WindowsXP networking personal firewall and alternate IP reviewed

IP Alternate Configuration 

and a Personal Firewall

This feature is primarily for laptop users that connect to multiple networks. It allows a secondary IP configuration to input. If the first one fails, the second one is put in place.

Example: ‘Joe’ uses his laptop mostly at work but occasionally brings it home and uses it on his home network. The network at his office is DHCP enabled, and his home network has static IP address. Joe would simple set his primary IP configuration to ‘Obtain IP Address Automatically’ and set the alternate configuration with his static IP address from his home network. When Joe brings his laptop home and plugs it into his home network, a DHCP server will not be found. When this happens, Windows XP will enable the alternate IP configuration.

 Microsoft’s IP ‘Alternate Configuration’ is no substitute for robust software solutions like NetSwitcher, but it will cover 90% of the needs for alternate network configurations. Both the implementation, use, and feature set were kept very simple – translated, it is very easy to use and understand. Unfortunately, the alternate configuration does not allow you to input two static IP address schemas.

Ah, Microsoft has acknowledged the need for personal firewalls and has implemented a basic one to get you started. From what I can tell, this is a basic port blocker type firewall. It can be enabled and configured on any network connection (including dial-up connections). (In the future, the Windows XP firewall will be enabled by default on any internet connection.)  Each network connection can have its own firewall configuration. This enables you to do things like allow access to your personal web server on your internal network, but not from your Internet connection.

The personal firewall does not appear to have a logging feature like some of the more robust personal firewalls on the market, but that may change by the time Windows XP is released.

I ran a security probe against the Windows XP Personal Firewall.  It got a score of -2 (0 is perect).  This is a score for WindowsXP BETA 1. This is not the final product.  See the firewall report here 

Part 2: Firewire Networks

Part 4: Media Bridge