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General discussion

Windows firewall

Apr 2, 2011 7:05AM PDT

I recently installed a D-Link router with Network Printer option.
To keep the printer from periodically winking off, D-Link customer support recommended that I disable the Windows Firewall feature.

It seems that this may cause more trouble than it cures. Is disabling the Firewall something I want to be without???

Discussion is locked

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Re: firewall.
Apr 2, 2011 7:19AM PDT

Seems a rather strange advice to me. But you're rather vague about what happens.

1. What exactly is 'periodically winking off'? Every 10 seconds, every hour, everytime you try to print? Every third page?
2. Does it cure your problem?
3. What trouble does it cause?

Kees

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Firewall
Apr 2, 2011 9:22PM PDT

Thank you for your response. I'll attempt to answer your questions in the order asked:

1) Periodically means about 1 in 4 times that I turn on the computer. (cold boot) It
refuses to print, even though the printer shows available in the Share Port App.

2) It appears so far to have cured the problem. (It may take a week or more to actually
confirm this.)

3) The trouble that it may cause is more my concern. If I have no Firewall protection,
am I vulnerable to malicious attacks and viruses??

Apparently this problems is systemic with the D-Link 628, as the they did not hesitate with the recommended solution.

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Re: firewall
Apr 2, 2011 9:31PM PDT

In the instructions for SharePort on http://webapps.easy2.com/cm2/flash/generic_outline_index.asp?page_id=35937657 I read nothing about disabling a firewall. Still, if it only works flawlessly without one, it might be necessary.

If you feel unhappy without it, try if a free firewall like Zonealarm or Comodo (no need to use the paid product or their antivirus which they keep offering) doesn't interfere or can be configured not to interfere.
Personally, I very much like Zonealarms system tray icon, which shows if there's any incoming or outgoing traffic. And I like that it ask me permission for any new application that wants to connect to the Internet.

Kees

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Considering the router
Apr 2, 2011 9:23AM PDT

Considering the router likely has a firewall of it's own, there's little point to having the Windows firewall also running. However, I have to agree that this seems like rather strange advise. Either there's a rule to let printer traffic through the Windows firewall or there's not, it's not like there's an in between on this.

If the router has a firewall of its own, then their advice is good, but for the wrong reasons. If it doesn't have a firewall of its own, then they're completely full of it.

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Firewall
Apr 2, 2011 9:23PM PDT

Thanks for your response.

The router does have firewall protection, and it is implemented.

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Vista Firewall and D-Link Router
Apr 5, 2011 12:23AM PDT

Disabling the Windows Firewall in Vista did not work. Router still failed to recognize the printer...sometimes.

I experienced the problem from a Desktop and a networked Laptop, so I began checking printer and router options only. I noticed that the "automatic on and off" options in my printer (Canon I560) were disabled. I know I originally had these set to "on", I can only assume that Shareport disabled them upon installation.

I'm going through my evaluation with this idea now. Only time will tell if it was successful.