win xp home network

[urbantus]

Im sharing an adsl conn with 3 pcs thro a router and hub
Using win xp pro
Works fine

Recently I set up a home lan so I can play quake 3 off line

I can only get this to work if i disable win xp fire wall

how can i resolve this

Also
Is there a way to make my home network secure from the internet

ie by giving permissions only to 3 pcs or other measures

thx

[JackMDS]

If you have A Router you don’t need Windows Firewall, it very rudimentary Firewall and does not add any thing, to the Router’s Hardware Firewall. (If you don’t have Cable/DSL Router then it is time to get one).

The Hardware Firewall in the Router is based on secured NAT (Network Address Translation). NAT is the Routing agent that decides which computer on you LAN will get the info that it ask for from the Internet. The NAT set in a way that info can get in if requested by one of your computers otherwise the port is closed.

However if you computer initiate the communication the Router can not stop it, and it will open the corresponded port for an answer.

This process makes the NAT Firewall very effective.

The Firewall protection can be loosened by deliberately putting a Computer on the DMZ, or by opening ports.

Some of the new Routers have Firewall based on NAT, and an additional "Stateful Packet Inspection" (SPI) capacity.

SPI let you filter incoming, and outgoing information by rules. The resultant is better control of the info coming and going. E.g. parents can block exchanges that they deem unfit for their children.

You can check your system's security by logging to the following page, scroll down, and click on Shields Up.

Gibson Default Page.

Gibson Default Page. (http://grc.com/default.htm)

[urbantus]

afaik my router does not have a fire wall inbuilt

but it does have nat

is this ok

thx

my router is an asus aam6000ev

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/hardware/reviews/2001/q4/asus_aam6000ev.asp

[C.M. Weaver]

Running a NAT router provides you with a degree of security that is just fine for almost any home user.