Newbie seeking advice...

[JimSin]

New to PC Networking... Can anyone give advice?

I've got 2 home PCs networked to a Linksys EtherFast Switched 10/100 box. I'm just about ( hopefully! ) to get DSL and obviously want these 2 PCs to be connected up. The DSL 'Gateway' that's coming is allegedly "a router" and I'm trying to find the best way to hook my LAN to it.

My thinking just now is going along the lines of... Hook up the DSL 'Gateway' to my Linksys via the available Uplink Port, use some NAT software to share the DSL and install a firewall. How does this sound?

If this is the right way to go... which NAT and Firewall software would you recommend?

I've already had a look at SyGate v3.5, which came bundled with my Linksys, but when installed it just slows my main PC down to an eventual halt (memory leak / clash?).

Any advice / suggestions appreciated.

...Cheers & Bye

[C.M. Weaver]

It may already be a NAT capable router outta the box. If that is the case then you set all your machines attached to it to use DHCP. All of the settings for you DSL will be made at the router RE: IP, Gateway, DNS, etc.

Use ZoneAlarm as your firewall www.zonelabs.com (http://www.zonelabs.com)

C.M. Weaver

[JimSin]

...glc1...

Any comments you have would be greatly appreciated...

[glc1]

Originally posted by JimSin:

...glc1...

Any comments you have would be greatly appreciated...Let me see if I got this straight...
You got a Linksys switch and your DSL comes w/a gateway (aka router)? C.M. Weaver is right, it may be NAT capable w/a buil-in firewall. I may also have a buil-in hub/switch so your existing switch may not be needed. Can you get the model/brand so I can find some more info on it?

[JimSin]

Cheers for the reply...

I'm working on trying to get the model/brand info for you... but for now... is this any help?

It's a 'Telocity VelocityPort Gateway'...

Here's some 'bumph' from Teleocity's web pages... "Normally you connect only one computer per Telocity VelocityPort gateway. But if you've got the technical know-how, you can connect a small home network to the Telocity gateway using Proxy software capable of IP masking and NAT (Network Address Translation), and an Ethernet hub (10Base-T or 10/100Base-T). Just pick up any appropriate brand of software and hub, then install them according to their specifications"

However, further into their help/info pages it does say that the Gateway is a router.

Please bear with me & I'll try and get more info for you.

Thanks again...

[glc1]

From the info you gave me, it sounds like it really isn't a router b/c it requires 3rd party proxy/NAT software. I guess you hook it up to your existing hub, like they tell you, and setup a system w/proxy software? Not sure on this one. I will try to look into it further later today.

[JimSin]

I've checked the Teleocity pages and it seems like their 'Gateway' is actually their own brand.

Again, thanks for replying & thinking over this... much appreciated

Cheers

[glc1]

I just checked the FAQ on telocity.com and it looks like the gateway is just a modem. It makes sense b/c, as you pointed out, a NAT capable device/software, such as proxy soft, ICS, or a router, is required to share the conneciton. This is very deceiving b/c gateways are often referred to as routers.

Anyway, it hooks up to an ethernet adapter, just like any other Ethernet modem. You should be able to setup one of your PCs as a "server" to share your net connection, or buy a router if you don't want to do this.

[JimSin]

Cheers...

Thanks for your time !