Patrick, Walter, Jerry, James et al,

I would like to add my input to the second issue of connection sharing and, indirectly, to the first issue of security.  Your cable ISP most likely allocates a single IP address to your cable modem.  Any PC on a your home network can use that address, but only one at a time.  A proxy server solution such as Wingate or Sygate will handle sharing the single address among multiple PCs for simultaneous browsing, but as someone mentioned at the cost of additional NIC, the software and potential configuration headaches.  A more costly but less complex alternative is to buy additional IP addresses from your cable ISP.  At $3-5 per month per additional address this is quite costly.  The best solution to the broadband connection sharing issue that I have found, however, is with a new product from Linksys.

Linksys recently introduced a new product called their "Instant Broadband EtherFast Cable/DSL Router".  This nifty little device allows up to four PCs to share a single broadband internet connection using DHCP and network address translation.  It uses switch technology so all connections are capable of full duplex 10/100 speed.  You plug your cable/DSL modem into the uplink port, connect your PCs to the switch ports, configure the unit via a browser interface and in a matter of minutes you're browsing simultaneously on up to four PCs at full connection bandwidth on each.  

The device also provides a fair level of security.  DHCP and network address translation are inherently secure because the "public" IP address issued by the ISP to the modem stays with the modem.  The Linksys unit handles assigning a "private" (non-routable) address to each PC.  These addresses are "invisible" to the internet.  I would still recommend the additional security of a firewall product such as BlackICE or the like, but you're much more secure than when you're just hanging off your cable modem.  Oh, yes, the best thing about this cool device from Linksys is that it sells for less than $160.

Broadband connections and home networking are two of the hottest topics going today.  We have more choices today than ever and I'm sure more are on the horizon.  Consider your decisions carefully and don't always settle for the "standard" approach.

>Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 19:35:31 -0800
>From: "Walter R. Worth" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Internet Security Programs
>
>>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]



Steve Polatas
IT Manager
Wrayco Industries, Inc.

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