1 reply to this topic

[extragear1]

Hello:

We've been running a simple peer to peer network for many years. We have eight systems in total on the network with five MOM seats. This is combined with the appropriate hardware firewall (this being a router with built in security), establishing password protected user accounts on each machine, assigning rights to the MOMWIN folder, making sure each workstation has its own anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-adware, and software firewall.

One of our problems from time to time is configuring the software firewall to work with MOM. If a workstation is running XP pro and uses the built in Microsoft firewall, this usually runs fine with MOM. Certain versions of Norton Personal firewall run fine, others dont. This applies also to Zone alarm.

My questions is, do you run a software firewall on your workstations? (A tech at MOM said that a software firewall will slow MOM down.) If so, what causes the least headache?

I would also be interested in anyones experience running Zone Alarm security suite on a workstation. This was recently installed on one workstation. And even after trying to configure it to work with MOM, MOM opens very slowly.

Thanks

[johnay]

I've been using Kerio firewall with Win2k since before installing MOM. There does seem to be a lag when launching, but not otherwise. I had thought it was from the antivirus scanning the giant EXE.

I just tested it.

I launched, logged in, and exited MOM to get it cached.
I then launched it and counted Mississippis until the splash and then the login dialog showed up.

With the firewall enabled it took 8 seconds for the splash, and 11 for the login.
With the firewall disabled it took 1 seconds for the splash, and 4 for the login.

Disabling the antivirus (pccillin 2006) made no difference.

The splash-to-login time was the same with or without the firewall or antivirus.

I noticed no difference in responsiveness while running the program once it started, though admittedly I'm working with a database that's still in small-scale testing.

Also, this is on two peered Intel Celeron 2.4Ghz Win2k systems with a 100Mbps network connection using NetBEUI. (I don't bind file & printer sharing, etc. to a routable protocol if I can avoid it.)