Broadband Bliss!!

[Jay32]

I finally decided to get some speed and signed up for a cable connection at home. DSL was not an option as I was too far from the CO.

I've set up DSL connections at work but never dealt with cable. The tech is coming Wed. to hook me up, any tips, hints or things to watch-out-for from you pros out there?

[Rick Hall]

Make sure you install a firewall
There are a couple of good free firewalls
My personal preference is ZoneAlarm

ZoneAlarm - http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp

Sygate - http://www.sygate.com/

[Kubie]

And don't accept a USB modem!
Carl

[arubahounds]

Carl:

Why do you advise against a USB modem. MY DSL is both USB and ethernet but I'm connected via the USB.

HT

[Redo40]

USB modems tend to put more of a load on your computer and typically aren't as stable.

[arubahounds]

Thanks.

HT

[reboot]

The biggest "tip" is, Don't let the cable guy install any software!
All you need is what you already have. You do not need their proprietary, advertising supported browser, nor any of the protocalls on the CD. The stuff in your computer is probably newer versions anyhow. (the latest for Shaw cable is IE5.5, pretty useless when XP comes with IE6).
Just have him set up your basic connection and test it, and then set up your email client. If they offer multiple emails included, set them all up, even if you don't use them now, you eventually will.
Please try and stay away from USB modems. Nothing beats the stability of a NIC and a regular plug in box. (modem is a misnomer, because it's digital, and there is no "modulation/demodulation" happening.

[Jay32]

Thanks!

I'm already running zonealarm, so no usb modems or cable software... check. I can hardly wait...

[arubahounds]

Reboot

My NIC is connected to my switch. Do I need another NIC for the DSL modem, or can I configure it with what I have. I have a Linksys 4 port switch connecting two computers. Currently I have the DSL modem connected to the USB port in one PC and then share the internet over ICS.

Thanks.

HT

[Byte 2.0]

The Cable guy probably won't assist with your network. If he will set it up that is great.

I agree, Ethernet is the only way to go, I hate USB boardband devices(I do tech support boardband DSL)


The simplist way to have a cable connection

Cable modem, connected to your NIC in your PC. Power up the PC, may have to release renew the IP address.
(My cable company had to assign my PC a network name)
it uses the Mac address on the modem they supplied, which gets the Mac address of my NIC, then reads my PC name to authicate.

I know it reads the mac on my NIC because before i networked, i had to power cycle the mode before i could surf on the other pc after changing the cable and rebooting the PC.


Using a Router, the connection should be Cable modem, Router, PC's.

U have a 4 port switch.

Here is what I have Cable modem, to NIC one on PC 1. PC 1 has a second NIC. running a program called winroute using the Nat router in the software to assign DHCP out though NIC 2 that connects to my 5 port switch. Then I plug in my other PC's into it.
It took alot of work to get it up, with the help of a good friend.
But for my needs it is prefect. The cost of the software is more then the cost of a hardware router now or very close.

Firewalls, do bug me, they are great when set up and working fine. But I see alot of people get firewall programs and turn them to the max, then they can't surf. Then some new tech tells them to uninstall the firewall then they reboot and they can't surf.
IF u install a Firewall program, KEEP the installer. If u ever have a surfing problem, lower the settings all the way and try again. rebooot. Then adjust the settings to where you can surf.

If u ever uninstall a Firewall program, lower the secruity settings first. keep the installer. I had one guy that had uninstalled his firewall could not surf. I ask him to install it, lower the settings then he could surf.

I had an experience with Zone Alarm. I took it out of start up once. forgot about that, a few hours later rebooted my PC. I could not surf. Page can not be display as soon as i tried. I was not even getting a Patch outside of my PC. after a few hours of trouble shooting, I just manually turned on ZA then i could surf prefect. I will never forget that.

[glc]

aruba: Your best bet is a single port router (example: Linksys BEFSR11) to plug into your switch. That way you can get rid of ICS and your machine doesn't have to be on for the other one to have access.

[arubahounds]

Thanks glc.

[arubahounds]

glc - I connected the dsl modem to the switch's uplink port. Now both computers can connect without ICS. Both are firewalled with software firewalls. Am I better off with the router and its hardware firewall or is the set up OK as is?

HT

[lil Jimmie]

I'm behind a hardware firewall and I use ZA PRO to monitor for unwanted outbound traffic, it doesn't hurt to have that added security.

[glc]

Your setup is OK as long as your ISP doesn't object to the use of 2 IP addresses. If they want to charge you an additional monthly fee for the second IP, a router will pay for itself fairly quickly. You may have to adjust some firewall settings to be able to file and print share. A good software firewall is as good as a basic NAT firewall in a router, and actually can be better if it monitors outgoing like Zone Alarm. The latest routers on the market now have stateful packet inspection firewalls, which is a major security improvement if it's implemented correctly. The only real advantage to a NAT firewall over a software firewall is the nasties are blocked at the router instead of inside your computer.

[arubahounds]

Thanks again glc. I didn't know there might be an additional fee. Something to look into.

[reboot]

Some ISP's charge for separate IP's, some will include up to 3 extras at no charge.
Figure your costs. If the extra IP is $10/month, it may be worth purchasing a router, then you can just keep adding computers to the LAN without paying extra.
Even a single port router, with any number of switches/hubs after it may be the best option, depending on how big you think the LAN may get.
Nothing is as secure as a well-set-up router, although the latest batch of trojans like to send stuff out, which is why some people run ZA as well (although I think it's redundant if you're careful with your anti-virus software.)

[Lord Prism]

Welcome aboard the "thick Pipe" highway.

Broadband, it's the only way to fly.

[arubahounds]

Absotively Lord Prism, how did I live without it.

Reboot & glc: You were right. My ISP said that they haven't started charging for extra IP's yet but will soon. So I'll enjoy it for free while it lasts and get the router when they cut me off.

[cobra]

Welcome to a whole new online world!
I just got cable a month ago, and love it....

[Jay32]

Oh and what a "thick pipe" it is!!

I'm up and running and the data is smokin' through the lines, I had no idea it could be this sweet.

What a painless process it was too. Two days after the initial call the tech made the connections. I piped it through a Linksys router and had all three home pc's online in less than half an hour. No additional software and the modem supported both USB and ethernet so I went with the ethernet of course.

I'm only getting around 600K on dslreports speed test, but I was running 28K so I'm tickled pink.

All I need now is to finish my P4 build and I'll be at the height of Geekdom.

Thanks for the tips!

[Kubie]

Thats great, Jay32!
Now those looonng d/l's aren't so scary any more.
Carl

[Guardian]

You will never, ever, ever want to use a dial-up connection for the rest of your life!

I buried my dial-up modem in my back yard the day I turned on my cable modem.

May it rest in pieces!

[RoyKelly]

What a painless process it was too. Two days after the initial call the tech made the connections. I piped it through a Linksys router and had all three home pc's online in less than half an hour. No additional software and the modem supported both USB and ethernet so I went with the ethernet of course. I'm only getting around 600K on dslreports speed test, but I was running 28K so I'm tickled pink.

I Agree! I was running three computers over a Linsys 4-port hub with a dial up connection over fiber phone lines and Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). The main computer connected at 32 - 44 Kbs, and the other two? hey acted like before the new phone comapny - about 9600 baud.

Our phone company offered free install of DSL over Fiber in August, so we researched routers. We found that almost all the 4-port routers offered the same features, but some were not listed as working with Windows XP. I came down to the DLink or the Linksys. We bought the DLink DI-604 because we got more of a rebate from the manufacturer. We have been very happy with it.

Nothing is as secure as a well-set-up router, although the latest batch of trojans like to send stuff out, which is why some people run ZA as well (although I think it's redundant if you're careful with your anti-virus software.)

maybe I' m too wary. My router has a hardware firewall, I use Zone Alarm, and I primarily use Smart Explorer, which block pop up ads, pop under ads and is available for free at http://www.smarteque.com/