How to Configure LinksysWRT54G Wirelss Router

A neighbor of mine has a Dell Dimension 8100 computer with windows XP Pro,
ZAPRO, NAV 2006, and BoClean installed. She has just moved to a new house
and I was able to set successfully connect the modem and the desktop
computer for
DSL.

She has a Linksys WRT54G wireless (v5) router that she would like to use.
She has a desktop computer and a Dell laptop. My suggestion will be to
hardwire
the desktop computer to one of the four ports on the Linksys router and then
connect the modem to the Linksys on the internet side. My question is
as follows:
a. If the computer is hardwired (cat 5 cable) to the Router, will I have
to setup any security features in the Router before using it to connect to
the internet,
or just power up the modem, router, and then the desktop computer? I am
looking for the security benefit of the router for the desktop. She does
not plan
to use the desktop in a wireless mode. I am trying to find out as much
information on the internet as possible about setting up the router, but
still having trouble understanding the procedure setup for a hardwire setup
and a
wireless setup.

b. Once I get the desktop working okay for about a week, I will then try
to setup the wireless feature for the laptop. I am reading and trying to
understand some downloaded internet material about the wireless feature of
the
router. However, my most immediate concern is to get the desktop working
with the router for
security purposes.

Thanks for any help, Sam.

"Sam" <samnewsgrp71@REMOVE THISsbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:G8t0g.69242$(E-Mail Removed) et...
>A neighbor of mine has a Dell Dimension 8100 computer with windows XP Pro,
> ZAPRO, NAV 2006, and BoClean installed. She has just moved to a new house
> and I was able to set successfully connect the modem and the desktop
> computer for
> DSL.
>
> She has a Linksys WRT54G wireless (v5) router that she would like to use.
> She has a desktop computer and a Dell laptop. My suggestion will be to
> hardwire
> the desktop computer to one of the four ports on the Linksys router and
> then
> connect the modem to the Linksys on the internet side.

Yeah that's correct.

> My question is
> as follows:
> a. If the computer is hardwired (cat 5 cable) to the Router, will I
> have
> to setup any security features in the Router before using it to connect to
> the internet,
> or just power up the modem, router, and then the desktop computer? I am
> looking for the security benefit of the router for the desktop. She does
> not plan
> to use the desktop in a wireless mode. I am trying to find out as much
> information on the internet as possible about setting up the router, but
> still having trouble understanding the procedure setup for a hardwire
> setup and a
> wireless setup.

You better setup security for the wire/wireless AP router straight off as it
doesn't make any difference wire or wireless connection. Someone can join
the network on the wireless side and attack any machine wire or wireless on
the LAN.

>
> b. Once I get the desktop working okay for about a week, I will then
> try
> to setup the wireless feature for the laptop. I am reading and trying to
> understand some downloaded internet material about the wireless feature of
> the
> router. However, my most immediate concern is to get the desktop working
> with the router for
> security purposes.

Here are some basic tips.

http://netsecurity.about.com/cs/wire...aa112203_2.htm

If you want to protect the machine, then go where your supposed to go and
that's to the O/S and harden it to attack.

http://labmice.techtarget.com/articl...ychecklist.htm

Duane

"Sam" <samnewsgrp71@REMOVE THISsbcglobal.net> wrote:
>DSL.

What Duane said, plus a few notes:

> a. If the computer is hardwired (cat 5 cable) to the Router, will I have
>to setup any security features in the Router before using it to connect to
>the internet,
>or just power up the modem, router, and then the desktop computer?

DSL usually requires setting up PPPoE username and password, so it may
not be that easy. Cable modem usually is that easy.

>b. Once I get the desktop working okay for about a week, I will then try
>to setup the wireless feature for the laptop. I am reading and trying to
>understand some downloaded internet material about the wireless feature of
>the
>router. However, my most immediate concern is to get the desktop working
>with the router for
>security purposes.

One option would be to disable the wireless portion of the router
until you are ready to enable the appropriate security. That said
it's not really rocket science, just set up your own SSID, turn on WPA
with a non-dictionary passphrase, change the admin password, and you
are done.

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 15:11:34 GMT, in alt.internet.wireless , "Sam"
<samnewsgrp71@REMOVE THISsbcglobal.net> wrote:

> a. If the computer is hardwired (cat 5 cable) to the Router, will I have
>to setup any security features in the Router before using it to connect to
>the internet,

Certainly set up the firewall, if its not already enabled.

Mark McIntyre
--

To Duane, William, and Mark, many thanks for your replies. The neighbor of
mine has found the CD that came with the Linksys and I was able to make a
copy of the users guide to study!! So at least now I have some direct
information that I can work with. Thanks again and have a good week, Sam.

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <6Bz0g.2166$(E-Mail Removed)> on Sun, 16 Apr 2006
22:31:30 GMT, "Sam" <samnewsgrp71@REMOVE THISsbcglobal.net> wrote:

>To Duane, William, and Mark, many thanks for your replies. The neighbor of
>mine has found the CD that came with the Linksys and I was able to make a
>copy of the users guide to study!! So at least now I have some direct
>information that I can work with. Thanks again and have a good week, Sam.

FYI, User Guides are usually available on manufacturer websites for free
download.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR ALT.INTERNET.WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FAQ_for_alt.internet.wireless>