Firewall router

[madian225]

Hi

 

If any of you have read my previous threads then you know that I have been in the process of installing XP 64 bit on my system.

 

I have had a few 'interesting' moments along the way and I would suggest that anyone thinking of going down this route from a 32 bit system instead of waiting until Vista is officially released and then settles down with the obligatory fixes should do a few simple things first.

 

1) make a list of the software that you are using and then see if it supports XP 64 - from firewall, anti-virus, defragmenting program, everything in fact. It may save you a lot of unexpected head scratching.

 

2) read step 1 above lol

 

I was under the impression that my existing setup (Kyspersky KIS 6) was X64 bit compatible but alas no, well the anti-virus part is just the firewall is not as yet compatible but will be later on.

 

Soooooo I have been looking for a decent firewall to use and a more through search (which I guess I should have done before) reveals that a decent firewall under XP 64 bit is a bit lacking at the moment. A few Beta programs are avalable and a few people seem to be doing well with the Nvidia firewall.

 

I thought therefore that a reasonable hardware firewall may be in order to ensure that everything was OK until the software catches up.

 

I am currently on a cable modem (Motorola SB4200) with a 10Mb broadband using the Nvidia LAN port on the PC.

 

Given my lack of knowledge regarding routers etc I thought that I would see if anyone could make any recommendations or could give some guidance as to minimum requirements.

 

I had been looking at these

 

1. Netgear ProSafe VPN 50 firewall
    
   http://www.dabs.com/productlist.aspx?&Navi...1180&PageMode=2
   

• 
   
  Netgear Prosafe VPN 25 Firewall
   
  

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quick...gationKey=11180

 

 

AM I looking in the right direction of have I gone for overkill?

 

On a seperate and perhaps tied-in question, should I be looking to replace/update my cable modem it is about 5 years old and I am sure that there must be a more up to date and possibly efficient modem currently available.

 

As always any help greatley appreciated

[Guest Kobalt]

Are you going to use VPN?

Most all routers have some type of firewall already in them. The linksys wrt54g v2 is basically running linux, and makes for a nice cheap router w/firewall.

 

If you want advanced features , then you get the higher price units. Those are not needed for most people though.

 

You still need a software based firewall for outbound traffic though.

[ReMoose]

the WRT54G from linksys is top notch. I used to own 2 and had them linked together nice to have 10/100 on 2 ends and 54mbps wireless throughou

t the house.

 

Also if you want to do vpn, all you have to do is setup a computer as a vpn host and open the appropriate ports on your router. which i believe is tcp port 1723 and UDP port 500.

[madian225]

Hi

 

Thanks for the information, however, perhaps that I should have pointed out that i do not want to go wireless.

 

I know that loads of people like wireless products but unfortunately I am not one of them especially as I only have 1 desktop PC and the modem is 2' from the PC.

 

Can anyone suggest a hardwired router instead of a wireless one?

[KimTjik]

If you would like to build it yourself and you got some spare-parts I would recommend m0n0wall. I understand that this is a suggestion you're maybe not interested in.

 

However of personal experience I have to say it's very efficient and easy to setup. The hardware setup I would recommend is to use a CF (you don't need more than 8mb so an old very cheap card will do) card with an IDE adapter, which makes it recognized as a IDE hard-drive. On m0n0wall's homepage you find good instructions. m0n0wall has a friendly to use webb-interface.

 

Just wanted to mention this possibility...

[calvintang]

Hi

 

Thanks for the information, however, perhaps that I should have pointed out that i do not want to go wireless.

 

I know that loads of people like wireless products but unfortunately I am not one of them especially as I only have 1 desktop PC and the modem is 2' from the PC.

 

Can anyone suggest a hardwired router instead of a wireless one?

thats wired AND wireless

so if you got a guest with a laptop (all laptop got wifi card built-in in em)

no hassle

[michaelzhao]

Okay.. quick fact. Let me save you some money.

 

All routers are intrinscally firewalls. That comes from none other than Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte from the "Security Now!" Podcast.

 

Thats the way it is. I don't want to explain why because I'm rather lazy. But just know that any supposed "Firewall" router is just a marketing gimmick. Just like the supposed speed increase of "SATA 3.0" versus "SATA 1.5".

[Guest Kobalt]

Hi

 

Thanks for the information, however, perhaps that I should have pointed out that i do not want to go wireless.

 

I know that loads of people like wireless products but unfortunately I am not one of them especially as I only have 1 desktop PC and the modem is 2' from the PC.

 

Can anyone suggest a hardwired router instead of a wireless one?

 

Yeah.. the wrt54g is both wired & wireless. You don't want wireless, then enter the router's menu, and turn it off, That simple.

BTW, I HATE the newest version of the wrt54g series.

[madian225]

Hi

 

Many thanks for this I will give it a go and see how I get on.

 

I wanted something that will give me added security for the time being as to be honest not having a firewall is not an ideal thing to have and the Beta programs are OK to a point and I do not have the luxury of being able to give the amount of detailed feedback they would like...also I have no idea what I would be talking about LOL

 

So for me a firewall router on its own will be fine for me until Kysperky get the KIS fully 64 bit compatable then I will run both KIS and the router as well

[red930]

And, to comment on the one thing missing when describing the wireless and wired routers, is that you can completely disable the wireless feature of the router.

[wingspar]

If this link works right, it will come up with all of D-Link’s routers. Scroll down to see the hardwired routers. From that list, I have the DI-704UP. I have two computers connected to my network and Internet thru the router. However, the language in setting up the firewall part of the router is so far over my head, I’ve never set it up. I just rely on my software firewall, tho I’d love to set up the router firewall, I just haven’t a clue.

 

http://www.dlink.com/products/category.asp?cid=2&sec=1

 

I paid $60 plus shipping about two years ago. I see it’s $53 at Newegg now.

 

D-Link Routers at Newegg

[madian225]

Hi

 

I think Linksys will be the one that I will go for, I have just sent thier tech department a quick e-mail reqarding a query I had and will see what thier reply is.

 

Apart from that router here we come.....I will keep you updated on how I get on.