Problem Networking w/McAfee Firewall Enabled

Greetings,
I have three wired Windows XP machines that were previously networked
and file/printer sharing successfully using a Belkin router and
w/McAfee Firewall enabled. Recently bought a wireless laptop (also
Windows XP) and a new Linksys WRT54G wireless router.The problem is
that each of my three wired machines and the wireless laptop are all
recognized by the router and each is able to access the internet, but
my LAN is non-existent unless I first disable McAfee's Firewall which
I'd prefer not to do. I'm confused as it worked for Belkin, but not
Linksys. I'd prefer NOT to leave the firewall disabled. Does anybody
have a workaround for this? TIA!!!

Jim Conway wrote:
> Greetings,
> I have three wired Windows XP machines that were previously networked
> and file/printer sharing successfully using a Belkin router and
> w/McAfee Firewall enabled. Recently bought a wireless laptop (also
> Windows XP) and a new Linksys WRT54G wireless router.The problem is
> that each of my three wired machines and the wireless laptop are all
> recognized by the router and each is able to access the internet, but
> my LAN is non-existent unless I first disable McAfee's Firewall which
> I'd prefer not to do. I'm confused as it worked for Belkin, but not
> Linksys. I'd prefer NOT to leave the firewall disabled. Does anybody
> have a workaround for this? TIA!!!
>

What do you mean here?

Either you know about setting rules on the PFW/host based packet filter
(McAfee) to allow traffic on the Windows Networking ports that's 137-139
UDP and 445 TCP for LAN IP(s) or you don't.

Either McAfee has an automatic setting that allows those rules to be
enabled to open the WNP(s) or it doesn't.

So what did you do in the past with the PFW to allow those ports to be
open with McAfee using the other router.

Surely, you had to do something.

Duane

Gee Duane, thanks for obfuscating things further for me....

I merely took my already configured and firewall protected PC's and
physically moved them from one router to another. Sounds like the
Linksys has conflicts the Belkin didn't.

Jim Conway wrote:
> Gee Duane, thanks for obfuscating things further for me....
>
> I merely took my already configured and firewall protected PC's and
> physically moved them from one router to another.


> Sounds like the Linksys has conflicts the Belkin didn't.
>

I doubt it. The Windows Networking Ports are the networking ports and if
they are open on the PFW then they are open on the PFW and it makes no
difference what is being used to provide the networking.

It could be a hub, switch, gateway computer, router, FW appliance or
what brand name is being used that's providing the networking. It's all
the same when it comes to networking with the devices providing plumbing
for the LAN.

You should think about it. If the networking with the router is working
when you drop the PFW(s), then the router has nothing to do with it.

The router is not the issue and you should be concerned as to why things
are not working when the PFW(s) are active as it seems the PFW(s) are
doing the blocking of traffic between the machines and the router has
nothing to do with it, unless you're posting mis-information.

Now, if you drop the PFW(s) and things are not networking, then you may
have a case with the router and protocols being used in the NIC(s). But
that doesn't seem to be the case. ;-)

Duane