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Question on Routers & File Sharing

W

Winjer23

Member
I just got a D-Link router (804) and am sharing my cable modem connection - no problems. However, I want to share files between my 2 PCs.

I assume I need to enable File & Print sharing on my PCs?

However, isn't there a security risk? I'm curious about the "hardware firewall" concept and how it would protect me from hackers, etc., as my product's manual does not discuss the topic.

Thanks
 
I wouldn't worry about it. You can set up file and printer sharing on your system very easily by how you describe and then sharing the resources you want to share.

If you are concerned about hacking, there are things you can do to make sure you are secure. By default, the router should be fully secure. No extra ports allowed in from the outside. Make sure you update to the latest firmware on your router. Another thing you can do is not use DMZ host, if you have that ability on your router. The last thing you can do to secure your router is not use DHCP. These are all things that you can do to go above and beyond protecting your network from the outside. With one of these hardware firewalls in place, I haven't see anyone get hacked yet when they are behind one and it is not allowing communication in from the outside on extra ports.

Have fun!
 
Thanks for the advice, Nightfall.

Just to follow up, why should I not use DHCP? For some reason I am under the impression that I need to use it (as my cable provider (RoadRunner) does not give me a static IP, rather one dynamic IP that updates every few hours)

Thanks
 
I was talking about DHCP internally on your network. Some routers allow you to run DHCP on the router so all your computers on your network get a IP address. This isn't necessarially bad, but if you want to be ultra secure, you can turn it off and manually put in the IP address on your computers attached to your router.

Continue to use DHCP on your cable modem since your IP is dynamic. We want your cable modem to work after all right? 🙂
 
(Though I am sure you know this, I just have to say...) Just don't share your entire harddrive...
(I have known people who share their entire harddrive)

Only share the files and or folders that you want to be able to access from both your computers. Try not to share anything critical to your system or anything with sensitive info.
 
One of the ways to increase security, and allow full local network sharing is to install NetBEUI as the default Network Protocol. NetBEUI is not routable to the Internet, so nothing gets out.

My experience (on variety of network settings) shows that Surfing the Internet is smoother if the main network traffic is done via NetBEUI, and TCP/IP is reserved to Internet activities only.


Win98 Sharing

Assuming that your hardware is functioning, and you are using the correct type of CAT5 cables.

Sharing setting in Win98!!!

You will not see a Computer in the Network Neighborhood, unless it shares something.

All computers can have one, two, or three, of the following Network Protocols:

1. TCP/IP - must be installed for Internet
2. NetBEUI ? simple, no IP scheme, Internet safe (recommended as Default Protocol).
3. IPX/PX ? needed for some LAN games.

The three can reside together BUT - All computers must have the same Default Protocol..

All used Protocols are bound to the Ethernet Card.

All computers have the same Workgroup name.

Each computer has it own unique name.

Make sure that you Logon as Client for Microsoft Network.

There are three places to be checked for sharing:

The first two are in Control Panel, Network.

1. The Protocol that you are using for sharing, has to be bound to Client for Microsoft Network, and Sharing is Checked in the protocol's properties menu.

2. The general File and Print Sharing has to be installed, and checked.

The third in "My Computer" folder.

3. Individual Drive or/and printer has to be checked for sharing.
Right click on the device to share, choose properties, click on the sharing Tab, check Shared As, and give it a name.

For printer:

Click My Computer, click on Printers, right click on the printer that you want to share, click on Properties, choose the Sharing tab, checked share, give it a name.


Important: The Shared Printer Drivers has to be installed on all computers that use this printer.
 
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