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General discussion

How to put Windows on the network but NOT on the Internet ?

May 13, 2010 2:27PM PDT

Hi all,

I have a home network with three computers running Windows 7, a modem and a router, I`ll buy soon a QNAP NAS.

I`m looking for a method where I can have my computers on the network (so everybody will ?see? each other and the NAS), but I want to prevent Windows from being connected to the Internet (another Linux computer will do this and will be on the network).

Please, does anyone know how I can set the network configurations in my Windows 7 computers to ?fool? them, so they will try to go to the Internet but won`t ? They`ll have to ?see? the router, as I want them to be in the home network.

Thanks so much,
Zettimongo

Discussion is locked

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Several ways
May 13, 2010 8:44PM PDT

You can block port 80 in the router for the PCs you don't want to connect. This will mean issuing static IP addresses to those PCs. Of course you'll also want to make sure users where internet use is "off limits" also have limited accounts. I believe you can also try other tricks such as to configure them to use a proxy server and define a non-existent one. Again...limited local access will be important.

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Simple.
May 13, 2010 11:10PM PDT

Set the gateway to none or a non-existent IP address.

I'm unsure why simple things like this seem hard today.
Bob

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A bit more of detail..
May 14, 2010 12:28AM PDT

Thanks Bob and Steven,

Actually, all network users are me and my wife, so there`s not a real need to limit users access, I want Windows off the Internet to shield my network from viruses, trojans, etc; as I use free anti-virus software that have limited features. So, all Internet connection will be made by a laptop running Linux (e-mail, browsing, torrent, etc), while the Windows computers will REALLY manage my network, back-up`s, video editing, etc.

Please, how can I exactly set the gateway to an non-existing IP or zero ? Is there something simple like "clicking" a box to make it Internet off, and maybe clicking again to connect it temporarily in case I need to download a specific driver, etc ?

Again, thanks so much,

Best regards,
Zettimongo

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Manually assign the IP addresses.
May 14, 2010 12:43AM PDT

According to your network IP plan (you do have a plan?) and when the box for gateway is there, try 127.0.0.1 or blank. No path to the internet.
Bob

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Thanks, will take a look
May 14, 2010 1:16AM PDT

Thanks Bob, no, I don`t have a network plan, I am not a network professional, I am a typical home user with limited knowledge.

I`ll take a look at the gateway settings tonight.

Thanks again,

ZM

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That's a plan.
May 14, 2010 1:31AM PDT

Sorry but what many discover is that when you go just a little out of bounds with computers you get to learn more than you ever imagined. Even if I did note Zone Alarm's (ZA) feature of shutting down internet access it would require you to learn about ZA and check out if it would conflict with what you have installed now.

I'm sure you'll find thick books on TCP/IP but let's keep it simple. Without a gateway, your machine can't get access to more than your LAN.
Bob

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ZA, gateway
May 14, 2010 3:48AM PDT

Thanks Bob, yes, I`ve learnt more than I first thought, but I certainly don`t wanna become a LAN administrator Happy

If I use Zone Alarm will I be able to enable/disable Internet access in a less invasive way, I mean, with just a mouse click ? Thanks, I`ll take a look.

Regards,
ZM

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ZA example.
May 14, 2010 3:57AM PDT

If you read http://forums.zonelabs.org/showthread.php?t=50792 it may all sound all geek speak but as you are moving to an advanced networking setup ZA can do this.

But I'd try it with it's no network/internet access feature first.

Don't burst into flames as you speed up!
Bob

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OK
May 14, 2010 6:09AM PDT

Thanks Bob, I`ll definitely take a look at ZA.

ZM

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ZA free buggy ?
May 17, 2010 12:01AM PDT

Hi all,

I`ve tried ZA free, it seems buggy, its "disable all Internet traffic" option ALSO disables my network connection.

Has anyone had this problem as well ?

Typing in an non-value gateway also solves what I want, but of course having ZA functionality would make things even easier.

Thanks,
ZM

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What some call a bug.
May 17, 2010 1:11AM PDT

Others may call an incorrect configuration. Let's speed up here and ask if you setup ZA to know what your Trusted LAN was. Remember that ZA versions change so I will not offer any step by step but only a guide.
Bob

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Buggy I`d say
May 17, 2010 12:19PM PDT

Bob,

I`ve double checked, the Zone has been properly defined, the IP of the other computer is added to the zone as well as the router and everything.

However, the functionality of "stop all internet activity" messes up the LAN as well; it stops not only the Internt but ALSO the LAN.

Thanks,
ZM

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Back to the old fashioned way.
May 17, 2010 10:18PM PDT