Discussion
Got a computer upstarirs that i want to be hardwired and then the daughters laptop that will be wirelees, So are we networked now?
already set up the wireless and is connected..
But if we are networked then wont me having the computer upstairs hardwired be a waste of time because if some one gets on the network they can access my machine?
also i want her to be able to share the printer upstairs but dont want to be networked if there are risks? can i switch between being networked so she can use the printer when i say she can?
already set up the wireless and is connected..
But if we are networked then wont me having the computer upstairs hardwired be a waste of time because if some one gets on the network they can access my machine?
also i want her to be able to share the printer upstairs but dont want to be networked if there are risks? can i switch between being networked so she can use the printer when i say she can?
Do you have a router to connect to the Internet or do you use a modem connected to your pc?You should be able to set up a firewall to prevent anyone from the outside world seeing your network.I would also suspect there are rules you can put into the routers firewall to set the times that your daughter can access the interweb or network.There are a few settings you would need to put into the machines to enable them to work as a network and to share your printer.
esselte said:
Do you have a router to connect to the Internet or do you use a modem connected to your pc?You should be able to set up a firewall to prevent anyone from the outside world seeing your network.I would also suspect there are rules you can put into the routers firewall to set the times that your daughter can access the interweb or network.There are a few settings you would need to put into the machines to enable them to work as a network and to share your printer.
I've got a Router
Make sure you've got security on your wireless, beyond that you should be fine. Just plug the bugger in. There are some potential snags but I think it would be more efficient for you to hit them first and post back which particular snag you've hit, rather than someone trying to explain all possible snags beforehand 
Edited by sneakyneil on Tuesday 19th December 18:19
look at the bottom of your router for the model number e.g. mine is a Linksys router and model WRT54G v4 so i would goto google and search for "wrt54g wireless security guide" which then gives me guides ons etting up wireless security.
Same should apply to every make and model and should be well documented otherwise just look at WEP, WPA, WPA2, securing my router
any of them will return more resources than beleavable
Regards
Liam
Same should apply to every make and model and should be well documented otherwise just look at WEP, WPA, WPA2, securing my router
any of them will return more resources than beleavable
Regards
Liam
sneakyneil said:
Make sure you've got security on your wireless, beyond that you should be fine. Just plug the bugger in. There are some potential snags but I think it would be more efficient for you to hit them first and post back which particular snag you've hit, rather than someone trying to explain all possible snags beforehand
Edited by sneakyneil on Tuesday 19th December 18:19
Yep better to go this way than try nto explain it all at the beginning.
In general terms accessing a router is via a webpage.
Usually the URL is http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 if it's a pure Access Point then it could be anywhere.
Once you're in to that web page (it will prompt for security credentials, username / password) it should be fairly easy to see what needs doing. Often they break down in to sections so you'll see stuff about your ADSL or cable connection, DHCP settings and the like. Aim for anything marked "Security" or "Wireless Security".
Once in there see what options are avaliable. Usually WEP, WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, etc.
WPA-PSK is a pretty universal one, Windows XP's inbuilt connection creator can cope with either this or regulat WPA. I'm afraid I've no experience of WPA2 + XP's inbuilt utilities. So, select the WPA for you and type in a nice long passphrase that is BOTH MiXeD CaSe and preferably has numb3r sub5t1tut10n where possible. So as examples W4rW1th0ut3nd or M0nk3y5e3MoNk3yD0.
Once this is in and the router is happy, go to "Access Controls" and change the password used to login to the router with if it's still at default.
The router will now reboot and everyone will loose connection whilst it comes back up.
Go to your wireless clients, and enter the network key when prompted to do so by Windows's little utility.
Once this is all set-up it won't stop a determined person using your wireless but it will put off the everyday geeks looking for free wifi So, think of it like a locked door... it can still be kicked in if you REALLY want to.
Sharing the printer will be fairly easy, on your or her computer right click the printer, select properties and then in the Window that appears go to the tab called Sharing. Again, for the sake of fighting with Windows, note down the hostname and what your sharing the printer as (.i.e hostname = ballandchain share=hpdeskjet).
On the client's and with the host computer, the one with the printer, turned on, start the New Printer wizard and tell it that the device is a network jobbie. It'll let you search or simply enter a share. Type in \<hostname>\<sharename> and click Ok. It will run off and install drivers for you, it might warn about insecure programs appearing by doing this but that's just arse covering (seriously, it just replicates the drivers already installed as best it can) and then on the new printer that has arrived right click and select 'Use as default'. So long as the computer with the printer is turned on you can print.
Usually the URL is http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 if it's a pure Access Point then it could be anywhere.
Once you're in to that web page (it will prompt for security credentials, username / password) it should be fairly easy to see what needs doing. Often they break down in to sections so you'll see stuff about your ADSL or cable connection, DHCP settings and the like. Aim for anything marked "Security" or "Wireless Security".
Once in there see what options are avaliable. Usually WEP, WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, etc.
WPA-PSK is a pretty universal one, Windows XP's inbuilt connection creator can cope with either this or regulat WPA. I'm afraid I've no experience of WPA2 + XP's inbuilt utilities. So, select the WPA for you and type in a nice long passphrase that is BOTH MiXeD CaSe and preferably has numb3r sub5t1tut10n where possible. So as examples W4rW1th0ut3nd or M0nk3y5e3MoNk3yD0.
Once this is in and the router is happy, go to "Access Controls" and change the password used to login to the router with if it's still at default.
The router will now reboot and everyone will loose connection whilst it comes back up.
Go to your wireless clients, and enter the network key when prompted to do so by Windows's little utility.
Once this is all set-up it won't stop a determined person using your wireless but it will put off the everyday geeks looking for free wifi
So, think of it like a locked door... it can still be kicked in if you REALLY want to. Sharing the printer will be fairly easy, on your or her computer right click the printer, select properties and then in the Window that appears go to the tab called Sharing. Again, for the sake of fighting with Windows, note down the hostname and what your sharing the printer as (.i.e hostname = ballandchain share=hpdeskjet).
On the client's and with the host computer, the one with the printer, turned on, start the New Printer wizard and tell it that the device is a network jobbie. It'll let you search or simply enter a share. Type in \<hostname>\<sharename> and click Ok. It will run off and install drivers for you, it might warn about insecure programs appearing by doing this but that's just arse covering (seriously, it just replicates the drivers already installed as best it can) and then on the new printer that has arrived right click and select 'Use as default'. So long as the computer with the printer is turned on you can print.
Edited by thepassenger on Tuesday 19th December 21:06
sneakyneil said:
peter hh said:
are they networked now even tho the main comp is hardwired
Yes the two machines can talk to each other as is, notwithstanding any firewalls inbetween.
So i dont need to set up, network setup wizard?
and if they can talk to each other even tho one is hardwired, then surely there are no security benefits from having a computer hardwired?
peter hh said:
sneakyneil said:
peter hh said:
are they networked now even tho the main comp is hardwired
Yes the two machines can talk to each other as is, notwithstanding any firewalls inbetween.
So i dont need to set up, network setup wizard?
and if they can talk to each other even tho one is hardwired, then surely there are no security benefits from having a computer hardwired?
Not in and of its self no. Obviousley if all your machines were wired you could turn wireless off and see a theoretical increase in security.
sneakyneil said:
Its useful for some things, it can make it easier to set up connection sharing/bridging and will make you a little disk you can use to configure other machines with to all work together. But you have a router with DHCP so you don't need it.
What do you want to do with the network?
What do you want to do with the network?
I wanted the one computer hardwired so that it is not as vunerable as wireles but looks like i cant do that, And i wanted the laptop to share the printer that is upstairs, and also wanted to netsend messages!
Edited by peter hh on Thursday 21st December 15:18
peter hh said:
i wanted the laptop to share the printer that is upstairs
Assuming the printer upstairs is plugged into the desktop,
Whatever firewall you're using enable file & printer sharing through it.
go to control pannel, printers. right click on the printer you want to share and choose 'sharing'
Share it out
On the laptop go to 'my network places'
'view workgroup computers'
click on the desktop, then the shared printer
It will ask if you want to install it, say yes.
There are some pitfalls but they involve lots more typing so post back if you hit one of them
peter hh said:
and also wanted to netsend messages!
The 'net send' messenger service is disabled by default in XP, might be better off using MSN messenger or something.
peter hh said:
I wanted the one computer hardwired so that it is not as vunerable as wireles
You can configure your firewall so that only your laptop computers IP is trusted by the desktop if you're really worried about it.
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