ICS

[andypress]

I want to set up an ICS server, I do have a 4 port router/switch, and I was wondering if Zone Alarm Pro would be good for it for a firewall. I have ZA on all my computers in my house already, excpet if I didn't have to have ZA on them, it would reduce boot times on all the computers. So mainly the question is; Would Zone Alarm Pro be good for an ICS firewall server? Also, if I set up an ICS, would I route the data this way- Cable modem-->ICS server-->Router-->Computers. Would I be able to acess the ICS this way even if it is plugged into the upling pourt on the router?

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Why in the world would you want to use ICS if you have a broadband router? :Q This configuration makes no sense at all!

 

[andypress]

Broadband has nothing to do with ICS! The reason why I want an ICS server is to be able to remove Zone Alram from the 10 computers on my network, reducing boot times and firewall problems on the intranet.

 

[andypress]

Broadband has nothing to do with ICS! The reason why I want an ICS server is to be able to remove Zone Alram from the 10 computers on my network, reducing boot times and firewall problems on the intranet.

 

[Nothinman]

Broadband has nothing to do with ICS but putting an ICS box infront of your other PCs to do the job of the broadband router gains you pretty much nothing. You can't configure ICS other than on/off so it'll be doing no more or less than the current broadband router. To get some extra functionality you would need different software, like Linux and it's firewalling. I have no idea what's available for Windows but I doubt much of it runs on the workstation OSes, things like ISA aren't meant for home users.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: andypress
Broadband has nothing to do with ICS! The reason why I want an ICS server is to be able to remove Zone Alram from the 10 computers on my network, reducing boot times and firewall problems on the intranet.

You are absolutely right. Broadband has nothing to do with ICS, as well as with a server or a Switch, and the LEAST, ICS has to do with ZoneAlram.

You are probably miss using the term ICS.

Try to explain better what you want to do. ZoneAlarm is a Firewall. It is an AdOn it is nothing to do with the planning and organizing a Network.

May be this will Help.

Link to: AnandTech - FAQ. Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing

Link to: AnandTech - FAQ. Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?

Ignore the prices in the links above. The same or similar hardware can be found for 60%-90% less.

Link to: Diagram of Broadband Connection with Cable/DSL Router.

Link to: Basic Protection for Broadband Internet Installation.

Link to: Cable/DSL Routers - NAT & Ports.

 

[andypress]

What I want is to have is a firewall between my computers and the internet. So I would use that firewall server computer as an ICS server. So bassically, my ICS server would have a firewall on it, instead of me having a firewall on each of my computers.

 

[Nothinman]

The broadband router will do as much as ICS will, firewalls on Windows are used to protect you from local programs going out to the net unexepectedly as they are to protect you from incoming traffic. The ICS box won't be able to stop any outgoing traffic.

 

[JackMDS]

Read the content of the above links it is all there.

What you want is a Router that by doing NAT will act as a Firewall.

Option One. Use a Cable/DSL Router. (Yields one way Firewall).

Option Two. Get Windows 2003 and use it as a general Server in front of your Network.

Option Three. Build a Linux Box with Smoothwall Express, and do the same as Option Two.