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OT: Networkisti help - Windows Firewall and wireless laptop.
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Right, it's like this see ..
1) I have a desktop with XP SP2 on it and Windows firewall enabled.
2) I have a laptop which connects to our home network wirelessly and I
have no problems accessing files on the desktop from the laptop etc.
3) I can't see the laptop from the desktop ... that is until I turn
off Windows firewall at which time the desktop sees the laptop. I can
then turn the firewall on again and the desktop continues to see the
laptop. However, after the desktop has been switched off, I'm back to
square one when I come to turn it on again.
I would really like to be able to just set this up so that the desktop
can always see the laptop without having to turn the firewall off and
on again. It's no big deal, I know, I just don't think it should be
working like that.
I suppose I could just turn the Windows firewall off, but as I'm no
expert on firewall things I'm not sure whether this is a route I want
to go down.
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If you're using a hardware router to connect to the internet, which
I'm sure you are, then that will have a firewall built into it. So,
imo, you can safely turn off the firewall on the lappy.
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Yup, hardware router which does indeed to have a built in firewall.
Thank you, problem appears to be solved.
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I'd very strongly advise against it..
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Are you hoping that someone will ask you why?
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As someone who doesn't have such a router - how do you know what the
configuration is, and whether it's actually protecting your network at
all?
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Not really no. I'm assuming that people are capable of thinking for
themselves.
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Really? So, is someone said "I'm thinking of buying some your choice>" and I said "I'd advise against it", without giving any
explanation, do you think anyone would take me seriously?
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As usually, you've avoided the point completely.
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And as usual you have managed to avoid the point I was making. Is there
something about Fridays that makes you unusually clue-resistant?
It's been documented endlessly that running a Windows machine without a
firewall of any kind isn't a good idea. Anyone with an ounce of ability
would be able to determine that from places like web-search. I was (at the
time) very busy so posted a quick "don't do it" message assuming that
anyone sufficiently interested or aware would either a) ask for
clarification or b) find out for themselves from the many places where
that information is available. Since it wasn't something that was a
personal opinion thing (unlike choice of tyres to use your analogy -
which often can be) for which there is plenty of easyly accessible
evidence I left it at that.
So yes - it was a short and terse message along the lines of "don't do
it" because I was at that time busy writing staff personal development
plans and just had a quick scan of UKRM to let my brain cool down.
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Flounced a quality one, though. Good work, Champion. Have a house
point.
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Saying "I advise against it", without any word of follow up, is
completely useless to the person your responding to, or anyone else
reading. Sure you post to ukrm for your own benefit, but this just
looks like your enjoying the sound of your own voice.
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If we all only posted for the benefit of others UKRM would be a very
quiet place.
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If you want a reason why consider the phrase 'defense in depth' as
opposed to 'perimeter security'.
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Always remembering to turn it back on if about to connect to a Wifi
point somewhere out in the nasty wide world.
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It's the firewall on the desktop that's causing the problems. The
lappie firewall appears to be happily letting me see the desktop so
that's staying on.
I'll go with Champ's suggestion for now I think ... quick fix, easy
option.
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turning off the lappy firewall.>
OK. That should be fine.
Personally I like the belt and bracers approach of having Zonealarm on
all my machines as well as being behind a router firewall.
Nice to know if some new/strange program is asking for internet access.
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Even better IMO turn off the Windows firewall, use ZoneAlarm free
version and add your home network to the trusted zone.
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.. is the right answer ..
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Answers on a postcard please.
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leave the firewall on but ensure File and Printer Sharing is enabled. Once
it's enabled you can go into the firewall settings and allow the service
access through the firewall.
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Or, I could explain it to you over the curry tomorrow night - are you
coming out with us in Bedford?
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Sadly not. I'm up to my neck in assignments - 2x 2000 word reports to
get in by next Thursday (1), followed by throwing a draft of my
dissertation together for an impending meeting with my supervisor ...
roll on 11:30 on 24th May when it will all be over!
1) One report assessing the suitability of an area for designation as
a SSSI (I'll be presenting an argument against designation), and the
other a management report on the effectiveness of the Clywedog dam in
respect of flood mitigation on the River Severn (2).
2) I really know how to have fun!
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I appear to have solved the problem ... I've checked the UPnP box
under the exceptions tab in the firewall on the desktop and it's now
seeing the laptop even after rebooting the desktop.
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Is file and printer sharing switched on? It then appears in the
firewall exception list IIRC.
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Yup, all switched on and running quite happily.
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