WELCOME TO PCA!
My speed (checked at dslreports) seemed to drop a little more than I expected from 1200 kbps d/l down to 500 kbps, but when checked later it was back up to 900 kbps. Is this normal?
Keep in mind that a LOT of people are using those bandwidth test sites, and that the bandwidth may be limited on THEIR end so it may go up and down. I find this one a little more reliable, but it's best to do your testing early in the morning before anyone is using the internet much (NOTE: This site does not work in Firefox - use Internet Explorer instead):
http://us.mcafee.com/root/speedometer/default.asp
I am also running Zonelarm firewall... Is it neccesary now with router firewall?
A NAT router is not a firewall (although some NAT routers DO come with a built in filewall). If your router has a firewall then Zonealarm is redundant and unneccesary.
Strictly speaking, if you're behind a NAT router then you don't NEED a firewall because the router is taking care of the biggest security problem for you - isolating your computer's IP address from the Internet and stealthing your ports to protect you from port scans. The router will also block some of the most dangerous ports like the ones used by the MSBlast and Sasser viruses (although you should have the Windows security updates installed to close those exploits anyway).
A firewall, however, will do one thing that your router won't do (unless the router has a built-in firewall) and that's let you know if some trojan is in your computer trying to phone home. The flip side of firewalls is that they are a pain to manage for people who are not technically inclined (it's hard for non-techies to figure out whether or not an application has a legitimate reason to contact another site on the internet).
The firewall will also need to be configured properly if you want to do file and printer sharing on your local network. Most firewalls block this by default.
BOTTOM LINE: If you're behind a NAT router you don't NEED a firewall, but it's good security to have one as long as you understand how to use it.
Also, I read somewhere I'd have to set the speedstream 5100 dsl modem to Bridge mode, but everything seems to be working, so is this necessary?
If you did not have to configure your router for PPPOE logon in the setup menu, then your DSL Modem is actually a modem/router combination. It has a built-in NAT router. This means that you could have avoided buying another router and instead just bought a network switch instead, and it would have worked fine.
It doesn't hurt to have a NAT router connected to another NAT router as long as their IP addresses are different (I assume they are or it wouldn't be working for you) and as long as you don't need to do any port forwarding (for instance, if you want to setup WinXP Remote Desktop on your home computer so you can access it from work, you'll need to configure port forwarding in your router, and it's much more complicated if you have a NAT router connected to a NAT router, although it's still doable).
As long as you're not doing port forwarding you're okay the way it is.
Putting the modem in bridge mode disables the NAT router in the modem and allows your Linksys router to be directly on the internet. I would not recommend trying to put your modem in bridge mode yourself as on some DSL networks this can't be done without making some changes to your account. If you ever want to set it up for bridge mode, call your DSL provider and ask them to do it for you, or ask if it's simple enough that they can walk you through it. Be aware that if you do put the modem in bridge mode, you will have to configure the Linksys router to logon to your DSL account using PPPOE.
I set the router to keep connected, but was wondering if "connect on demand" was better choice?
You don't need either the "Keep connected" or the "Connect on demand" settings if you're not using PPPOE. If you're using PPPOE you would know it: you would have had to configure the Linksys to logon using PPPOE in the setup menu, and you would have had to enter your username and password into the logon info in the Linksys setup page. If you DID have to configure the Linksys to logon using PPPOE this means that your modem IS running in bridged mode (as discussed in your previous question). If you are using PPPOE then leave it set to "Keep connected". PPPOE is like a dialup connection - the DSL line will "hang up" after a certain amount of time of inactivity, unless you select the "Keep conneected" option.
Iwas wondering if I shoud d/l the latest firmware from linksys.....is it more secure?? buggy ?
If it's working okay I would leave it alone unless it's a very old firmware you have installed. Anything in the last year is fine. Sometimes the latest firmware only causes more problems. If you have problems losing your connection, and having to reset the router often to re-aquire it, then updating the firmware is the first thing I would do.
As a side note, you will ocaasionally lose your internet connection (this happens on DSL and cable). If you do, just disconnect the power cord from the modem and the router for 10 second and then plug them back in (do not use a power switch on th modem or router - actually pull the power plug instead). It's normal to have to do this once every few months or after a thunder storm. If you need to do it on a regular basis then something is wrong with your DSL connection (low signal) your modem, or your router.
I am extremely worried about security...never had an"always on" connection.... any good recommendations on portscanners??
Just by having a NAT router and/or a firewall you are protecting yourself from port scanning. I wouldn't worry about it. The greater threat is Spyware/Trojans and viruses. You should run a good spyware scanner like Adaware or Spy Sweeper once a month to keep your system clean, and remove bad cookies. Make sure you have an anti-virus program installed and that you keep the subscription up to date, and that it's setup to do automatic virus definition updates.
