removing one computer and adding another to a home network

[Guest]

I am about to get a new laptop (WinXP). i want to add it to my existing
network, and remove an older computer (Win98se). I use DSLwith a wireless
router/hub and the desktop I use now (WInXP) and the older 98 box are using a
wired cat-5 connection..The laptop has a wireless card, the desktop does not.
Must I use a wired connection for the laptop, or will it work wirelessly. How
do I go about reconfiguring my network? Thanks

 

[Chuck]

I am about to get a new laptop (WinXP). i want to add it to my existing
network, and remove an older computer (Win98se). I use DSLwith a wireless
router/hub and the desktop I use now (WInXP) and the older 98 box are using a
wired cat-5 connection..The laptop has a wireless card, the desktop does not.
Must I use a wired connection for the laptop, or will it work wirelessly. How
do I go about reconfiguring my network? Thanks

Ben,

If you have a wireless router (make / model would be good to know here), you can
connect either computer however convenient. If you have a wireless card, you
can connect wirelessly, if an Ethernet card, you may connect wired.

Here are a few websites with useful tutorials:
http://www.cablesense.com/
http://www.homenethelp.com/
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/
http://www.wown.com/

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net

 

[Guest]

The gateway/router is a Westell Versalink model 327 from Verizon wireless.
It is wireless enabled.

 

[Guest]

The gateway/router is a Westtell versalink form verizon. It is wireless
enabled

 

[Chuck]

The gateway/router is a Westell Versalink model 327 from Verizon wireless.
It is wireless enabled.

Pretty decent piece of hardware.
http://www.westell.com/content/products/pdf/versalink.pdf

Combined modem / router / Ethernet switch / WAP, with 802.11b/g/g+ WPA-PSK.

The websites I mentioned have good tutorials to get you started. The WAP should
handle the laptop - will the wireless card in the laptop do WPA?

If this is your first wireless connection, set it up with WEP first - get that
working, then try WPA (if the laptop card will do that). But protect yourself
please, as best possible.

Here's a story about somebody's very stupid wireless neighbor. Don't expect all
wireless neighbors to be this stupid.
<http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2003/11/22/264890.html>.

The point is, you need to protect a wireless LAN with more precautions than just
the NAT protection on the router.

Change the router management password, and disable remote (WAN) management.

Enable WEP (minimal) / WPA (preferable). Use non-trivial (non-guessable) values
for encryption. (Not "My dog has fleas" please).

Enable MAC filtering.

Change the subnet of your LAN - don't use the default.

Disable DHCP, and assign an address to each computer manually.

Install a software firewall on every computer connected to a wireless LAN. Put
manually assigned ip addresses in the Local (highly trusted) Zone. Open the
firewall for file sharing, only in the Local Zone.

Don't disable SSID broadcast - some configurations require the SSID broadcast.
But change the SSID itself - to something that doesn't identify you, or the
equipment.

Enable the router activity log. Examine it regularly. Know what each
connection listed represents - you? a neighbor?.

Use non-trivial accounts and passwords on every computer connected to a wireless
LAN. Disable or delete Guest userid, if possible (XP Home is a bad choice
here). Rename Administrator, to a non-trivial value, and give it a non-trivial
password. Never use the Administrator renamed account for day to day
activities, only when intentionally doing administrative tasks.

Stay educated - know what the wireless dangers are. Newsgroups
alt.internet.wireless and microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless are good
places to start.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.