Routers....

[Urban_Tiger 0]

Hope someone who has been using them a while can help out please lol, I know how they work etc and now haveone installed at Home after finally getting Broadband installed last week but am wondering if there is any "Core or Significant" differences whether you hook up the Router to a PC with USB or Ethernet?????

Why do I ask.....I have a Zoom X4 that can be connected to the PC either by USB or Ethernet.......Is one more secure than the other if you have the option to use either is a main question??? Or are they just given as alternatives for those that don't have a LAN etc installed on their systems who would then have to use USB???

I've tried it hooked up with both, and presently it is hooked up via the Ethernet and into a Swtching Hub as I also have a temporary House Guest with me at the moment who also has a PC and wanted Web Access etc too, but when they are gone I was also considering putting the Router back on via USB again. Would that make a difference to security etc or any other Core differences etc too please guys ??

Finally, if anyone can think of any general advise with using Routers then any extra info would be appreciated. It's up and running fine and as yet nothing has been blocked out that need to get to etc but I can't help but get the feeling that it could need more setting up lol (OH NO, that feeling that usually means re-installing summat muhahahaha )!!!

[Dannik 43]

I believe the trend for broadband modems and other home networking devices to have both USB and ethernet ports is simple practicality. If you have a laptop computer, or don't have the faintest clue on how to set up a LAN, USB makes it dead easy. Plug `n play.

USB 1.1 ports have a maximum bandwidth of about 10 megabits per second, as well as they require some CPU cycles to operate. This is certainly fast enough for virtually any home broadband signal to get from the modem to your computer, but too slow if you have shares/servers on your LAN, as regular ethernet (depending on your configuration) is 10/100 megabits per second, and is essentially transparent to your system, as the NIC (ethernet card) does all the processing, freeing up your CPU.

Ultimately, USB is great for convenience and simplicity, but if you can use ethernet, it's a more efficient transport method. There's no difference in security, just potential performance. Even so, this is basically nominal.

Conclusion: Use whatever you prefer. I'd prefer ethernet if it was me.

[Specter 0]

The other thing that you have to remember about USB, is that if you have multiple USB ports, the bandwidth is not split up evenly between them. The USB controller on the PC can handle 12 Mbps. But it isnt on all of the USB ports. It splits the bandwidth up unevenly between the ports.

For a network, the way to go is ethernet.

[Urban_Tiger 0]

Thanx for the info again Phantom and also Dannik, I suspected the security issue wasn't relevant, but someone was telling me it was when I was saying it wasn't, and it was being disputed to the point of I had to check with someone else rofl!!!! Anyway........

Any of you guys ever use grc.com too (Shields Up)??

I use it a lot to check that my systems are reasonably secure when I make changes etc, and now with this new Router fitted when I logged on there too check the functionality of the new NAT working and when I initiate the "All Service Ports" Probe to make sure that they were either Closed as appropriate or Stealthed etc, I've found that they are now all simply Closed whereas before with Mcafee Firewall V4 alone, ALL of my Ports were succesfully Stealthed with the exception of 2.

I still have the same Software Firewall installed and intend to keep it that way anyway, but now it's changed when running the "All Service Ports" Probe and its showing that all of my Ports are Closed instead of Stealthed as they were with just that Software Firewall alone. Although it's still at least generally secure, it obviously means that Ports are now responding though, but albeit under a Port Probe reporting in simple terms, "We're all closed go away", instead of no response when they were Stealthed and basically reporting that "There is no Computer here"!!!

The Port Probe is also failing in one or two other areas too. It's now replying to Ping Requests which it also wasn't before and also Responding to "Solicited TCP Packets" which again although the Ports would still be closed, it still means the damn thing is responding which it wouldn't if they were Stealthed again instead. Even though Mcafee is still installed I guess the Router is obviously doing its work and bouncing everything back out before the Software Firewall has a chance to get into playing the game too lol!! Although not critical again, as even if someone has an IP to attack, the Router will help at least and at present my IP is also Dynamic too, so keeping my IP wouldn't do anyone any good to "Have a go another day either at least either rofl"!

On one obvious upside though, when just the Software Firewall was installed Pre-Router lol, whenever I initiated the grc.com Port Probes my Software Firewall always intercepted a SYN Port Scan Attack (which it should if working correctly obviously), but at least now the Router has been catching that again before the Software Firewall gets to deal with it instead, so the Router is working lol !!!

I have trawled thru every Set Up Option with the Routers Software and there isn't anything to effect changing it either unfortunately!!!

Annoying niggles over anything desperate but have you guys ever seen this beforewhen using your Routers etc and have any advise for once again Stealthing Ports on the NAT or is that simply the way it is please lol, (BTW, the Router is running in NAPT mode, if I set it to Disabled or NAT then the Connection goes down completely)????

Edited November 30, 2003 by Urban_Tiger