* 20Mb Wired Connection Problems (Superhub) - Page 2

sgtsixpack · 13-02-2011, 08:24

I've always used a hardware firewall, and often hear about problems with software firewalls not to mention resources. I don't even have an AV. I have windows defender, spybot s&d, spyware blaster and anti-malwarebytes, I also don't click on any suspicious links or executables; also use noscript for firefox.

Interested in you opinions on this due to your insistance that firewall is better off.

pip08456 · 13-02-2011, 08:54

There is no insistance that the router firewall is better off. It's just a matter of there's no point in having it on.

A software firewall is not a drain on resources that is normally down to the AV component depending on which AV you are using.

arcimedes · 13-02-2011, 09:46

There is no such thing as a hardware firewall, its just that the firewall in the router is commonly known as hardware to distinguish it from a firewall in a PC. Stupid and confusing really. Firewalls doing Statefull Packet Inspection (SPI) are alledged to consume too many CPU cycles in the router. Dont know how true it is but as NAT basically does the same thing I have mine switched off.

Mick Fisher · 13-02-2011, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgtsixpack

I've always used a hardware firewall, and often hear about problems with software firewalls not to mention resources. I don't even have an AV. I have windows defender, spybot s&d, spyware blaster and anti-malwarebytes, I also don't click on any suspicious links or executables; also use noscript for firefox.

Interested in you opinions on this due to your insistance that firewall is better off.

Switching off the firewall and IP flood protection is the only way to get the stuporhub to work half sharp. Even then it's iffy, wireless still drops in and out under a heavy load.

If you are behind a router then NAT will stop stuff getting in and a software firewall on your PC(s) will stop stuff getting out. Spyware blaster and an occasional scan with Malwarebytes free is all you really need for spy/ad ware. I also run Avira antivir free which seems to have a small footprint and doesn't seem to slow things down.

sgtsixpack · 13-02-2011, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick Fisher

Switching off the firewall and IP flood protection is the only way to get the stuporhub to work half sharp. Even then it's iffy, wireless still drops in and out under a heavy load.

Sorry I'm not very technically minded, how do I check if my stuporhub is half sharp or iffy? I've not had any wireless drop outs to my knowledge. Using wnda3100 from netgear.

Someone told me to do a ping test and I confirmed that u get packet loss when IP flood detection is on, but I still don't know how to test iffy or half sharp...

I use a wired connection for my PC, so if the firewall gives high pings to the wireless devices I wouldn't really have appreciated that.

Chrysalis · 13-02-2011, 21:03

in addition by default windows seven (and I think vista) will have a default inbound+outbound firewall enabled. So its not even just NAT protecting you.

In addition SPI has the potential to break apps and break auto tcp tuning.

sgtsixpack · 13-02-2011, 21:52

I googled spi breaks auto tcp tuning and got this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/network-s...to-tuning.html

"really old routers", symptoms like unable to load webpages or email are not present.

I have had a firewall enabled on my linksys wrt54 and previous linksys and lately my wndr3700, and I'm afraid to say I have had zero problems with it. Things like webpages not loading are hard to miss.

Mick Fisher · 14-02-2011, 13:55

I find setting 802.11 mode to 145 appears to stop the wireless drops and restarts under heavy loading.

A pity the device, which is short on features anyway, has options that can't be used.