Home networking with XP and firewall

[dylan]

I have DSL running through a Microsoft MN-500 wireless
router, and my home computers all connect to the Web
through the router.

I am able to share files among my computers when I have
XP's Internet Firewall Protection DISABLED. Is there a way
to keep the firewalls enabled AND share files? Does my
router already have any firewall protection that makes the
XP firewall redundant?

 

[Sooner Al]

If you upgrade to SP2 on the XP machines you can easily configure the new Windows Firewall (which
replaces the ICF) for File & Print Sharing on your network. I limit the scope on my network to
specific static IP addresses, which excludes every other IP address, local or remote...

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;windowsxpsp2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wscintro.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wfintro.mspx

--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...

 

[Lance]

dylan thought carefully and wrote on 8/14/2004 3:26 PM:

I have DSL running through a Microsoft MN-500 wireless
router, and my home computers all connect to the Web
through the router.

I am able to share files among my computers when I have
XP's Internet Firewall Protection DISABLED. Is there a way
to keep the firewalls enabled AND share files? Does my
router already have any firewall protection that makes the
XP firewall redundant?

Plain-vanilla routers offer a degree of protection against intruders.
Some will say it's not enough.

For me, a router along with up to date AV and OS software and good
surfing habits are sufficient for my family.

But like Sooner Al says, that new firewall that comes with XP Service
Pack 2 is a thing of beauty (even though it is limited to incoming
connections). I'm trying it out for a few weeks on computers on my home
network, but the first time it causes problems out it goes.

Lance
*****