Networking Problem: Computer #2 can see what Computer #1 is doing

[Mota331]

I have 2 computers directly connected to the internet with a HUB, computer #1 is a proxy server and computer #2 is a normal Gaming Desktop computer. I have a firewall installed on both computers and on computer #2's firewall it keeps logging the IP addresses of the websites that I visited on computer #1, which isn't even connected to it.

If I was to switch to a Switch instead of a HUB would that stop computer #2 from being able to see the IP address of the websites that computer #1 is sending out or receiving stuff from?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Probably. What kind of proxying are you doing with computer #1?

 

[ViperXX]

You should only have the firewall installed on the gateway computer.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< You should only have the firewall installed on the gateway computer. >>



If the proxy is actually a gateway machine he messed up his first post: I have 2 computers directly connected to the internet with a HUB. . .. So I was under the impression that the non-proxied machine doesnt need to go through the proxy machine... If it does he should set it up better

 

[jmitchell]

Yes. A hub forwards packets to all nodes, whereas (after it learns your mac/ip address) a switch will forward all incoming traffic only to the node computer #1 is on, if that is it's destination. So, computer #2 should only 'see' the first packet that comes through destined for computer #1, as the switch forwards it to all nodes, in order to discover which node it is on.

 

[spidey07]

strange that you're firewall logs the conversations. It shouldn't pay any attention to frames not addressed to it.



<< If I was to switch to a Switch instead of a HUB would that stop computer #2 from being able to see the IP address of the websites that computer #1 is sending out or receiving stuff from? >>


Probably

 

[Mota331]

Here are the answers to all the questions that people asked above.

I am using AnalogX's Proxy on comptuer #1 which is running Win2K Pro because I don't know how to set up a proxy manually in Win2K because I am still learning it. If anyone would like to type a step by step howto so I can set up the proxy manually in Win2K and don't have to use AnalogX's Proxy that would help also.

Computer #2 does not access the internet through the Comptuer #1, Computer #2 it is directly connected to the HUB that is connected to the Router.

Sorry about the confusion

 

[JackMDS]

If you have a Router, why do you need AnalogX Proxy?

May be the content of this links, can help:

Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing

<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.
anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=48">Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?</a>

 

[ViperXX]

Ok you have a router connected to a cable or DSL connection with one class A IP address? Your running NAT and DHCP on the router connected to the hub then to the 2 computers? First off you don't need ProxyX since your not running a proxy server connecting all the computers to the internet so get rid of that. Even if you did setup that Windows 2000 computer as a gateway you would still not need ProxyX since Windows 2000's ICS has built in NAT support. I don't see how computer#2 is logging the sites you goto if computer 1 is connected to the hub which is connected to the router. If your running DHCP then make sure the gateway address for computer 1 is the same as your routers LAN IP. Your connection should be dsl/cable modem-router-hub-1computer-2computer. Did you have to setup the router when you plugged it into your dsl/cable connection. I'm trying to find out if you do actually have a router. Do you have 2 NICs installed in either computer or is the dsl/cable modem plugged into the USB port? It sounds like to me that computer1 is using computer2 has the gateway to the internet thats why it logs all those IPs.

 

[Mota331]

I have a Cisco router which only has 1 Ethernet Out connection thats why I have to use a HUB

I accually have about 6 computers but I didn't mention them because I didn't want to confuse things. My ISP/ADSL Provider limits me to 4 computers connected to the Internet at once, thats why I have a proxy set up. I have 3 computers connected to the HUB that the Router is conencted to so in turn those are directly connected to the internet. The computers that are plugged into the hub are:

Computer #1 - Win2K AnalogX Proxy server
Computer #2 - WinXP/98 Gaming machine
Computer #3 - Linux Mandrake 7.1 (have it to mess around with Linux, not a necessary computer)

Comptuer #2 access the internet fine and DOES NOT access the internet through the proxy, all the computers listed above access the internet with each having a seperate port of the HUB that is connected to the Cisco Router.

Under Computer #1 (proxy), I have up to 3 Computers connected but most of the time I just have 2 connected.

All of the computers have NIC cards.
I have a Router (Cisco)
I didn't have to set it up because my ISP provided it already configured.
Computer #1 can't be using Computer #2 because if I turn off Computer #2, Computer #2 access the internet just fine.

I hope that clears some things up.