Do I need a "Gateway"? The Wizard says so.

[Pete]

After using PC's for 20 years I am sticking my toe into
the networking waters. I have a DSL modem connected to a
Linksys wireless G router, which in turn has a wired
connection to PC No. 1 and a wireless connection to PC
No. 2. The Network Setup Wizard says I'm making a big
mistake, and that I should have a "gateway" between the
DSL modem and the router. OTOH, I set it up just the way
Linksys suggests; the Linksys literature says there is a
firewall in the router; and since I added the router,
Zone Alarm Pro has virtually stopped counting access
attempts. So is the current setup OK?

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

After using PC's for 20 years I am sticking my toe into
the networking waters. I have a DSL modem connected to a
Linksys wireless G router, which in turn has a wired
connection to PC No. 1 and a wireless connection to PC
No. 2. The Network Setup Wizard says I'm making a big
mistake, and that I should have a "gateway" between the
DSL modem and the router. OTOH, I set it up just the way
Linksys suggests; the Linksys literature says there is a
firewall in the router; and since I added the router,
Zone Alarm Pro has virtually stopped counting access
attempts. So is the current setup OK?

Your setup is OK. The Linksys router is a residential gateway.

Linksys is correct that there's a firewall in the router, and it
protects your computers from undesired incoming traffic from the
Internet. ZoneAlarm Pro shouldn't be seeing such traffic any more.

ZoneAlarm Pro has a feature that the router's firewall doesn't: it can
block undesired outgoing traffic from your computers to the Internet.
Such traffic can be caused by viruses or malicious programs that get
installed on your computer. If that type of protection is important
to you, keep using ZoneAlarm Pro.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Pete]

That's exactly what I needed to know, and exactly what I
was hoping. Thanks and regards

-----Original Message-----