ZomeAlarm and Linksys Router?

[KilrB]

I have a 4port Linksys router that I have been forwarding ports inorder to play several different games on-line. I don't really want to leave my PC open like that all the time, but it sucks going back and forth opening and closing ports all the time. I ran ZA before I purchased this router and really liked the performance, has anyone any expereince with running a Hardware based firewall and a firewall such as ZA together?

[Marine06]

I have used a couple hardware firewalls ( your Linksys and the Netgear RT311) inconjunction with a software firewall. I did not experience any problems and felt much more safe running them both together. It's a good idea to run a software firewall such as ZA when you are port forwading for games or ftps since it will route the packets to the appropriate application rather than leaving a hole in your firewall.

:eek: Hope this answers your question....

[cyberskye]

I use ZAP and Linky4 and have had no problems (that's me knocking on wood).

I agree with Marine06.

The router will provides a level of protection against direct attacks but has no impact on trojans/attachements. The ZAP is application level and the router is at the protocol level. There is some overlap in their benefits but each offers something the other does not. As you mentioned, it adds a little piece of mind when you do open the gates for gaming.

Since you have already purchased the router, you may as well use the free sw firewall too.

Cheers

[KilrB]

Thanks guys :) I installed ZA and it took me awhile to get everything to work together the way I wanted it. I'm using DCHP and I couldn't get the PC's to see each other on the LAN. Until I figured out that ZA was seeing the LAN as a WAN and I needed to reduce my internet security to see the other PC's. Still not perfect but it's much better than it was before.

[cyberskye]

I would be careful about reducing the security levels. Leave it at medium for local and high for the internet.

Hit the advanced button on the security tab and add your workgroup/domain/network to the local zone. Better to keep the internet tight.

[KilrB]

Thanks cybersyke! I tried that once but I didn't add my NIC :o. I just thought it wasn't possible to to run it that way. I figure i'd just drop the internet security when I needed to share files or do alittle gaming and that have to suffice. I tried again after you mentioned that it should work and now i'm at High security and able to see both PC's. I appriciate you help! Thanks! :D