Microsoft Vista Home Networking Setup and Options
The most daunting part of upgrading to Windows Vista may be trying to figure out where in the layers of menus the networking and file-sharing options are hidden.
Tips for Securing Your Home Router
Seemingly minor and easily overlooked settings can still have profound security implications. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your wired or wireless home router — and by extension, your network — is as secure as possible.
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Microsoft Windows Home Server
If you have a home network, you'll welcome the easy file sharing, remote access and the image-based backup features of Windows Home Server.
Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive
Iomega's fourth generation StorCenter Network Hard Drive brings many of the features found in higher-end storage devices down to an attractive price.
MikroTik's The Dude
This free tool delivers many of the same capabilities that you'd find in pricey network monitoring tools. As long as you don't mind tinkering, The Dude is a decent network utility that should be worth the download.
27
Dec 1999 - I've updated the ZyXEL P310 review with higher throughput
information. Read all about ithere.
- If your ISP is using PPPoE and you've been having
trouble trying to share the connection, try
this new page for help.
21
Dec 1999 - Since Santa might bring a new computer (or two!) for the
holidays, you might want to get a nice hardware router to go with it so
that everyone can be dialed up to the Internet at the same time! The ZyXEL
P100WH just might do the trick for you. Take
a look at the review and decide for yourself.
- More goodies continue to be delivered to the testing
lab! Check back soon for reviews on the D-Link DHN-910 10Mb
Phoneline Networking kit and the much anticipated Linksys BEFSR41
Etherfast Cable/DSL router!
17
Dec 1999 - ICS users who need to open ports for games and other
special applications have been using Harley Acheson's ICS Configuration
program to do it quickly and easily! Harley has released V1.2 of
the program, which adds the ability to save and import mappings so
that once you figure out how to get your favorite application working, you
can share your work with others! Go
here for the new version of ICS Configuration.
15
Dec 1999 - Looks like S3/Diamond isn't the only game in town for a
phoneline 10Mbps network card! The Linksys Homelink Phoneline 10M
kit has hit the streets and it works like a champ! Check
it out.
8
Dec 1999 - For those of you who have been waiting for 10baseT
performance from a phoneline networking product, wait no more! The
S3/DiamondMM Homefree Phoneline 10Mbps delivers the goods! Read
the review!
- Linksys has entered the broadband Ethernet-Ethernet router
market with an interesting new low-cost entry. Check
the Router section for more info.
6
Dec 1999 - S3/DiamondMM submitted their new 1Mbps HomeFree PhoneLine
-USB adapter and 10Mbps Phoneline PCI adapters for review. You can
read the USB adapter
review here, and the 10Mbps review will be coming shortly.
4
Dec 1999 - After a rest to digest my Thanksgiving turkey, I decided to
give the routers a rest and dig into the new wireless and phoneline
networking kits that have been piling up in my In box. First up is
the WebGear Aviator 2.4 wireless kit. Check
out my review.
17
Nov 1999 - The next generation of 10Mbps phoneline and wireless
products is starting to appear, some with USB interfaces! Visit the
revamped wireless and phoneline networking
page for more info.
15
Nov 1999 - I've had many requests for a review of the Zyxel
Prestige 310 router. Well, wait no more! Go
here for the poop!
14
Nov 1999 - This must be the week for router news! Check out the review of the Macsense XRouter. Nice little unit, which
includes a 4 port 10baseT hub, and no, it's not just for Macs!
13 Nov 1999 - I've added info on some other low-cost hardware routers from
Macsense and Netgear. Check the Hardware
Router section.
9 Nov 1999
- UMAX has released and upgrade to the UGate Plus firmware that adds MS PPTP
(VPN) support for one computer. Go here
for more info.
1 Nov 1999 - Since I'm now back to dial-up for my Internet connection, what better time to
start reviewing dialup routers? First up is the UMAX
UGate II.
29 Oct 1999
- Vicomsoft, makers of Surfdoubler and other fine Internet sharing products, now
allow SurfDoubler and
SurfDoubler
Plus users to purchase a license for up to three users.
SurfDoubler pricing is now $54 for 2 users, and $73 for 3 users.
SurfDoubler Plus pricing is $74 and $99 for 2 and 3 user versions respectively.
License upgrades are also available for existing users (see this page
for SurfDoubler, this
page for SurfDoublerPlus).
- Been wondering how to add wireless (or phoneline) clients to
your network and get the whole thing playing together? Vicomsoft
has put together a nice
article. It's not a complete "how-to", but it does explain
some of the issues of getting multiple network types to play together nicely.
- The Secure Your LAN
pages have been updated, adding new backgroup information, security scanning tools and
links to personal firewall products.
23 Oct 1999 - Microsoft's ICS does the trick for sharing many people's connection.
However, for those users who need to be able to access servers (Web, FTP, pcAnywhere,
etc.) on ICS client machines, ICS hasn't been very helpful. Accessing servers
involves mapping ports through ICS' firewall and Microsoft hasn't
provided any easy way to do this.
Help has arrived from Harley
Acheson in the form of ICS Configuration.
This program makes it easy to open, close, and otherwise manage your ICS ports. Go here to download it!
- I've received two new routers for evaluation and will be digging into
them shortly: The MacSense XRouter and UMAX UGate II (dialup router). Watch the News
section for the reviews!
15 Oct 1999
- UMAX is offering UGate Plus users the opportunity to trade in their unit for a
UG3000. All you need to do is send in your old unit and $150 and you'll get a new
UG3000.
Contact support@ugate.netfor
details.
3 Oct 1999 - The big move has been completed... or at least all our stuff is here and we're
basically set up. If you're in the Charlottesville, VA area and
need some help with your small network, give us a yell!