Security implications of W98 PC as a Network Server

[paulfromcambs]

Hi and many thanks for such an informative forum.

Are there any security issues with connecting a Windows 98 PC to a VM cable modem? In particular I'm thinking about the fact I have it set to act as network server, I read on one of W98 sites this speds up the PC which it certainly did. Should I change the setting back to desktop?

I would also like to connect through a router, the W98 PC being wired and a Vista Laptop connecting wirelessly. Could someone recommened a suitable router to work with both machines.

Advice on setting this up would be gratefully received, have read quite a few posts and have a fair idea on how to do this, just a bit concerned on any security issues I might have overlooked.

Regards Paul.

[SMHarman]

Connecting direct without a firewall, or firewall software will be a plan for disaster.
A router between the modem and the W98 PC will help a lot.
Running it as server just changes the way it allocates resources to things like screen rendering vs disc access.
Alternativly you could also probably upgrade the OS to NT4 without too much difficulty or cost (if you were to do it legitimately), have a better file system, more stable machine etc.
I have (had) NT4 running on a Celeron 333 with 96MB of RAM, works fine, though slow to startup, but it is (was) never switched off.

[paulfromcambs]

Thanks for the reply, have Zone Alarm installed, its also a Celeron 333 with 224mb of ram. A further question, if i connect the SACM direct to the W98 PC to see how things go, will I have to change all the settings when I later connect the router?

[brundles]

Assuming you just have the PC setup with DHCP then you shouldn't have to change anything.

I'd be a bit dubious about connecting a 98 machine up in general - for no other reason than the number of Windows vulnerabilities found today that will affect it while (if I recall correctly) MS have stopped providing updates for W98.

Also - Windows 98 - I think have a limited number of connection 4 I think it is...so if a 5th connection comes along it'll be refused.