linksys befsr41 router vs ICS

[Sarrkazztic]

I am thinking about purchasing a Router this one to be exact. http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...prid=20&grid=5 I now am using ICS from win2k with a client running winME and a laptop running win95 I have tried firewalls (tiny, zonealarm and norton) but all eventually choke out the ICS. What benefits will I notice with the router...I have a 10base hub with 10/100 cards in both machines....so I think that the 10/100 switch in this router will make a difference but I was told that it would not be a big difference in sharing files....or the internet for that matter.....Any suggestions and installation tips?

[Voyager213]

One big improvement you will notice is that all PCs on your network will be able to access the internet without having to keep one of them on all the time.

The router was pretty easy to set up. My ISP's DHCP gives it the information it needs. It provides DHCP services to all of the PCs behind it. You will have to remove all of the IP settings from your networked PCs and let this DHCP do the job for you, but that makes things easier, not more difficult.

I never used a 10mb hub. I started out with a 10/100 hub, but a friend of mine did and he eventually upgraded, regretting the 10mb purchase very quickly. I believe his problem with it was game play. Of course, this is second hand, but you are going to get any benefit anyway if you buy the router.

I am using zone alarm and web washer right now. No problems, and have never had any. I used Norton, but I'm weaning myself away from it. I was happy with it all the time I used it, but Steve Gibson's Leak Test made me decide to switch to zone alarm.

[Corona]

My recent experience with firewalls also points toward zone alarm. I don't have a lot of resources on my proxy, and zonealarm seems to be the most non-bloatware of all the options I found.

[Sarrkazztic]

Why are you using zone alarm with the router it is supposed to be a hardware firewall right?

[ceh383]

I use the router along with Zonealarm. If you get hit with a TROJAN the router won't help, since the activity would be from your machine the router won't stop it. Zonealarm would let you know something is trying to reach the internet. It dosen't hurt to be safe.....

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My corner of the world

[Sarrkazztic]

So are you saying that the only reason someone would need the software firewall as well as the hardware in the router would be if you were a candidate for downloading virii or trojan material? I keep my virus definitions up to date and I do not open any emails that do not look like they are legitimately from my friends and I never open a file attachment unless it has been scanned....but if the ZA on top of the router will make each station double safe then maybe it is a good idea

[ceh383]

That's one reason, I have read where hackers have gotten past a router and were caught by ZA. It hasn't happened to me, but it's possible.......

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My corner of the world

[Sarrkazztic]

well it took me about 10 minutes to set up my 3 computers and the router out of the box..I am very impressed...the speed difference between the 10mbps network and te 100mbps is substantial when transfering files and playing games...and if I am changing configs on my computer and have to reboot my wife does not have to stop playing pogo.com games....this will make my marriage stronger!!!! ha ha. thanks for all the suggestions and tips.....If anyone who reads this is on the fence about what to do this is definately the best way.