Win XP network and dedicated firewall

[Brian Williams]

I am trying to build an XP network and have a dedicated firewall. First off all my computers are running XP pro.
For my fire wall I have a Dell Optiplex gx100 @600Mhz running an integrated 3com NIC @ 100 Gigbt going to my DSL Hub/Modem and a generic NIC 100Gigbt to go to the local net. All of the computers are Dell Optiplex Gx110 @900Mhz cept mine which is a HP at 2.4Ghz. All of the computers are talking via the Local net with Printer and file sharing, but I can not consistantly hit the web. I am using a westel Modem for Verizon DSL and I can hit it with my laptop and the firewall but not the rest.

My ultimate goal is to have the firewall running with Bsafe Online firewall/internet protection and AVGfree as antivirus.
I have tried the Network wizard and it does not set something right to hit the web across the intranet. I can get some things like google searches but not searched sites. THR is murderously slow.

Help

[lee n. field]

Hmm.  Dedicated firewall, try Smoothwall (http://www.smoothwall.org/).  Don't much around with shared internet from a Windwos machine.  Filtering and antivirus go on the client machines.

[Azrael256]

I very, very strongly recommend the use of a router for your home network.  All the new ones talk PPPoE, so they have no problem with DSL.

Which model DSL modem do you have?

[RevDisk]

Are you using the GX as a NAT server too?   

Go with a router.   Most these days can do NAT (or DHCP), basic firewall, etc.

I'm quite literally down the road, if you need any help.

I am trying to build an XP network and have a dedicated firewall. First off all my computers are running XP pro.
For my fire wall I have a Dell Optiplex gx100 @600Mhz running an integrated 3com NIC @ 100 Gigbt going to my DSL Hub/Modem and a generic NIC 100Gigbt to go to the local net. All of the computers are Dell Optiplex Gx110 @900Mhz cept mine which is a HP at 2.4Ghz. All of the computers are talking via the Local net with Printer and file sharing, but I can not consistantly hit the web. I am using a westel Modem for Verizon DSL and I can hit it with my laptop and the firewall but not the rest.

My ultimate goal is to have the firewall running with Bsafe Online firewall/internet protection and AVGfree as antivirus.
I have tried the Network wizard and it does not set something right to hit the web across the intranet. I can get some things like google searches but not searched sites. THR is murderously slow.

Help

[Brian Williams]

I think it is a Westell router/hub
I have some more Netgear 10/100Mbit hubs coming

[RevDisk]

I think it is a Westell router/hub
I have some more Netgear 10/100Mbit hubs coming

Out of curiousity, why did you go with 10/100's?

Cut the XP 'firewall'.   Go from the DSL router straight to a hub, put software firewalls on the desktops (ditto AVG), and configure the DSL router correctly.  It does have a simplistic firewall built in.

And check your email.