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For sharing DSL and Cable internet connection, a Router is the simplest solution to connect two or more computers. Routers include a Switch or a Hub and a firewall, but they don't require any additional software to be installed and only the Router needs to be left on for any of the computers to be able to access the internet. The internet connection plugs directly into the Router.
When someone on the Internet tries to get into your IP Address for your Internet connection all they see is the router, not any of the computers conected behind the router.
Internet service providers may not appreciate the benefits os using a router, because they may feel that if you need to connect more than one computer, you should be required to pay additional fees. Often, when have a router connected, their support staff will not help you troubleshoot a problem, until the router has been removed. They may even indicate that the router is the source of your connection problem.
Access to the router is provided through a web site, which is built into the router. Typing the address (e.g. 192.168.1.100) of the router's web site (check the routers documentation for the address) into any browser (like Internet Explorer) will bring up the sign on screen for the router. A username and password (the documentation will indicate the default username and password) gives you access to the configuration settings of the router.
A special Demilitiarized Zone allows one or more computers to still be directly connected to the Internet, and benefit from prevention of Denial of Service attacks. You can even re-direct traffic for individual ports into the protected area so that the exposure is limited to only that specific port. An example of this would be someone who want to have their FTP site or Web Server still accessible from the Internet.
One characteristic this type of network is the NAT (Network Address Translation) that configures your computer with a local IP Address, which makes your computer virtually inaccesible from the Internet.
Un-secured wireless routers (without encryption technology activated requiring the user to type in a password or network key for access) are additionally exposed to anyone within the range of the router, and has brought about the existance of a new society of people who search for free roaming Internet connections (Hot Spots). |
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