Getting cable...

[lmz]

I'm going to be switching from dial up modem to cable modem soon... what do I need? Right now I have a NIC and an OLD copy of Zone Alarm. Do you guys recommend hardware or software firewalls? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

[Confused]

I believe hardware firewalls are best, but if you only have the one PC then a software should be OK. If you ever add a second PC then you would get a router that has a hardware firewall built in.

I run several PC's behind a router and only have the hardware firewall. Other disagree that a software is still needed in order to monitor outbound traffic (hardware only blocks inbound). I don't concern myself with outbound and instead keep my antivirus up to date and run Spybot on a regular basis. Also many have problems networking and doing file and print sharing when trying to run a software firewall in addition to a hardware one.

It really boils down to the individual and what they feel is neccessary and their level of paronia.

Make sure that your cable modem is a ethernet one in case you decide at a later date to network. Some come as USB and currently there are no USB routers being sold in the states.
Chas

[james8547]

I am extremely paranoid. I both have a router and ZA. There are some occassional pings that escapes thru my router and my ZA catches.

[lmz]

So you guys think Zone Alarm would be an adequate firewall? I also have Norton AV and Spybot... Thanks a bunch!!!

[DarkHorse]

I'm another moderately paranoid one. http://grc.com is a great place for personal computer safety, and he favors Zone Alarm considerably. Don't forget Ad-Aware, it is another level of protection for the stuff Spybot might miss, and vice-versa

[Hi Ho]

I run two PC's behind a D-Link DI-604 router without a problem. I don't see the need for a software firewall.

[azscary]

Originally posted by james8547 I am extremely paranoid. I both have a router and ZA. There are some occassional pings that escapes thru my router and my ZA catches.

Unless there is an open port in the router, or some application is allowing the traffic in, if you are getting inbound pings with a router then it should be coming from the other computers on the network. If not I think I would look at my router and check for open ports.

[Techdec42]

HiHo do you have charter cable because i could use some help with my DI-604 router

[Hi Ho]

I get my cable from HCTC, a local company. My router just died and I'm awaiting a new one. I may be able to help though. What problems are you having?

[Techdec42]

I cant figure out how to get the full internet speed on two computers . I have 3 megs a sec. Charter said that both the computers should get 3 megs. But its like this when one computer is downloading or using a lot of bandwidth the other computer slows down. Can you help

[Hi Ho]

Well if you have a bandwidth of 3Mb/s then that is for all of the PC's on your network. If you're downloading something on one PC at 2Mb/s then the bandwidth left over for the other PC will be 1Mb/s. This is normal (I think). I have an uncapped connection so what one PC is doing doesn't affect the other.

[Confused]

You have 3M coming to the connection, which in your case is the router. Think about it. If you hooked some hubs to the router and connected 25 PC's you wouldn't expect 3M to each PC at the same time.

Same with your two PC's. 3M to the router and if only one PC is downloading you will get close to 3M. If both are downloading, each will get close to 1.5M
Chas

[macko72]

Originally Posted by lmz So you guys think Zone Alarm would be an adequate firewall? I also have Norton AV and Spybot... Thanks a bunch!!!

My personal opinion is that zone alarm sucks I had very bad expirience with it but since you didn't post wich OS you are using I can't give you my recomedation, but I can say this maybe zone alarm will work for you but Norton definetly is not good this last two years something happend with Norton don't know what but it has big holes in it I was using it for long time but decided to swich to something better.(THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPPINION)

[Techdec42]

Well Charter said I shoued be getting 3mb on each computer no matter what the other computer is doing

[Techdec42]

HiHo you said "I have an uncapped connection so what one PC is doing doesn't affect the other."

How do get a uncapped connection

[Hi Ho]

My ISP doesn't cap speeds. It's a small company with a small number of customers so they don't have to worry about bandwidth problems. It's nice.

[Techdec42]

I think ill go to verizon at the end of the month. I used the speed check on dsl reports and it only wnet up to 400 KB on both computers

[Confused]

Originally Posted by Techdec42 Well Charter said I shoued be getting 3mb on each computer no matter what the other computer is doing

Cain't happen if you have 3M service. The 3M is for first connection (router in your case). Your pipe only supports 3M. IF both PC's are downloading the pipe has to be split. Think of it as a water line. If you are filling a bucket and it fills in 2 minutes and then you put a Y connection on the water line and fill two buckets at same time it will take approximately twice as long because the water line can only flow so much water per minute.

Not all tech's have equal knowledge so sometimes we get inaccurate information. And sometimes we hear what we want to hear.
Chas