Firewall setup

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ed
  • Start date Start date
E

Ed

Thanks for all the suggestions as to how to combine my two
workgroupd and get (nearly) everything functional again.

I am now having difficulty setting up a firewall. I have
two pcs running XP Professional and a Mac running OSX 2 on
a home network, along with a printer and my cable modem. I
am able to get onto the Internet with any one of these
machines. I am able to trade files between them. I have
enabled the Mac firewall (by simply clicking the option to
use a firewall and not changing any default settings). Not
so with Windows.

When I attempted to enable the firewall on my main (XP)
computer, two very disturbing things happened: (1) I was
no longer able to see other computers on my LAN and (2)
the icon for the Internet connection disappeared from my
Control Panel-Networks window. I was still able to access
the Internet when I couldn't see the other machines.
Unchecking the firewall option enabled me to see the other
machines again -- but the Internet icon is still missing
from the XP computer I tried this on.

I have a third party firewall, but I don't like it because
it is much too intrusive and keeps stopping legitimate
network activity as security breeches.

All I want is to prevent other computers from accessing
any of my machines over the Internet. I want to be able to
access anything on the Internet from my computers. I want
to be able to send & receive email (scanning for viruses
on incoming messages). At the same time, I want unimpeded
access between my local machines and pritner -- and the
ability to access the Internet from any of my computers,
if necessary. I'm sorry but I just found the online help
in XP to be too obtuse and too sparse for someone who has
never tried to do this kind of thing before. I'm hoping
someone can spell out a few simple steps I can follow to
achieve the above. I am assuming that this should be a
fairly ordinary request.
 
"Ed" said:
Thanks for all the suggestions as to how to combine my two
workgroupd and get (nearly) everything functional again.

I am now having difficulty setting up a firewall. I have
two pcs running XP Professional and a Mac running OSX 2 on
a home network, along with a printer and my cable modem. I
am able to get onto the Internet with any one of these
machines. I am able to trade files between them. I have
enabled the Mac firewall (by simply clicking the option to
use a firewall and not changing any default settings). Not
so with Windows.

When I attempted to enable the firewall on my main (XP)
computer, two very disturbing things happened: (1) I was
no longer able to see other computers on my LAN and (2)
the icon for the Internet connection disappeared from my
Control Panel-Networks window. I was still able to access
the Internet when I couldn't see the other machines.
Unchecking the firewall option enabled me to see the other
machines again -- but the Internet icon is still missing
from the XP computer I tried this on.

I have a third party firewall, but I don't like it because
it is much too intrusive and keeps stopping legitimate
network activity as security breeches.

All I want is to prevent other computers from accessing
any of my machines over the Internet. I want to be able to
access anything on the Internet from my computers. I want
to be able to send & receive email (scanning for viruses
on incoming messages). At the same time, I want unimpeded
access between my local machines and pritner -- and the
ability to access the Internet from any of my computers,
if necessary. I'm sorry but I just found the online help
in XP to be too obtuse and too sparse for someone who has
never tried to do this kind of thing before. I'm hoping
someone can spell out a few simple steps I can follow to
achieve the above. I am assuming that this should be a
fairly ordinary request.
Click to expand...

By design, XP's Internet Connection Firewall blocks file and printer
sharing. It's for use only on a direct modem connection to the
Internet. It doesn't do anything useful on a local area network
connection, and you must disable it.

You mention an icon for the Internet connection. Does it appear under
the heading "Internet Gateway" in the Network Connections folder. If
so, it represents either a broadband router or a computer acting as
Internet Connection Sharing host. Both have a built-in firewall.
Your computers are already protected from incoming access by other
Internet users, and you don't need an additional firewall for that
purpose.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
You mention an icon for the Internet connection. Does it
appear under
the heading "Internet Gateway" in the Network Connections folder. If
so, it represents either a broadband router or a computer acting as
Internet Connection Sharing host. Both have a built-in firewall.
Your computers are already protected from incoming access by other
Internet users, and you don't need an additional firewall for that
purpose.
Click to expand...


The missing icon did indeed read "Internet Gateway". I
don't know how it got there or why it is missing now. (It
disappeared when I enabled the firewall.) How do I get it
back?

(Can I assume that, once it re-appears, I no longer need
McAffee's firewall -- an intrusive and truly annoying
utility?)
 
"Ed" said:
The missing icon did indeed read "Internet Gateway". I
don't know how it got there or why it is missing now. (It
disappeared when I enabled the firewall.) How do I get it
back?

(Can I assume that, once it re-appears, I no longer need
McAffee's firewall -- an intrusive and truly annoying
utility?)
Click to expand...

The "Internet Gateway" represents either an ICS host computer or a
broadband router on your network, and your computer gets its Internet
access through that host computer or router. Clicking the Internet
Gateway icon lets you monitor and control the host's or router's
Internet connection. I've written a web page with details:

XP ICS - Internet Gateway
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/internetgateway.htm

Since your computer connects to the Internet through an ICS host or
router, it doesn't need a firewall program to protect it against
access by other Internet users. The ICS host or router automatically
protects your computer. The only reason for installing a firewall on
your computer would be to protect it against undesired outgoing access
from your computer to the Internet.

The McAfee firewall might be preventing the Internet Gateway icon from
appearing. Either un-install the firewall or configure it to allow
access by computers on your local area network.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
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