

I have two client computers which each have D-link 520+ PCI cards.

I had (and am still having, but that's another story) difficulty in setting up the wireless network. In phone tech support session with MSFT, disabling Zone Alarm Pro enabled the wireless network connections to function.

Tech said since I now have the wireless router, it is a hardware firewall and no other firewall should be neccessary.

Although I uninstalled Zone Alarm, I have it on CD and can reinstall it quickly if you folks tell me it is needed. I guess the wireless network could be put in the trusted zone If I can identify it.

Thanks for your help.

 

Newt: since nobody else seems to have asked, what kind of fish is that you are holding and what did it weigh? A little background please!

 

Channel cat of around 25 lbs caught this summer on the Red River near the Lockport dam in Canada. One of (we lost count) from 15-26 lbs we caught during a wonderful week up there.

And as far as the firewall issue, load ZA and use it. The hardware firewall (assuming there really is one) is probably inbound only (so spyware could easily phone home once it had sneaked in. The hardware firewall, unless it is a top end variety, is probably a "port open / port closed" device. ZA has some smarts built in and even a port you have open to allow needed traffic isn't just open. ZA checks traffic in thru that port to see if it seems legit for that port and will warn you of stuff that may be a problem.

It also isn't unheard of to have techs speak of NAT as if it were a firewall. It is not. It helps but ......

You can certainly set ZA so that it will totally ignore your local PCs.

 

Thanks for the response, must have been a lot of fish dinners, sorry I wasn't there!!!

Ok, next question, should Zone Alarm be installed on each pc on the network?? Seems like it should be, yes??

Martin

 

Catch & release on all the fish.

Firewall on each PC.