XP Clients/Proxy setting help needed

[Ron]

For several years I had a home network consisting of

- Win98SE server and an Win98 SE and XP Home client. All are connected
to the server via USB telephone line connectors.
- I use WinProxy as a software proxy server
- the server connects to the net via cable modem
- I have been running Netscape 7.1

Recently I updated my server and the 98 client with XP home, including
SP2. I added Zone Alarm freebie and disabled Windows firewall. Running
a CA virus checker. Note that I did not do a clean install on the
server, but loaded XP on top of Win98SE (too much work to do with
programs on that computer to spend a day on this -- all programs run
perfectly and smoothly).

The good news is that I have no problem with the LAN itself; file
transfer is now more stable and faster. I can easily access the web off
my clients (with proxy settings in Netscape on manual/with ports per
instruction of WinProxy).

But here's the problem:

I cannot do Netscape Mail off the clients (server fine). I get a message
about not being able to access the SMTP server (my settings for mail
server are correct). And some sites which apparently have high levels
of security (eg., my cellphone personal login, bank, etc.) won't load; I
get an error message telling me that I can't access them with the proxy
setup I use.

I can get around the mail problem by using webmail (which works fine)
and can access my few high security accounts off my server, but
basically I would like full functionality on all computers.

Has anyone had and fixed this problem? Any ideas on what I can do? I am
not terribly technical, though could edit some registry changes, etc.
Feels to me like some simply port blocking. Note I have not fully
uninstalled ZA to see what would happen).

Thanks for any help you can provide.

/ron

 

[Chuck]

For several years I had a home network consisting of

- Win98SE server and an Win98 SE and XP Home client. All are connected
to the server via USB telephone line connectors.
- I use WinProxy as a software proxy server
- the server connects to the net via cable modem
- I have been running Netscape 7.1

Recently I updated my server and the 98 client with XP home, including
SP2. I added Zone Alarm freebie and disabled Windows firewall. Running
a CA virus checker. Note that I did not do a clean install on the
server, but loaded XP on top of Win98SE (too much work to do with
programs on that computer to spend a day on this -- all programs run
perfectly and smoothly).

The good news is that I have no problem with the LAN itself; file
transfer is now more stable and faster. I can easily access the web off
my clients (with proxy settings in Netscape on manual/with ports per
instruction of WinProxy).

But here's the problem:

I cannot do Netscape Mail off the clients (server fine). I get a message
about not being able to access the SMTP server (my settings for mail
server are correct). And some sites which apparently have high levels
of security (eg., my cellphone personal login, bank, etc.) won't load; I
get an error message telling me that I can't access them with the proxy
setup I use.

I can get around the mail problem by using webmail (which works fine)
and can access my few high security accounts off my server, but
basically I would like full functionality on all computers.

Has anyone had and fixed this problem? Any ideas on what I can do? I am
not terribly technical, though could edit some registry changes, etc.
Feels to me like some simply port blocking. Note I have not fully
uninstalled ZA to see what would happen).

Thanks for any help you can provide.

/ron

Ron,

I've used WinProxy before. It's a solid product, but proxy servers are very
application specific, and some apps won't work with a proxy server.

ICS, which is a software based NAT router, is easier to use. Of course, getting
rid of the USB connected modem, and getting a hardware NAT router is, by far,
the best solution IMHO.

When you mention additional (HTML?) problems with security sites, your problem
starts to sound like an MTU problem to me.
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article04-107
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=314825
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=319661

 

[Ron]

Chuck:

Thanks. WinProxy did work perfectly with my apps in the past. It is an
old version (3.0) but the Ositis website suggests that unless XP points
to a specific incompatibility when it is installed there should be no
problem (they actually suggest ignoring the warnings) and so I do think
that you are on the right track and I will certainly check out the MTU
issue. I misspoke perhaps. My modem is not USB (I have a NIC card) but
the adapters on the clients are. At this point I will not go for a
hardware or wireless router solution because I do have about 90%
functionality and there is absolutely nothing I cannot do if I really
need to. At the same time I would like to solve the problem if
possible. Mid-winter challenges are useful escapes!

/ron

 

[Chuck]

Chuck:

Thanks. WinProxy did work perfectly with my apps in the past. It is an
old version (3.0) but the Ositis website suggests that unless XP points
to a specific incompatibility when it is installed there should be no
problem (they actually suggest ignoring the warnings) and so I do think
that you are on the right track and I will certainly check out the MTU
issue. I misspoke perhaps. My modem is not USB (I have a NIC card) but
the adapters on the clients are. At this point I will not go for a
hardware or wireless router solution because I do have about 90%
functionality and there is absolutely nothing I cannot do if I really
need to. At the same time I would like to solve the problem if
possible. Mid-winter challenges are useful escapes!

/ron

Ron,

If you're using an old version of WinProxy, and you just involved XP SP2, you
may be out of luck. Any time you combine a new version / release of any Windoze
system with a previously working application, you may be between a rock and a
hard place. Regardless of the advice from the vendors.

If you enjoy hitting your head against the wall, then by all means work on your
problem, starting with the MTU issue. But I, and several others here, will
always recommend using a NAT router when connecting multiple computers to each
other, or to the internet. Some are ruder than I am.

All computers will be safer. The router will block any malevolent internet
traffic. This further protects the internet, from your becoming infected and
spreading the infection.

All computers will run better, with the router blocking the trash infection
traffic. Any personal firewall on either computer will have less to do, because
the router will block most malevolent traffic.

All computers will run independent of each other. Right now, if you have
internet connectivity on multiple computers, either you are paying your ISP for
multiple connections (a waste of $$$), or you have to have one computer on
whenever you wish to access the internet from any other. With a router, neither
is true.

If you can afford to have more then one computer, and broadband, you can afford
a router. For many reasons.

 

[Ron]

Chuck:

Dumb question I guess, but can I use a router with my telephone line
hookup? Presumably it goes between the modem and PC? Or not? Can I feed
the telephone line from there or could I simply run out of my computer
as I do now? I have a large house with lots of walls and do not want to
mess with either wireless or rewiring. As for safety, I haven't had a
virus for a year (nothing comes off the server till I check it) and in
addition to my firewall I scrupulously use anti-spyware software. So,
knock on wood, no problems there. Your points are very well taken.

Thanks.

 

[Chuck]

Chuck:

Dumb question I guess, but can I use a router with my telephone line
hookup? Presumably it goes between the modem and PC? Or not? Can I feed
the telephone line from there or could I simply run out of my computer
as I do now? I have a large house with lots of walls and do not want to
mess with either wireless or rewiring. As for safety, I haven't had a
virus for a year (nothing comes off the server till I check it) and in
addition to my firewall I scrupulously use anti-spyware software. So,
knock on wood, no problems there. Your points are very well taken.

Ron,

To use a router with dialup (assuming you have something better than AOHell or
NetZero), you need a dialup compatible router, and an good external modem.

Netgear FR328S (wired):
<http://www.netgear.com/products/details/FR328S.php>

Netgear FWG114P (wireless):
<http://www.netgear.com/products/details/FWG114P.php>

SMC SMC7004ABR (wired):
<http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?event=viewProduct&localeCode=EN_USA&pid=858>

SMC SMC7004AWBR (wireless):
<http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?event=viewProduct&localeCode=EN_USA&pid=881>

USR USR8000A (wired):
<http://www.usr.com/products/networking/router-product.asp?sku=USR8000A>

USR USR8022 (wireless):
<http://www.usr.com/products/networking/router-product.asp?sku=USR8022>

All products will require an external modem of your choice. As some have
discovered, a WinModem will not suffice.

With good virus protection, you are protected against known worms and viruses,
subject to updates from your anti-virus vendor. But viruses are not the only
danger.

You need a multi-layered protection strategy for full protection. Real-time
anti-virus and anti-malware protection is good, but mostly protects against
known threats. A NAT router may be your final, and most useful, protection.

 

[Ron]

Chuck:

Thanks, but I may have confused you. I have a cable modem connected to
broadband, not dial up. My network is a telephone net (using an extra
line in the house) that runs out of a card on my server to clients, each
of which is connected to the telephone line via USB adapters. It runs at
about 10m and is very reliable. Twisted copper instead of ethernet. What
I'm wondering is if there is any way to use a hardware router to serve
that system. I don't think there is a way I can do it.

/ron

 

[Chuck]

Chuck:

Thanks, but I may have confused you. I have a cable modem connected to
broadband, not dial up. My network is a telephone net (using an extra
line in the house) that runs out of a card on my server to clients, each
of which is connected to the telephone line via USB adapters. It runs at
about 10m and is very reliable. Twisted copper instead of ethernet. What
I'm wondering is if there is any way to use a hardware router to serve
that system. I don't think there is a way I can do it.

/ron

Ron,

OK, I get it now. Your server is running WinProxy, and is connected to the
phone line. And all the clients are also connected to the phone line, by USB
adapters.

You have a server, which is almost as secure as having a dedicated router. Just
keep the server secure, and dedicate it as a server (don't surf the web from it)
and you should be OK. You've got NetZero, which IIRC they want you to run a
proprietary agent that throws ads on your screen, hopefully they don't passthru
ads like the German ad server last November that infected itself a new botnet.
<http://www.internetweek.com/breakingNews/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=53701370>

You might want to see if an upgraded version of WinProxy will work better,
particularly if you just involved XP SP2.

And get back to the MTU issue, see if that resolves your immediate problem.

And Ron, remember that posting your email address openly will get you more
unwanted email, than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly,
to keep yourself a bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and
the rest of the internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

 

[Ron]

Chuck:

Thanks for all your help. My Netzero account is one that I use only for
public bulletin boards, newsgroups, etc. It is not my primary
personal/business account. I get a fair amout of spam on Netzero, but no
more than one or two every few days to my account on Charter.net.

/r