Need help with setting up network and security

thammondwis · 13 Sep 2017

I'm looking for help with getting my network setup so I can have various programs on different computers communicate properly, but also keep my data secure.

Not exactly sure where to start as networking difficulties steam back to Win 10 installation on Desktop computer. On top of that I suspect I may have a security issue arise in the last 2 days.

For networking I have a Desktop and 3 laptops. Mostly the networking is used for print sharing. Printer is hooked up to desktop. But I do have Microsoft flight simulator installed on my desktop and have some flight simulator add on associated programs running on a laptop that needs to communicate with flight simulator on my desktop.

The networking difficulties steam from not being able to see or browse the desktop computer from my laptop. But I can map a network drive off my desktop drives/folders from my laptop computer by typing in the computer/folder path (I can't via the map network browse option because I can't see desktop via browse). I can then access and read/write to desktop via mapped drives.

I've having difficulty configuring the flight simulator add on programs getting them to connect to the flight simulator program and suspect the inability to browse to my desktop is preventing proper configuration.

Through all of this I have tried many different things that I have found searching on the internet regarding similar issues but nothing has fixed it. Also to help I have reduced security features.

However the last 2 days I have had an unknown computer name show up in my network listing on and off and concerned that someone now has gained access to my network with low security settings.

Looking for help on either getting my network setup correctly and also making sure my network is secure, but that my programs can communicate properly.

bro67 · 15 Sep 2017

You are overthinking this. Your Flight Sim has zero to do with network security. As for the printer, stop sharing from another computer, use a network print share or upgrade to a printer with Wireless and/or Wired capability. By default Windows sets Password protection on personal shares, turns off File and Printing sharing in Advanced sharing. That is the same with all OS. No one can get on your network unless you give then the SSID and passphrase to your wireless network or open it wide open. Same as opening attachments that can carry a payload bomb to let someone get in.

If you look at the MAC ID in the IPTables for your gateway, it is most likely a secondary IP that a device could be using for a VM for IPv6.

thammondwis · 16 Sep 2017

Thanks bro67 for your response.

OK, I would like to focus on getting networking configured correctly between the two computers. I have a program called Activesky on my laptop that I trying to get to connect up to my flight simulator program on my desktop. I have been working with the maker of Activesky and their conclusion is that my network is not setup correctly thus preventing the program from communicating with the flight simulator program.

I think the crux of my issue is that I can read/write between the necessary folders on the two computers, but only when I use "work a rounds", not by the normal way. For example the only way I have figured out how to see a folder on my desktop from my laptop is to setup a network drive. And then only by manually typing in the desktop computer name and folder path in the network drive setup dialogue window. I can't do it by clicking on the browse button in the network drive setup dialogue as my desktop computer does not show up in the list when I click browse.

However I can see normally my laptop computer from my desktop. I have checked every setting I can think of and both computers are running windows 10 and have all the network settings setup the same.

bro67 · 16 Sep 2017

It depends on what you are wanting to do. If sharing files, you just right click on the folder you want to share on the network and click on sharing. The Flight Sim cannot be shared between computers because of the design. Also there is a lot better Flight Sim out there that works on multiple platforms called Flight Gear.

thammondwis · 16 Sep 2017

I'm not trying to share flight sim across computers. I'm trying to off load some flight sim add-on programs that work with the flight sim program to free up resources on the flight sim computer. In this case Activesky is a separate weather program that works with and enhances the flight simulator program.

Activesky goes beyond file sharing with flight sim. It communicates directly with the flight sim program via software called SimConnect.

So the bottom line is in order for that to all work, I need a fully functioning network connection between the two computers. And as detailed previously, I don't think I do currently. And looking for someone smarter than me to help figure out why it's not, and how to get it functioning the way it's intended to.

bro67 · 16 Sep 2017

If you want to put files in storage, get a 1TB USB Pocket Drive. You can get them for under $60 these days. You have both computers on a network, there is not going to be any issues. Moving files between computers is still not going to solve your issue. Use a Pocket Drive or purchase a NAS that is within your budget.

thammondwis · 17 Sep 2017

Sorry bro but apparently I'm not explaining my situation clearly enough for you to understand.

This is not about sharing files or about the size of files. I can share files across my network right now, albeit with somewhat of a work around. I also have plenty file storage space. I am trying to get the two programs to run at the same time and communicate with each other while they are running.

I'm I'm trying to get Microsoft Windows 10 to work like it is designed to work and not figure our ways to get around it not working as it ought to.

bro67 · 17 Sep 2017

You are over explaining something so simple. If you are running out of space, get a NAS or a USB Pocket Drive. If you are worried about someone looking at the files on your computer, that is up to you how you want to keep them out and once again see that now I have stated to either use a Pocket drive or a NAS. No one is going to get into your computers as long as you keep them password protected, do not share public folders, do not leave your wifi open with no password.

Windows 10 has zero to do with what you are asking about. The same way that we have connected computers since Windows 95 has not changed other than the stupid Home Groups that never work.

thammondwis · 17 Sep 2017

Bro67,

Nott sure how else to explain this. I'M NOT RUNNING OUT OF SPACE!!!. The intention of running Activesky on another computer is to free up computer resources on Flight sim computer such as CPU resources, memory resources, etc. Trying to improve frame rates on flight simulator.

If both programs are running on the same computer at the same time, they have to share CPU, memory, etc. If I can run one program on one computer and the other on a different computer they each have their own CPU, memory, etc and don't have to share.

bro67 · 17 Sep 2017

Again I stated that you have a couple of options of storing files for both machines to be able to access them. Nothing has changed for how networking is done for Windows 10 and that you are overthinking this and making yourself upset because the matter was resolved in the first post I gave you.

The program that you are using does not share anything on both computers and if they tried to share the user files, they cannot because one machine would lock out the other machine while accessing them while running the program.