On Thursday, March 02, 2000 4:22 PM, "Jerry Rasmussen"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Patrick,
> Walter did a great job pointing out the security issues concerning your
> second question.
>
> On the question about sharing the IP address among multiple computers,
there
> are many shareware proxy server programs that work fine and can be
> downloaded from ZDNet.  I use a program called Sygate (about $30 in
CompUSA
> and other outlets).  While this is not a proxy server, it functions in a
> similar fashion.  The computer that is connected to the cable modem is the
> server and all other computers are set up as clients.
>
> There is another issue that you should be made aware of though.  The
> computer that is connected to the cable modem will have two NICs
installed.
> One for the cable modem, the other to connect to your hub.  Some computer
> configurations have serious problems with this.  Some brands of NICs are
> particularly finicky about the presence of more than one NIC.  You may
have
> to remove your soundcard (if you have one that uses more than one IRQ) to
> install the second NIC.  You can then reinstall the sound card afterward.
I
> use NICs from Linksys and have never had a problem.
>

Jerry and James -- Thank the both of you for filling in the issues that you
have posted.  With respect to both Sygate and ZoneAlarm, I was going to
mention them both in my initial post because both programs get a lot of high
remarks on other list and are excellent products.  I was hesitant about
answering the IP sharing issue because I was confused about what you were
asking. Another good program is Wingate, http://www.wingate.ca/. Jerry has
made some very good additional comments about security measures that all
cable modem and DSL users should employ. Very well written and explained.
:-)

Walter R. Worth
[log in to unmask]

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