Question:
How
What
Do I require to set up my IT stuff at home as a wireless network?
I have 2 desktops and a laptop...can you also link printers?
Cheers
Pete
Answers:
In brief you need a router and wireless networking cards and if you wanted you can get a dedicated printer router as well.
It is fairly easy to do but there are teething problems associated so don't get disheartened at times.
Whats your budget?
Answers:
Dark-Forces,
Thanks for the post, would idealy like to do this as cheaply as possible!
Would however like to get a reliable router n stuff as am running a smal business of 1 desktop at the moment and thus cant afford for it to be out of action
Any further advice would be gratefully accepted
Regards
Pete
Answers:
I can recommend "Belkin" products. Connected router. Didn't configuire automaticaly. Phoned freephone 24 hour helpline. Talked me thru all the settings -up and running in an hour. Installed pci wireless card. Run disk- found router first attempt.20 mins to get second PC connected to wireless network. Thought that was not badfor a non techie person.
Answers:
Choose your router position carefully preferably in the middle(ish) of the house although I assume you will have a nearby phone point for internet access
Choose a router which also has direct cable connections and connect at least one PC by cable. that way if you get a problem you can still talk to the box. If the PCs are fairly close to the router use cable connections Cheaper and more robust than wireless
Many laser printers have networkable versions (usually cable) otherwise you will need a print server
Belkin kit is good but have a look at PCWorld to see what is on special at the moment - if you order on the net you can collect locally and pay the net price - can be 20% cheaper.
Answers:
Thats where I got mine. Normally I would buy off the net but Id heard so many stories about nightmares setting the stuff up I thought Id buy from a real shop so at least I could dump it back on them if it didn't work out.
I too have "hard wired" my router with the ethernet cable supplied but I think after you do this you can un plug it ,install a network card and the software should pick it up.
The main thing, their frephone 24hr support line will talk you through any problems. It was 11PM when I phoned them
Answers:
Can you please post exactly what it is i require to hook up qty x 2 desktops and a laptop?
Would appreciate your model and stockists suggestions also please
regards
Pete
Answers:
Who is your isp?
If your with AOL via a BT line it is v difficult to setup belkn support is great but even they have had a lot of problems with the setup.
U would have to use Netgear router which has auto setup takes no longer than 3 mins even for a beginner
Answers:
Maybe I can be of some help for you mercman.
We desperately need to know if you have ADSL connection such as BT, or CABLE such as NTL. If you have ADSL you need an ADSL MODEM ROUTER which is more costly. I have posted both types below for you however so you can choose.
ADSL Wireles router (For BT ADSL (inc aol))
Cable Wireless router (For NTL)
You would need 2 PCI Cards for your PC's:
You would need 2 PCMCIA Cards for your laptops (Make sure they have card slots in):
To connect your printers, the best option would be to connect them to a pc that is always on, such as a server. Then you can use File/Printer sharing in order for all computers to print on that printer.
You will have to turn ALL firewalls off and the computers and laptops including windows/norton/mcaffee firewalls, and they are not needed as the router is a hardware and a software firewall.
Follow instructions in manual on how to set up your broadband, and it should all be fine. If not post here with problems.
Hope everything is ok for you.
Answers:
You will have to turn ALL firewalls off and the computers and laptops including windows/norton/mcaffee firewalls, and they are not needed as the router is a hardware and a software firewall.
I would not recommend doing this. On your average router the firewall is in actual fact merely a port blocker. If you have certain ports open on your router there's nothing to stop anything malicious using that port. Also in most cases the port blocker won't be configured to stop outgoing traffic.
A local firewall is highly desirable, one such as Kerio Personal Firewall. It'll notify you of any applications trying to run on a port, incoming or outgoing. The router provides a good first line of defence but you should always have a software firewall behind that.
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If you noticed money muncher the link for a BT adsl line connection was a wireless netgear router hehe!
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You will have to turn ALL firewalls off and the computers and laptops including windows/norton/mcaffee firewalls, and they are not needed as the router is a hardware and a software firewall.
I don't know why it is neccesary to turn your software firewall off. I run a network at home using a netgear router. On my main machine I use zonealarm pro. This causes no problems at all and still gives me the option of stopping certain programs accessing the internet when I choose.
A firewall could possibly cause problems when you are setting up a network, but after eveything is configured correctly, they don't give any problems at all on a network.
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Firewalls are known to block file/printer sharing within home networks unlessed configured in advanced options..
Norton and windows firewalls definitely block these types of things. Zone Alarm's firewall doesnt block ports, it blocks programs and works differently.
Answers:
Firewalls are known to block file/printer sharing within home networks unlessed configured in advanced options..
So why do IBM recommend not only having a software firewall on each computer in a wireless network, they list Norton as one of the possibilities?
Quote
Use a software firewall on all computers connected to your network.
A firewall is software or hardware that isolates your system or network from unauthorized network traffic. Though most wireless routers already have a hardware firewall to prevent outside attempts to get into your network, it is a good idea to run firewall software on every computer as well. This is another line of defense against an unauthorized computer that might have slipped passed the wireless router by appearing as just another trusted system within your network. This will not keep them from using your Internet connection, but it should help keep them off your hard disk drive. A software firewall will also protect your system from spyware and some viruses, but is not a replacement for anti-virus programs. Several firewall programs have a free version for non-commercial use. Although IBM does not endorse any third-party firewall software, some of the more popular ones include ZoneLabs ZoneAlarm and Norton Firewall
Taken from page
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I am talking from experience.
Out of many problems people have come to me with due to file sharing on wireless networking, without exaggerationg, well over 50% of these problems are due to norton firewalls on the system.
Routers use NAT and thus block all ports meaning that hackers can not access open ports on a single computer. If you are on a business network then I'm not sure, but for HOME wireless networks, using a Wireless Key (WEP) and The NAT firewall on the router nothing else is needed.
Hope this helps
Answers:
Out of many problems people have come to me with due to file sharing on wireless networking, without exaggerationg, well over 50% of these problems are due to norton firewalls on the system.
This is because they are not configured correctly. Norton firewall WILL work perfectly well on a home network. It may be a bit of a pain to set it up in the beginning, but this is better than turning it off completely.
Answers:
Wolfman.. the Netgear firewall blocks tcp and udp incoming and outgoing. it will only allow if you purposly set this through port forwarding and firewall rules on the router which would most prob not be needed.
Due to this a firewall on the computer is not needed as the ports are already blocked. Only if opened on the router may a software firewall be needed, but a router acts as a safe and better hardware version :/
It is safe running a home computer without a firewall when using a router such as netgears with NAT. I've been doing it since wireless networks became popular with 4 pc's connected and never had a security prob. Nor has anyone else I know that I've set it up for.. (a lot).
Answers:
We'll have to agree to disagree on the advice you are giving in this instance.
I've got to say that after having just had a look around the net on home networking, your view is very much in the minority. Most places I've seen recommend running both types of firewall (router+software firewall) and I would always put both on a network myself.
Answers:
Wolfman.. the Netgear firewall blocks tcp and udp incoming and outgoing. it will only allow if you purposly set this through port forwarding and firewall rules on the router which would most prob not be needed.
It won't block outbound requests, otherwise you'd need to configure it (ie open up the ports) for applications such as simply browsing the internet (port 80), using msn messenger, any form of updates (different applications use different ports). If it does its the first router I've seen to ship like that and I've previously had a Netgear (the DG834G).
It will block all inbound requests, ie someone trying to connect to port 21, but any requests from an internal pc (ie your machine) will be allowed out. This means if you do happen to get a trojan, there's nothing to stop it sending an outbound request as the router will let it through. It could for example do so on port 80 which is used for http requests (browsing the internet), and you're router would be unlikely to stop it depending on how complex its packet filtering rules are.
A software firewall provides a personal (ie per machine) setup. It also registers any illegal applications trying to run on your machine, such as the trojan trying to send a request out on port 80, so is a good way of knowing what's being sent from your machine.
A hardware firewall is important for blocking incoming requests (first line of defence), and hiding you behind NAT. With regards to internal security though you really should have a software firewall. Even if a virus does get blocked from going outbound, there's nothing to stop it trying to spread across your network internally. The only instances I can think of where you don't really need a software firewall is in a company environment, but they'll have some form of unix/cisco firewall that is a lot more complex and powerful than the port blockers you get on a router.
Just type in "software firewall needed router" to google and you'll see you're in a huge minority.
Answers:
We shall agree to disagree.
It can be hassle for standard home users to configure router and norton settings to get them to function fully. Without norton and ports blocked incoming and outgoing there is no need for it. So I would stick to my guns. Have good anti virus and a good hardware firewall and thats all you need for me