Suggestion: Router Forum

Hi everyone!

What do you think of the idea to open a Router Forum, where people can go when they have questions about their routers? I personally would really appreciate such a forum and I'm sure that there are other people who think like me.

I hope there will be a lot of answers (pro or contra) to this suggestion!

Best regards!

Patrice

 

I don't use a router.
But I think a forum for those that do use one would be a good thing.This could be helpful for newbies that start running a router and those people that are considering installing a router..

 

Hi,

Awaiting the decision I thought I'd post the following links:

(already posted here ):

In case you would like to learn more about routers:
Tim Higgins has a good introduction on his new site Small Net Builder:


Hardware Router NTK - Introduction (3 pages)

http://smallnetbuilder.com/Sections-article17-page1.php

Hardware Router NTK - Terminology Guide (9 pages)

http://smallnetbuilder.com/Sections-article18-page1.php

 

OPPOSED !!!!

As a business person I would consider it a very poor management decision to open ANY new forums at this particular time OTHER THAN FOR VENDORS
In just alittle over one year this BB grew from a few hundred members to several thousand.....forums were added for LookNStop and Javacools products....new moderators were added......an all has gone exceptionally well. If something works...don't fix it!!!!
There are small towns with populations smaller than the size of the membership of this BB.....under the guidence on this BB's managers its continued operating like a fine tune engine.....no major breakdowns....no major incidents
An if continued progress is to be maintained present day progress must for be digested and maintained by good planning . Its far better for this BB to maintained its present number of forums providing excellent help.....then it would be to add more forums....spread itself thin..an provide less that the best help........future expansion should be of utmost concern when a BB has reach the size and scope this BB has reached. Otherwise, it could very easily become a frivalous website...shadowed with incidents...an lost of respect in the security community.\
New software vendors should be welcomed...such vendors wont come if they feel a website can not be managed pleasently...products don't sell in turmoil...also, the addage of new vendors brings new members further enlarging membership roles........leave room for expansion.

The Snowman

 

Hi Snowman!

I really appreciated your statement! I'm a business person as well and I completely agree about your economical view. Sure you have to be careful about the growing of the forum. But if you are completely convinced of economical theory then it would mean, that we should do some reorganization at this forum, right? If I read your statement between the lines then I realize, that you watch the whole process with a suspicious eye.

The suggestion of the router forum is meant for beginners and people who have problems setting it up correctly. And it is not meant for Vendors or anything like that. Why? This platform need to be independent in this special case. Companies always (and I'm sure you know that) put their product in a very good light, even though the product isn't overhelming.

I'm pretty sure that there are many questions out there about routers and how to set them correctly. There are some forums about routers out there, but they don't have the power and knowledge Wilders has concerning security. In my opinion this would bring an additional benefit to the whole Wilders forums. Sure, it's possible to ask such questions in other forums like Privacy General or Other Security Issues, but it would make these forums slimmer and more efficient. Like that you would have some sort of reorganization, which perhaps is needed.

I'm looking forward hearing of you!

Best regards!

Patrice

 

Agreed

 

Of course I have to dissagree

To me a router forum is a much better time investment than say
cookie managment.
There is nothing to be affraid of. Anybody on broadband SHOULD be using a router pedriod !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even though it seem very simplistic for us experienced users.
The router issue is something not being addressed enough by
anyone and is of MOST importance. Is is however a scary issue for new users or those knowing they should be using a router but are affraid to. We don't have to sell or push any certian brand,
Although the most common seem to be Linksys, Cisco and Actiontec
I am fond of Actiontec because of it's wireless encryption for the network but I alsoi have used Linksys for along time a love that router also. There is no dought way more info written on Cosco or Linksys.
What we are shooting for is a hadware firewall combined with the best
software filrewalls that can be created. Oh yes and my favorite, a good e-mail scanning AV.

 

This is one section that I have missed at Wilders
So far we are very aware of all risks concerning the use of computer systems that we call PC's. And most of these risks are risks because we connect them to the internet.
Using a router between the two naturally lessens the threats.

In our contry there is a very lively forum dedicated to linux based routers (http://www.minddigger.com) , there is hardly an english language equivalent. Here's an opportunity

 

I have to weigh in on the "AYE!" side here - but only if we can get people willing to spend the time (and who have the knowledge) to actually make it fly.

The links given to the various "router help" forums/pages (if one is started) should be put in a sticky and be made required reading before posting questions (there's no use in starting over from scratch every time someone new pops in).

I don't use a router, myself, although I've often toyed with the idea - mainly because I have things pretty well set the way I have them, and I don't want any reduced functionality of what I already have - or any outright "conflicts of interest".

 

Hi spy1!

I really liked your answer and have to say it's well thought! Yes, I completely agree about this issue, but first we have to wait and see what others are thinking about this idea. Unfortunately not many people are taking part in this poll, even though a lot of people are looking at this post...

Thanks so far to all the valuable inputs & taking part in this poll!

Best regards!

Patrice

 

With cable and DSL becoming so commonplace in homes/small bidnesses, it will become a necessity to have a forum to make sense of everything.

Wilders won't be complete without a "Routers Forum" soon.

 

I admit my knowledge of routers you could write on the back of a stamp.

Does the average Joe with one pc surfing the internet really need a router?

Fine if you network a few together but what % of average users do?

I'll vote 'I dont know' because I dont know enough about it.

 

Tniribs, You are correct ins aying.

Does the average Joe with one pc surfing the internet really need a router?


In the single user BB situation & as long as there are no file sharing allowed in the setup, probably no.
Consider please all those users with two or more "connected" computers then the situation is completely different.
A router becomes much more viable than a normal hub or switch with the added benefits of a hardware firewall albiet NAT. Yes. you will still need a software firewall but overall your security will be enhanced.
So, A single user does not need a router but networked PC's would surely benifit?

 

By "no file sharing allowed", do you mean music and video files via a file-sharing program? Or are you referring to Windows-type file-sharing?

(See, I'm dumb! But happy! ) Pete

 

Hi spy1!

Pilli means, that there are no folders shared on your computer (printer and folder sharing of Windows). He doesn't mean shares of a file-sharing program.

I completely agree to what Pilli said, there's no need for one single PC to have a router in front of it. In this case a firewall will do. But as soon as you have two PC's, you can think of buying a router to improve your security.

Regards,

Patrice

 

Here in the USA a small home network is becomming the norm.
Parents are tired of sharing their time with their children.
Many parents now have to wait till 10:00 PM to use their own PC
because of the children using it for school ect. Routers are now
taking into account some parents or even buisnesses don't want
instant messaging at all. Some don't want certian web sites accessable. These new routers make all that filtering possiable.
You are able to even filter out certian IP ranges alltogether.
Once again, this is why I like the new actiontec routers.

 

Off topic:

I think that a person with only one PC, also has benefit of an hardware firewall, in particular when you are on cable or (A)DSL.
Such an hardware firewall has only one thing to do: to protect you.
And it runs not on Windows but on a special OS for that router.
Nothing is un-vulnerable but such an hardware firewall is less vulnerable than a software firewall on Windows. Think for example of Trojans with the capability to stop your firewall. OK, I know, you also should be defended by an AT, and some firewalls have some capability to protect you against it, but nevertheless I still think that an hardware firewall (or at least router with only NAT) gives more and layered protection. And there are Paul's famous words: don't put all your eggs in one basket
The situation for dial-up users is different; as far as I know: not many choices, and/or expensive ones.

 

even the cheapest hardware firewall is pretty effective for home users; just know their limitations.

 

Hi guys!

Please don't forget, that a hardware firewall can't give you the needed protection inside-outside! That's why you still need a software firewall, which blocks outgoing traffic which wasn't allowed til now. And besides a software firewall I suggest that you use TDS-3 against trojans as well.

Regards,

Patrice

 

Spy1, What I meant was file & print sharing in Windows set up. A software firewall IMO is imperitive when on BB or on dial-up if you have a fixed IP. It is not quite so bad if you are a dynamic IP'd dial-up user but you still need all the other layers though.
P to P File sharing software is another matter, then your need for layered protection should be on the lines of body armour! FW, AV, AT Spyware, Worms etc.etc.

IMHO For what routers cost now, if you are on BB, it is worth having a router as an extra layer whether on a network or not, especially if one has a growing family!

 

After noticing not many people were adding to it (generally speaking) I added my "I don't know" vote simply because I don't know anything about routers except a buddy has one in Holland and he has to know what port we are playing on to use any online games that use directplay... So I'm no help but I'm here and reading

 

Hi Detox!

That's why we would like to open a router forum! For people like you!! So that you understand why a router brings additional benefit to your computer/network, and lots of other answers!

Best regards!

Patrice

 

Hmm well it might be nice actually; I hadn;t thought about the application but I've got my old puter sitting next to my nice machine but it has no access; I've got an extra ethernet card in this one b/c I planned from the beginning to connect 'em so the old one had net access as well... But never did.. Someone told me that just a cable between the ethernet cards wouldn't do the job... Maybe I do need to learn about routers... But I already voted.. hmph

 

Detox, A simple network can be achieved by using an ethernet crossover cable between the two NICs There is a wizard in Windows 98 & above to set up the networking.
If you are on BB using a network card you will need two cards in the gateway PC.
You will also need a software firewall on the gateway PC or use software such as Wingate which will do the networking bit as well.

This could turn into a very long thread

Others will add to this I am sure.

Another alternative would be to create a router from you old PC using linux .... Free BSD?

 

Hi Pilli!

Yes, I hope so! If I wanna proof to the webmasters, that such a forum is needed I need a lot of answers! I mean we are more than 3600 registered users and thousands of guests are visiting this site daily...

We need more answers, people!!

Regards,

Patrice