I have an XP desktop and a new Vista laptop. I have the Z100g and both pc's are running zonealarm internet suite. desktop is connected directly to Z100g, laptop is wireless. Am able to use a printer from both thru the Z100g.

I want to work on the same set of files on either pc. What do most people do? Share files on network? Use synchronization software with a usb memory stick? Share files and synchronize?

If I want to get file sharing setup between the two machines - can you point me at how to get started?



I am a computer programmer, but not a network person by any means.

Not sure exactly how you want to interact with the files, but I do have a preference for a product called GoodSync at www.goodsync.com. You can download a free version that has some limitations, but it will definitely give you an idea if you want something like this.

Thanks. As for sharing files between the two computers - do I have to do anything with the router or my zonealarm firewall?

When I look at the router interface my computers tab: I see my desktop and router on the lan. My laptop and router on the wlan. I assume I have to do something so the laptop can see files on my desktop?

On an XP machine you have to enable file sharing. Then you have to "share" the folder where you want the shared files to be and maybe set permissions.

Then you can map the shared folder on other computers as if the sharing computer were a server. If the computers have different logons' you will have to supply that information to gain access.

Both computers have to be in the same "Workgroup".

If you can "ping" the sharing computer you should be able to map the shared folder.

LAN
Zonealarm Z100g 192.168.10.1
HOME1 192.168.10.74 (DHCP) <==XP desktop

WLAN
ZoneAlarm Z100G 192.168.252.1
sandi-PC 192.168.252.69 (DHCP) <==Vista laptop

Neither can ping the other by IP address. They are on different networks, right?

Bridge the two Lans. This is under "Network" then "My Network".

thanks for the help.

Now, I've added a bridge
MyBridge
ZoneAlarm Z100G 192.168.200.1

Both of my computers can ping the router. They cannot ping each other however. I'm pinging the ip addresses shown earlier in this thread.

Based off
Checkpoint VPN-1 Edge
Firmware 7.5.48x

Your original setup (without the bridge) will work you just need to add two security rules. It seems that the default setting for Security Level Med (Security Section/Firewall tab) is not to allow traffic between networks (LAN/WLAN).

After you remove bridge setting and you confirm that both workstations are connected to the different networks (using ipconfig). You will need to create 2 security rules under the Security section/Rules tab. Click Add Rule (bottom of page) and Rule Wizard should appear.

Select the following:

Allow
NEXT

Any Service
NEXT

The connection source is:
LAN

And the destination is:
WLAN
NEXT

You can select "Log accepted connections" for testing and edit the rule and remove setting after confirmation.
FINISH

Then the second rule just reverse the connection source and destination.

another good tool to sync files from pc to pc is microsoft's synctoy. It's a free tool and don't let the name fool you it is pretty powerful. You can get it here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotogr...rophoto/synctoy.mspx

I keep all my files on my desktop, periodically back it up with acronis true image to a usb hard drive, and for daily protection i use synctoy to copy all files from the pc to the laptop. I primarily use the ECHO action which treats the desktop as the master. I also sync favorites from pc to pc. I have a "job" to sync both docs and favorites for each profile on the pc. Then I have a scheduled task that runs every 4 hours to run all the jobs. It works great.

Thanks cbischoff - I removed the bridge, added the two rules - now my vista laptop can see the xp desktop - when my desktop's zonealarm software firewall is off. When it is on and I try to connect from laptop to desktop - I get "The firewall has blocked internet access to your computer (NetBIOS Name)"
My router event log tells me what passes thru:
05663 08Jan2008 19:03:54 TCP 192.168.252.69 (sandi-PC) [Custom rule] 49224 192.168.10.74 (HOME1) 80 (HTTP)
05662 08Jan2008 19:03:40 UDP 192.168.252.69 (sandi-PC) [Custom rule] 137 192.168.10.74 (HOME1) 137 (NetBIOS)
05661 08Jan2008 19:03:36 ICMP 192.168.252.69 (sandi-PC) [Custom rule] 192.168.10.74 (HOME1) 8 (Echo Request)
05660 08Jan2008 19:03:33 TCP 192.168.252.69 (sandi-PC) [Custom rule] 49222 192.168.10.74 (HOME1) 445 (NetBIOS)

So, what do I need to open up in my desktop software firewall? Port 137 only? How do I do this with ZoneAlarm software?

My experience/knowledge is with the SofaWare appliance units. I am a OS X/Linux user so my familiarity with MS firewalls is sketchy at best.

I would think some kinda of "trusted host or trusted network" setting exists (you enter an IP address or network) which would allow complete access to your desktop.

Since you have confirmed access across the appliance unit you can turn off logging for those rules.

You are right on. You have add 192.168.200.0/255.255.255.0 as a trusted zone in the ZoneAlarm firewall zone settings.

Seems like it would be more secure to give my laptop a static ip and put only that ip in the trusted zone. That way when our teenage nephew vists and I give him the wpa code to hit our wlan, he should not be able to see the shared files.