I just recently had an Motorola SBG900 Gateway cable modem installed for broadband connection. Apparently, it is also a hardware firewall. As I am new to both broadband and firewalls, I an unable to run any online games, etc.

I've been searching the net for an hour now and can't seem to get a grasp on this. . .

Can someone drop me the basics on this?
Can I set up this bad boy to be able to play online games?

-Thanks

-Pp

I think your unit has a feature called DMZ that allows you to play games. Have you configured it?

I'm trying to remember what my son does-I set up a wireless network/router network and he plays online all the time. US ARMY is his latest, I think. I know he has the software for online playing, and connects using isp address.

Why don't you upgrade to XP? It's a stellar operating system compared to ME, and your 1.5 proc should run it fine. Just throw another stick of 256 RAM and you will be fine. Your games will run a lot better also.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day;
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime;
Then industry pollutes the water and kills all the fish.

Capt:

I'm not familiar with how to configure the unit. I've run across a few articles that I think were dealing with configuring software firewalls but I could not find anything specific on routers. The unit was installed by the broadband company and they didn't mention anything about the firewall when they were here . . . I'm open to any pointers.

ranchhand:

I have considererd upgrading to Xp. I'm just looking for the cheapest way to go about it . . . (I believe I can get a free student licencse.) And I am definately going to upgrade my ram after my tax refund rolls in. If you can remember how your son set up your firewall, I would be really grateful to hear back.

Thanks to you both,

-Pp

Well, I have a D-Link w/less router and it has never given us a problem with outgoing. So that was a non-issue.

Hoever, I had Norton Firewall (software), and it continuously gave him problems so that he disabled it to play his games. I wasn't too worried since I had the router firewall also.

Norton was slowing my system too much, so I changed to PC Cillin AV and firewall. The first time it asked about the game outgoing access, my son clicked ok and "remember this", and it hasn't given us a problem since.

On my D-Link router, there is an ISP number that I type into Internet Explorer URL bar, and my router's configuration screen comes up. I must do this on the "gateway" computer that is plugged in to the cable. Then the firewall can be configured. I suspect yours is the same. Don't be shy about calling your cable company for help! I am sure they have a way, online gaming is way too popular now for them not to.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day;
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime;
Then industry pollutes the water and kills all the fish.

ranchhand:

The tip about the ISP number was really helpful. With a little digging on the Motorola website, I managed to find the user guide and it gave me the address for setup. After reading up a bit on port forwarding on portforward.com I've got things running more or less smoothly.

Thanks a lot.

-Pp