Re: Firewall Newbie Help (PS)

From: Tony Whitmore (tony_whitmore@nospamhotmail.com)
Date: 07/28/02 

From: "Tony Whitmore" <tony_whitmore@nospamhotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2002 17:17:37 +0100

Hi xxxasa,

You will only need a proxy if you *want* to access your files from the
internet. A proxy server allows computers not connected directly to a
computer resource (like your files) to access them via another computer with
a proxy server running on it. Basically, the client connects to the proxy
server, the proxy connects to the resource, the resouce sends the data to
the proxy and the proxy sends the data to the client. I got he impression
that this isn't what you want, only to access your file server B from
anywhere on your local network.

If you have set up ZoneAlarm as you say, then you should be protected from
outside connections. You can check whether connections to your computer are
possible from the internet using web based port scanners like
www.pcflank.com. This service should not be able to connect to any port on
your computer, especially port 139 which is used by the File and Printer
Sharing service - the one you will use to access your files on server B. If
no outside connections are possible , then all the machines on your local
network are protected.

As far as not "messing around with logins" goes, by using Windows 2000 and
Windows XP you may have problems. This is because under these operating
systems, the File and Printer Sharing service requires a username and
password to be entered before access to files can be granted. Windows 9x
didn't require the same username and password authentication to allow
connections, but where less secure as a consequence.

When you try to connect to your server B, you will be prompted to enter
username and password. This must be the username and password for a valid
user account already created on server B. I would recommend you create a
username and password just for using when you access your files. Under
Windows 2000 and XP (but not 9x) you can enter this when you try to connect
to a share on server B.

If you *really* can't bear to enter this username and password every time
you connect to server B, there is a workaround. However, you may find that
it takes more work to maintain than the method above! If the username and
password combination *in use* on laptop C or computer A is also a valid
username on server B then you will connect without any "messing around"! The
downside is that all the usernames under which you logon to computers A or C
and access file shares have to be created on server B as well. When you
change your password on one system, it has to be changed on the other two as
well, otherwise you will have to enter when you try to connect to a share.
(In large networks a separate domain logon server manages the valid
usernames and passwords, and saves having to synchronise passwords manually
but this might not be appropriate for you.)

Hope this is of some use to you,

Cheers,

Tony Whitmore

"xxxasa" <x@y.z.a> wrote in message
news:03Q09.470$ES.5152@newsfep3-gui.server.ntli.net...

> > Layered view
> > |||
> > [fw]=X====[x]====Y
> > PC1 hub PC2 (server) right?
> >
> >
> > | | | (free connections)
> > [fw]=X=== [x]==== Y
> > ^
> > firewall right?

>
> That's the sketch. I don't know if I have a proxy. I've just set up
network
> settings using the default methods in Win2K and WinXP.
>
> I'm running Zone Alarm and have set the local zone as trusted and the
> internet zone as high.
>
> BUT it is very important to me that I can reach files on my network from
any
> other part without messing around with logins, but that no-one can reach
> them from outside.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Network shares and printing
    ... Click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet Connections, ... Type the correct DNS address in the Preferred DNS server box. ... shared drive and entering proper username and password. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • RE: ActiveSync Error with SBS2003 and ISA2004
    ... To check if the proxy server is used for connection: ... On the PPC, click start -> settings, on the connections tab, open ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: VB app connect THROUGH proxy to a remote SQL database
    ... The whole "HTTP proxy is way more secure than allowing outgoing ... the client app and the SQL server are on ... incoming connections to the SQL server are not the problem - it's ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.languages.vb)
  • Re: Firewall Newbie Help (PS)
    ... I don't mind logging into the server, and from Win2K to Win 2K AS isn't a ... > You will only need a proxy if you *want* to access your files from the ... > anywhere on your local network. ... > didn't require the same username and password authentication to allow ...
    (comp.security.firewalls)
  • Re: Setting up Agent
    ... I keep getting username, user password, or other errors and ... Uncheck the "The Server Requires a secure Connection". ... Login Method: "UserName and Password" ... Connections reserved for body retrieval: ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)