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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- UMAX has added the ability to change the WAN side MAC address
and a Java firmware upgrade applet to their popular UG3000
router. They've also added a MacOS firmware upgrade utility.
Links and more information are on the revamped UGate
Help page.
30 May 2000
- Netgear was first out of the gate with a HomePNA 2.0 (10Mbps)
Phoneline USB adapter. Read
the review to see how it performs.
29 May 2000
- Looks like there's finally a general purpose TFTP Client available for
the Mac, so that Linksys Router users with only Macs on their networks
don't have to jump through so many hoops to keep their firmware
upgraded. Go
here for more info.
- Although there still aren't any 10Mbps HomePNA 2.0
to Ethernet bridges available, Farallon's HomeLINE Ethernet to
Phoneline Network adapter is worth checking out if you need to join
Ethernet and Phoneline networks together. Read
our review to see why you might want to add one to your
network!
26 May 2000
- It's a great time to be buying a low-cost router! As we previously
reported, D-Link lowered the street price of their DI-701 Residential
Gateway to $99 the other day. Word comes today that Computers4Sure.com
dropped the price of the new Linksys BEFSR11 Etherfast Cable/DSL router
to $99.99
24 May 2000 - Nexland announced that they've been shipping
a new model of their ISB2LAN router that includes a 4 port 10BaseT
hub, since mid-April. The product is available only through
Nexland's Web site and is also being supplied to Nexland's OEM partners.
No product review yet, but you can check the Router
Comparison chart for the basic info!
Nexland also announced that they've applied for a patent
on their multi-session IPSec Pass-Thru technology. You can read the press
release here.
- In an apparent move to head Linksys' new BEFSR11
1 port Cable/DSL Etherfast routeroff at the pass, D-Link
today reduced the street price of its DI-701 Residential Gateway to $99,
and added PPPoE capability. Get set for another round of cost reductions
in the small router market!
23 May 2000
- Linksys has fired their latest shot over the bow of their inexpensive
Ethernet router competitors. We get the first look at the BEFSR11
1 port Cable/DSL Etherfast router, which is shipping now with a street
price of $105! Is it the one for you? Better read
the review before you buy!
22 May 2000 - Alert readers will notice that the navigation bar at
the top of each page has changed. The "Web Hosting"
category has been replaced by "Serving". This new
section tells you how to safely allow servers on your LAN to be accessed
from the Internet. There's also information on how to use dynamic
DNS providers to make reaching those servers a piece of cake, despite
the changing IP address from your ISP! Check
it out!
- Speaking of dynamic DNS services, we review the top-rated TZO.com
in the Review section. See how they did right
here.
18 May 2000 - Looks like Linksys has made it official!
Info is up on their site on the BEFSR11, the new, even lower-cost
1 port version of their popular Cable/DSL Etherfast router. Street
price is $105 and buy.com
has 'em now and egghead.com
will have them shortly. Check out Linksys'
web page or go to the Router
Comparison Chart to see how it compares!
- In other Linksys news, looks like the V1.23 firmware
update has been pulled back. Go
here for more info.
16 May 2000 - The KNR7TXD Fast EtheRx 10/100 Internet Access Router
and Arescom EZ Rider Pro have been added to the
Router comparison chart.
15 May 2000 - The HW Router
Comparison chart has been reformatted for easier reading and printing.
You can now also comment on routers that haven't been reviewed yet! Just go to the chart and click on the Add Opinion icon
- Looks like Apple is not to blame for problems with
setting up Airport Base stations on Windows-only networks.
A helpful reader also tipped us to a Java applet that allows you to
set up the Apple Airport base station. Go
here for updated info and also get a how-to on setting up!
13 May 2000
- As promised, here's the report from the Networld/Interop 2000
show. You'll find hot info on the latest new routers and wireless
networking products. Go here for the
info!
11 May 2000
- Linksys has released new firmware upgrade for their best-selling
Etherfast router. V1.23 fixes the problem of hosting a PPTP server on the
LAN side and more. Go directly to the Linksys
FTP page for the download or here
for more info.
- We're back from the Networld/Interop show and besides tired
feet, we've got info on great new products coming out. A full report
will follow in a day or so, but for now, look for some great new
routers from Linksys including a low-cost one with no built-in
switch and one with an 8 port switch built in. Plenty of
802.11b / WiFi wireless adapters and access points coming out soon,
too. New routers coming from SonicWall, ZyXEL and SMC,
too. Again, more later.
7 May 2000 - Those of you who have been looking for an easier way to
choose an inexpensive Hardware Router can look no more. We've added
a HW Router Comparison chart
and revamped the HW Router page
with tips on selecting the right router for you. Take a look!
- We're off to Networld/Interop
to see what's new. So check back in a week or so to see what we
found!
3 May 2000
- We finally got our hands on the low cost D-Link DI-701 Residential
Gateway. Check the review
to see how it did!
- Watchguard announced that the 1.5.7 version of the Watchguard SOHO
firmware adds PPPoE support. Read the full
review here.
30 April 2000
- Maybe someone at Apple was paying attention to the tip we posted
back on April 8 about being able to use Apple Airport base stations
in PC only networks. It seems that the method
we posted for setting up the Airport Base via PC no longer works!
We're checking into the situation, and will post new info as soon as we
get it.
24 April 2000
- Some readers have asked how the 3COM HomeConnect Phoneline kit
compares to the other HomePNA 2.0 products that I've reviewed. Now
you can see for yourself by reading
the review.
- Both Linksys and Netgear have announced HomePNA 2.0
10Mbps USB network adapters, but Linksys sent us one before anyone
else, so
they get the first
exclusive review! The Netgear is on its way, so watch for that review
shortly.
11 April 2000
- We finally got our hands on a Netgear RT311 for a close look. See
if it really is "amazingly similar" to another product right here!
8 April 2000
- A helpful reader tipped us off to how to use an Apple Airport Base
station with a Windows machine. Since the Apple Airport is
significantly less expensive than other wireless 802.11b access points,
you can get your wireless network up for less $! Check
out the info here.