Is my Network Connections setup correct?

[Gary Nielson]

I started using XP about two months ago, at first linking directly to a
cable modem for Time Warner Road Runner. Then I got a Linksys router. Each
time to use the Internet, I ran the networking wizard. I have no problem
using the Internet, but I am trying to understand my networking setup and
see if I need to correct and/or tweak it.

For example, in Network Connections I have three icons, one for Broadband
and two for LAN or High_Speed Internet. What's up with that?

The one under Broadband and is:

Broadband Connection
Disconnected
WAN Miniport (PPPOE)

I have two under LAN or High_Speed Internet:

Local Area Connection
Enabled, Firewalled
Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC

1394 Connection
Enabled, Firewalled
1394 Net Adapter

Do I even need the Broadband one, since I am not using DSL and PPPOE? Also,
why do I have two devices under the LAN? The one for Local Area Network
seems to be doing all the work, sending and receiving packets. What is the
purpose of the 1394 Connection?

Moreover, I reading in the newsgroups that a couple of the items in the
configuration of these two network connections -- set up throug the
wizard -- may actually pose security problems, such as "Client for Microsoft
Networks" and "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks." I have
Norton's firewall and anti-virus, but still...

Here is my configuration of my Local Area Network: Can anyone tell me if I
am set up properly, or optimally, and if I should disable the file and print
sharing, for example, since I am not needing that?

The first connection, using the Realtek, has the following items, all
enabled:

1) Client for Microsoft Networks. RPC Service name service provider is
Windows Locator.
2) File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
3) Qos Packet Scheduler
4) Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Obtain IP and DNS automatically. Alternative
configuration is Automatic private IP address.

Under Authentication:
Enable IEEE 802.1x authentication for this network is enabled.
The EAP type is: Smart Card or other Certificate, with using a simple
certificate selection chosen and validate server certificate.
No trusted root certification authorities are selected.
Enabled is Authenticate as computer when computer information is available.
Firewall is enabled.

The configuration for the second connection, 1394 Connection, is as follows:

1) Client for Microsoft Networks. RPC Service name service provider is
Windows Locator.
2) File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
3) Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Obtain IP and DNS automatically. Alternative
configuration is Automatic private IP address.
Firewall is enabled.

Any advice appreciated. Please email reply, too.

 

[Frank]

You read like your router needs setup. You sure don't need
what you have installed. Do some reading and ask on these
forums. The first one is for all forums and the second one is
for Linksys.

http://www.dslreports.com/forums/all

http://www.dslreports.com/forums/18

Gary Nielson wrote:

| I started using XP about two months ago, at first linking directly to
| a cable modem for Time Warner Road Runner. Then I got a Linksys
| router. Each time to use the Internet, I ran the networking wizard. I
| have no problem using the Internet, but I am trying to understand my
| networking setup and see if I need to correct and/or tweak it.
|
| For example, in Network Connections I have three icons, one for
| Broadband and two for LAN or High_Speed Internet. What's up with that?
|
| The one under Broadband and is:
|
| Broadband Connection
| Disconnected
| WAN Miniport (PPPOE)
|
| I have two under LAN or High_Speed Internet:
|
| Local Area Connection
| Enabled, Firewalled
| Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC
|
| 1394 Connection
| Enabled, Firewalled
| 1394 Net Adapter
|
| Do I even need the Broadband one, since I am not using DSL and PPPOE?
| Also, why do I have two devices under the LAN? The one for Local Area
| Network seems to be doing all the work, sending and receiving
| packets. What is the purpose of the 1394 Connection?
|
| Moreover, I reading in the newsgroups that a couple of the items in
| the configuration of these two network connections -- set up throug
| the
| wizard -- may actually pose security problems, such as "Client for
| Microsoft Networks" and "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft
| Networks." I have Norton's firewall and anti-virus, but still...
|
| Here is my configuration of my Local Area Network: Can anyone tell me
| if I am set up properly, or optimally, and if I should disable the
| file and print sharing, for example, since I am not needing that?
|
| The first connection, using the Realtek, has the following items, all
| enabled:
|
| 1) Client for Microsoft Networks. RPC Service name service provider is
| Windows Locator.
| 2) File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
| 3) Qos Packet Scheduler
| 4) Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Obtain IP and DNS automatically.
| Alternative configuration is Automatic private IP address.
|
| Under Authentication:
| Enable IEEE 802.1x authentication for this network is enabled.
| The EAP type is: Smart Card or other Certificate, with using a simple
| certificate selection chosen and validate server certificate.
| No trusted root certification authorities are selected.
| Enabled is Authenticate as computer when computer information is
| available. Firewall is enabled.
|
| The configuration for the second connection, 1394 Connection, is as
| follows:
|
| 1) Client for Microsoft Networks. RPC Service name service provider is
| Windows Locator.
| 2) File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
| 3) Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Obtain IP and DNS automatically.
| Alternative configuration is Automatic private IP address.
| Firewall is enabled.
|
| Any advice appreciated. Please email reply, too.

 

[Gary Nielson]

Thanks for the links. The site looks fantastic, but it's not obvious how to
post, except replies. When you say I don't need what I have installed, you
mean Client for Microsoft Networks. and File and Printer Sharing? How is the
networking not set up for a router? It's set up for automatically getting
DHCP, and it is getting it now from the router whereas it was getting it
from the modem before. The router is doing its own DHCP with the modem. It's
working, but how is it not correct?