Router Issues

Posts: 85 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Jan 30, 2005 Posts: 85

I signed up yesterday and am excited to get this going. My question: I am using a software firewall that works well. Customer service said that I do not need a router becase the 3t31pt has one built in. How will this firewall effect my internet apps like Kaazaa, bit tourtent and other programs? I hope this works out, I really want to be part of the "revolution"

Posts: 222 · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:55 am Post subject:

The simplest way to install your new adapter will be to just connect it to an open ethernet port on your existing router and leave the rest of your current setup alone. Then just plug a phone into phone port #1 on the back of the adapter. That makes the setup process about a 2 minute deal.

If you do that, your software firewall on your computer will not affect your Vonage unit at all. Also, you can easily remove and take your Vonage phone adapter with you when you travel, because the only cables to unplug will be (1) the ethernet cable between the new adapter and your old router, and (2) the power cable/brick for the new adapter.

Now, others (probably more expert than I) will say here that this is not the best setup, and I admit there are drawbacks to using the RT31P2 behind an existing router. The major problem with putting the adapter behind the router is that you will not be able to take advantage of the QoS feature of your adapter, but that is not important if you have enough bandwidth and your call quality is OK. (I have a lot of bandwidth and have not dropped any calls or had any quality issues, so I don't miss the QoS feature at all. And some routers will allow you to assign a QoS priority to the port you use for Vonage, so you may not lose that feature at all.)

Another problem with putting the adapter behind the router is that by default it will create a separate network if you decide to plug other devices into the ethernet ports of the adapter. Your existing network and the new network will not talk to each other and you won't be able to share files or printers between networks. That's not a problem for me, because I don't use the ethernet ports on the adapter. I just use the ethernet ports and a wireless access point on my existing router and use the RT31P2 adapter only for my phone, so I don't need to use the ports on the adapter.

If you need to use thoe additional ethernet ports on the RT31P2 as a switch for other computers or devices, you can disable DHCP on the RT31P2's router and then the adapater will operate as a simple switch and you'll be on the same network as your other devices. If you do that, be absolutely sure not to put the adapter in the DMZ on your main router, or you will expose your network as a security risk open to the Internet. Your software firewall on your computer will not have any effect on that, as it only protects the computer on which it is installed and will think anything coming through the RT31P2 is to be "trusted."

In brief, you have the option of putting the new adapter in front of or behind your existing router -- or even discarding your existing router and using the RT31P2 adapter as your only router. There are benefits and disadvantage of either arrangement, so you'll have to decide. Others here will probably speak to those advantage and disadvantages now that I have opened the subject. In fact, I'd like to hear other views as well. Very Happy

Good luck.

- Fletcher

Posts: 85 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Jan 30, 2005 Posts: 85

THanks Fletcher!
I actually do not have a router and have been happy with my McCafee
firewall software. Seeing as I will have the RT31p2 and no router, how will I tell the RT31p2 that I need specific ports open for p2p programs and such? Customer service didn't seem to think that port scans would knock out the adapter...thoughts?

Posts: 79 · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:25 pm Post subject:

The RT DOES NOT have a firewall built into it other than the NAT, but that does not block any ports, so there is nothing to configure in the RT in the way of ports. Your MacAfee firewall is a software firewall & WILL NOT affect your Vonage phone service.

Posts: 85 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Jan 30, 2005 Posts: 85

YOu guys rock...Thanks! I guess I'm good to go then. WIll the adapter have problems bbecause of port scans?
I am goona love telling Verizon not to let the door hit them in the ass.

Posts: 222 · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:42 pm Post subject:

[quote="gagoots"Seeing as I will have the RT31p2 and no router, how will I tell the RT31p2 that I need specific ports open for p2p programs and such? Customer service didn't seem to think that port scans would knock out the adapter...thoughts?[/quote]

There are others here that are far more expert than I am at this, but this is what I would do with the setup and needs you describe.

First open the administration panel of the RT31P2 by using a browser to go to http://192.168.15.1. When asked, user admin as the username and admin also for the password.

Then select the Applications and Gaming tab. If you want to rely entirely on the protection of your McAfee firewall (and not on the firewall of the RT31P2), then just put your computer in the DMZ by clicking the DMZ tab. That will forward all ports to one PC. At that point, you will only be protected by your McAfee firewall.

That should do it. Just understand that your PC will be exposed by the ports that you open through your McAfee firewall.

If you want to open only a those ports needed by specific applications, use the Port Range Forwarding tab and only forward those ports needed for your specific applications. This is a little harder to set up but does not expose all your ports, so it provides a little more security. Of course, whatever ports you forward are open and do provide some risk.

If there are other security risks or considerations in this setup, perhaps others here will comment and offer advice. I don't claim to be an expert, so let's see what others say.

Good luck.

Fletcher

Posts: 85 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Jan 30, 2005 Posts: 85

Thanks again...
The software firewall has worked great, so I don't need to change it as far as I'm concerned...IT's very easy to open ports, and even keeps track of what programs want to get out as well. I am not gonna network until I buy a house, so I'm not gonna even get a router...why complicate things?
Oh and thanks for the URL for the adapter,this is very helpful as I will definately let mysoftware Firewall handle security!