Home Network

I am not a network guru for starters. I have built a few home networks using
NAT and Windows 2000 Server before. Now I am in a new place and have three
computers running Windows XP. I have a cable modem hooked into a D-Link
wired and wireless router which is using NAT. In addition I have Zone Alarm
pro on each compter. I would like to share files and a printer between all
three. I used the XP Network wizard and it recommend not to set up a network
in this fashion since it would be insecure. The wizard recommend i use one
XP computer to share connections with the other. Does anyone have any
thoughts on this? I would rather not use connection sharing and I do not
want to setup a server.

Chris

If your D-Link router has a built in firewall, I wouldn't
hesitate to bypass the whole ICS thing. Even running Zone
Alarm behind the firewall is probably overkill, unless
you're worried about someone placing an infected floppy in
one of the LAN machines.

You should be good to go, just remember to open the ports
for file and print sharing on Zone Alarm.

Good luck!

>-----Original Message-----
>I am not a network guru for starters. I have built a few
home networks using
>NAT and Windows 2000 Server before. Now I am in a new
place and have three
>computers running Windows XP. I have a cable modem hooked
into a D-Link
>wired and wireless router which is using NAT. In addition
I have Zone Alarm
>pro on each compter. I would like to share files and a
printer between all
>three. I used the XP Network wizard and it recommend not
to set up a network
>in this fashion since it would be insecure. The wizard
recommend i use one
>XP computer to share connections with the other. Does
anyone have any
>thoughts on this? I would rather not use connection
sharing and I do not
>want to setup a server.
>
>Chris
>
>
>.
>

chrisbe wrote:
> I am not a network guru for starters. I have built a few home
> networks using NAT and Windows 2000 Server before. Now I am in a new
> place and have three computers running Windows XP. I have a cable
> modem hooked into a D-Link wired and wireless router which is using
> NAT. In addition I have Zone Alarm pro on each compter. I would like
> to share files and a printer between all three. I used the XP Network
> wizard and it recommend not to set up a network in this fashion since
> it would be insecure. The wizard recommend i use one XP computer to
> share connections with the other. Does anyone have any thoughts on
> this? I would rather not use connection sharing and I do not want to
> setup a server.

You know, I ran through the wizard because this didn't sound right to me.
Presumably you told XP that the Internet and home network connection was
shared via a Hub? Thats the way I managed to get this warning.

The problem here isn't a real lack of security, rather that the XP system
doesn't know that your hub is really a broadband router that supports NAT
between the local network and the internet, so its assuming (and warning
you) that there is no protection. You can safely ignore this warning. Think
of it as more of a comment from your computer that "You'll have to secure
the internet connection yourself, I can't do it for you". This of course is
where the configuration settings for the DLink come into play.


--
--
Rob Moir
Microsoft MVP for servers & security
http://www.robertmoir.co.uk
"802.11bofh - the *other* power over ethernet standard"