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Post by Soul on Feb 10, 2005 0:40:10 GMT -5
The DMZ host function exposes a computer on the LAN to the internet, meaning that all incoming connections to the router will be forwarded to a PC inside the LAN, just as if there were no router in between. For most applications, DMZ host is not necessary. Port forwarding is something like a reduced version of DMZ host, the only difference is that you get to choose exactly which ports will be forwarded and to which PCs (i.e. you could forward FTP (port 20 & 21) to one computer and http (port 80) to another). Plus it is more secure because all the other ports are blocked, i.e. if a trojan horse is installed on the server(s), nobody will be able to connect to it, because the only ports available are already being used. There's also Dynamic DNS (DDNS). Some routers have integrated, vendor-specific DDNS functions. But you can always run DDNS from the server computer and not directly from the router, meaning that the device that sends the updates to the nameservers is the server PC and not the router. Same thing. (no-ip is a provider of DDNS). My tiny little router (Network Everywhere brand) cost just $40 USD new at walmart, and it's loaded with features (but it's not a wireless router). You don't need to buy an expensive enterprise-class cisco router if you're just going to use it for a home LAN (in fact they're not even meant for that purpose). As for "NAT", I was never taught that term in Cisco networking, but I just took a look at howstuffworks, and I see that it's more of a "descriptive tech term" than a configurable function like DMZ is for example. Really, NAT is exactly what routers do, they're inseparable (there is no such thing as a router without NAT). Ah, that's 3l33t.  Though, I am more of a software/internet geek; I don't play with hardware that much. i.e. I'd rather pay $40 for a router than buy an xbox and convert it into a gateway =p Though I understand a few people out there would rather buy the xbox because they'd have a helluva' good time converting it  Well yes, you need one router and one DSL modem. They are two different functions. I don't doubt that there must be a few devices out there that can do both, but they must be expensive. Most DSL ISP's will provide the DSL modem anyway, so, why bother? I have my router connected to the ISP-provided DSL modem with a tiny 12 cm. long flat ethernet cable. |
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Post by PinkFloydYoshi on Feb 10, 2005 1:07:50 GMT -5
Yep, NAT ("Network address translation") wasn't taught for me either. Although, I was asked about fibre optics, and how they work. guessing right, strangely. Still, I got the impression NAT was some sort of hardware firewall that made the router handle IP addresses differently. I've seen it described quite a bit as an extra feature on routers saying "NAT Firewall". Hmm. I am corrected. Mini-itx.com was my inspiration to start modding my systems. The paint fumes of one weren't very nice, heh. MAybe I should have done it outside. Still, the mini-itx'd XBox is a good idea. Even better, modding the original XBox mobo to run Linux is great fun since the hard drive is locked specifically to the board. the board sends out a request for a special drive parameter, drive provides it, system boots. put another systems drive in, it won't boot. The 'chip' turns this off. naughty method, but springs a whole new life into the rather heavily equipped xbox mobo. The next project, if it's not a converted xbox, will be the respraying and modding of an n64. a few more lights, just enough to avoid taking vital power from the system. Add an led or two. Might even put a UV cold cathode tube in there and use UV Reactive paint on the case. This one has to be the godliest provject of them all though. www.mini-itx.com/projects/sx64/Google on that incredibly small screen. rox0rs. oo, the envy. Most isp's here provide USB modems. BT Voyager 105's to be exact. they're ok to get me by. There are some router/modem boxes on the market, but for an slightly inflated price. Before I got this linksys router, I didn't think I'd need a modem too. |
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Post by Soul on Feb 10, 2005 1:29:47 GMT -5
I think "NAT Firewall" is just another name for "hardware firewall", since it uses hardware instead of software to do its thing. The NAT part simply means that it's doing filtering at the network layer, instead of the application layer. Cool ;D I think I'd have fun too observing someone else do the job. aww, a collectible computer ruined.  I can bet that that computer would have fetched a really high price as a collectible on eBay. Shame it was destroyed. |
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Post by Soul on Feb 11, 2005 2:57:41 GMT -5
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Post by PinkFloydYoshi on Feb 11, 2005 10:16:15 GMT -5
Eugh, should have replied to this last night.
Possibly, but it was for a good cause. mind you, I'd like to see the old gubbins put into a modern pc tower, connected to a vga monitor. That would rock.
If you ever do come down to the UK, I'll be happy to mod another for you. I find hardware projects great fun. Wasn't that long ago I saw an XBox with 3 hard drives installed on it. Funny, that'd require quite alot of modding since there's only the primary ide on the box's motherboard, so, obviously, that'd mean he can't hook up any more than 2 devices, and that works out too. The hard drive and the DVD drive.
And yeah, check soul's link out guys, it's quite funny the fact that apparently viruses can distribute themselves across the mains, and even more impossible yet, batteries. "(You might try hooking up just the negative pole.)" Yes. That's really going to solve your problems. </sarcasm>
Wow, this is turning into a geek thread. I wish it'd involve more than just us two. Surely there's more geeks upon the board?
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Post by Soul on Feb 11, 2005 20:37:01 GMT -5
us comp geeks truly are a rare kind. And comp geeks that are also Yoshi fans are even a much rarer kind. There's like, 2 in the whole world?  That's very good, because a lot of people don't seem to get "great fun" out of anything (And I do mean GREAT fun, not just good fun). What do average people do? They don't start working on some awesome tech project like geeks do. Instead they buy a bunch of music CDs or go to the movies as often as possible because they get sooo bored. =p Or turn on the TV and watch it for hours straight. (no offense to normal people). As for visiting England, I do want to go there someday, there are plenty of things that I'd like to see. Although Japan is still my #1 priority... |
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Post by PinkFloydYoshi on Feb 11, 2005 23:18:43 GMT -5
Yeah, we've got some nice places. One of them I've not been to myself. It being Winchester cathedral. It's meant to be beautiful inside. Said to look like something out of a fantasy book(Me being into fantasy and all...)
Heh, there's sure to be more. Can't just be us two, heh.
Aww, I see more and more off topicness.
While on topic to a certain degree, you got that finalversion.zip final handy? I thought I downloaded it but now I've had a sort through, I can't find it. I might have expanded it somewhere and it's on one of these dvd's which I haven't got through to yet.
I've just gone to download it and it's 404'ing me. well, bringing up the 404 placeholder.
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Post by red.yoshi on Feb 12, 2005 11:47:48 GMT -5
ok back on topic
theres a question id like to ask: (i have windows 2000) does anyone know what programs like Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB(random 5 digit unmber) are or do? when i go to the add/remove programs part of my control panel, theres gotta be atleast 15 sitting there - undated when i last used them, and they wont show how much memory they are requiring. it wouldnt be so suspicious as if it was 1 or 2, but theres a list of them. if anyone knows what they are, please tell me.
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Post by Moot on Feb 12, 2005 15:35:18 GMT -5
As far as I know, they're all the updates from Windows Update.
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Post by red.yoshi on Feb 12, 2005 18:14:02 GMT -5
ok, but why so many? can i delete a few, and my computer still be good to run? theres also one for windows media player. it says: windows media hotfix (or somthing) then it says next to it somthing like: consult to the windows 2000 hotfix so and so. theres also one that just says windows 2000 hotfix, and it stands alone, i think.
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Post by Moot on Feb 12, 2005 18:33:58 GMT -5
As far as I know they're mostly security updates and such, so its best to leave them there.
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Post by Soul on Feb 12, 2005 19:18:19 GMT -5
red.yoshi, don't touch those hotfixes unless you want to give hackers an easy way into your system (This is why non-tech comp users should never be logged in as administrators...). These hotfixes are patches from windows update that are needed to maintain your system's security. There are always a lot of them in the add/remove programs list, but the only reason they're there is that you can uninstall them in the rare event that they cause a problem. Deleting programs from disk won't improve your system's performance by any margin. Instead you should remove them from memory. For example, when you power up your computer, some programs will be launched automatically, like msn messenger, yahoo messenger, winzip quick pick, etc. etc... What you need to do is find the options window on each of these programs and uncheck any boxes marked "load this program when windows starts", or "run at startup", or anything like that that says the program will load automatically when windows loads. I also recommend that you run a program called Lavasoft Ad-aware, it will get rid of most of the adware and spyware in your system if any, and if you have a lot of it then it could really help improve your system's performance. But the most effective way to improve performance is always to buy more RAM. www.lavasoft.comwww.crucial.com |
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Post by red.yoshi on Feb 12, 2005 21:04:22 GMT -5
thankyou, its already been done though. the only programs that i have launching at startup are what pulse, and spy ware killer. (what pulse dosent even work anymore  ) anyway, its a combination of my slow computer, (man i need a new motherbord) and tons of spyware that stupid hunter wont pick up. i already have: sygate firewall avast antivirus spybot and spyware killer still, thanks for the two sites, i will check them out. and thanks for the info about hotfixes. just reminding everyone: any internet optimizer is spyware, and should be removed from your computer instantly! |
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Post by red.yoshi on Feb 13, 2005 12:22:33 GMT -5
sorry for the doubble post, BUT
i took souls advice, and downloaded ad-aware. i scaned my computer fully after the download, and ad-aware picked up the windows 2000 hotfix files as spyware. (what even more startled me was that they took up the majority of the search.) i knew they looked pretty suspicuious since i didnt run windows update in awhile.
anyway, thanks soul for giving me the site for ad-aware. it really helped clean up my computer.
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) anyway, its a combination of my slow computer, (man i need a new motherbord) and tons of spyware that stupid hunter wont pick up. i already have: