Linksys wireless router - file sharing
 

I just installed a Linksys wireless router (so I can test my laptop Wi-Fi before travelling http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif ).

If you have one of these, is it easy to configure it to share files between my home PCs? The documentation is not very helpful, and their web site isn't much better.

BTW, if you get one of these - don't use the blue cable that comes with it - for some reason it never works.

The router iteself is one of the easiest available. I have had mine for a year or so. As long as your PCs are set up on the same sub net via the router, you should not have a problem. Need to decide if you are going to use DHCP or static IP addresses for your PCs. There are many considerations, but once you decide on how you want to set up your network, it is relatively easy to configure in the Linksys. I have found Linksys telephone support to be decent. If you want to email me, my address is in my profile.

PS. I didn't receive a blue cable with mine, is it by chance a cross over cable instead of CAT5?

The ability to share files should be independent of how your PCs are networked (i.e. it shouldn't matter whether you're using WiFi or a bunch of ethernet cables). I have a home WiFi network using both Linksys and D-Link products. Once I got my computers networked I then proceeded to the normal file-sharing setup.

Minor correction if you do talk to them, Cat 5 refers to the specifications the cable and plugs are made to, cross over refers to how the wires are connected to the plugs.

Cross over is the opposite of straignt through, both can be cat 5 cables.

If you hold the plugs side by side and look at the wire colors, in a cross over cable two of the pairs are reversed, in a straight through one the colors of the wires will be in the same place in both plugs.

I threw the blue cable out, so can't compare it. But maybe it was a cross-over, because as soon as I replaced it (and powered-off/on the hardware) that internet connection came right up.

Can you recommend a firewall? Is ZoneAlarm the best solution? Thanks.

ZoneAlarm is probably the best solution (btw, don't forget to configure any firewall that might be present in your router). A website I've found helpful is http://www.grc.com

The basic zonealarm is free for personal use, give that a try to see if you like the way it interacts with you, and if you do you can purchase the pro version if you need it. The GRC site mentioned above is a must for anybody using a firewall, it bombards you with entry attempts (of course with your permission) and tells you any other holes you need to close up.

I have been using zonealarm for years and really recommend it.

If you have a broadband router, why not enable NAT? It's a lot better than some of the awful software based solutions - as long as you dont expose any port redirects to the outside world that should be all you need.

These days broadband routers that do NAT are $99

I have the same wireless router as well. And it works great.

although when i carry my 2.4GHz wireless phone close to the router, the phone call will drop, but if i keep my distance..I can talk forever http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Hi, u might want to check out this website and start posting there, you can learn a lot from those techies! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Btw, people tend to think of firewalls as something to keep the bad guys from getting into your computer, but it's important to keep in mind that there may be programs on your computer sending data to the outside world without your knowledge.

What's NAT? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Network Address Translation http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

LOL, most ISP's helpdesk staff would probably tell you that you need a Network Address Translation if you plan on moving your DSL to another town... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

A NAT enabled router also allows you to have multiple machines over a single IP address. Many broadband ISP's will only give you one IP address, and a non-static (DHCP) one at that. A NAT enabled router will proxy all your computers requests through that single IP connection.

As for the original question, the act of file sharing takes place on your PC's themselves. The wireless access point and/or router is just a method of connection between your machines...no different from a direct cable as far as sharing is concerned.



[This message has been edited by Pointfreak! (edited 11-07-2002).]