Dell OptiPlex GX260 - Manual (Page 209)

Home and Small Office Networking
The Network Setup Wizard includes a checklist and steps to guide you through the process of sharing resources, such as files,
printers, or an Internet connection, between computers in a home or small office. In Windows XP, Microsoft has improved the
online documentation and usability of operating-system tools for setting up a home or small office network. New features in
the operating system include support for the Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) and a built-in firewall.
Network Setup Wizard
The Home Network Wizard first appeared in Windows Me. To make setting up a home or small office network easier, Microsoft
developed an enhanced Network Setup Wizard for Windows XP. This version provides more complete online documentation
and support for setting up a home or small office network. The new wizard automatically enables the personal firewall
discussed later in this section (see " Internet Connection Firewall ").
To use the wizard:
1. Click the Start button, point to All Programs—> Accessories—> Communications , and click Network Setup
Wizard.
2. When the welcome screen appears, click Next>.
3. Click checklist for creating a network.
The checklist leads you through the steps necessary to set up a home or small office network and provides extensive
references for each step. When you have completed the necessary connections and preparations, return to the
Network Setup Wizard.
4. Select the Internet connection method and click Next>.
5. Select the Internet connection and click Next>.
6. Type a description of the computer and a computer name, and then click Next>.
7. Review the network settings and click Next> to finish the setup.
8. When the setup process is complete, click Finish to close the wizard.
Internet Connection Firewall
Today's always-on cable modem and DSL Internet access connections offer unprecedented bandwidth to the home, but also
leave the connected computer or home network vulnerable to hacker attacks. The nature of these attacks varies, but the goal
is to gain access to individual computers attached to the Internet. With this access, a hacker can browse the hard drive and
add or delete files, discover passwords and credit card numbers, and set the system up to launch attacks on other systems or
websites. As a result, firewall protection from these attacks is increasingly required on computers. Recognizing this need,
Microsoft provides an integrated firewall in Windows XP to provide immediate protection from outside access attempts. When
enabled, the Internet Connection Firewall provides basic protection suitable for most home and small office users.
NOTE: Enabling the Internet Connection Firewall does not reduce the need for virus- checking software.
The firewall is automatically enabled when you run the Network Setup Wizard. When the firewall is enabled for a network
connection, its icon appears with a red background in the Network Connections portion of the Control Panel. The Internet
Connection Firewall can be applied to each Internet connection on the computer. The firewall also provides basic logging
capabilities. Not all events that appear in the log are hacker attacks. Many different types of harmless events can appear in
the log, such as routine checks by an Internet Service Provider to verify the presence of your computer (pings).
The firewall is configured using the Properties dialog box associated with each Internet connection in the Control Panel.
The firewall can be enabled or disabled. Additional configuration options are available for more advanced users. These
advanced options include the ability to open or close specific Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol
(UDP) ports or to enable port redirection. Port redirection allows access requests to a specific port on the firewall (such as
port 80, the Web server port) to be automatically redirected to another computer on the local network. This capability allows
a Web server on a home network to be protected by an edge firewall.