Strange: can't seem to get rid of an Internet Gateway

maxwelltfmaxwelltf
edited December 2007 in Science & Tech
Recently an Internet Gateway showed up in my list of Network Connections on my windows XP laptop. I am at my parents house and am plugged into my D-link router that is behind their DSL modem (so we can share the DSL connection via the Dlink router), however I don't see a need for a gateway to appear in my Network Connections, and I didn't enable or install the darn thing either. It bugs me. Rt-clicking on the Gateway and selecting disable doesnt do anything. Nor does disabling the Windows Firewall/ICS service (I don't use windows firewall anyway - use another one), since it always seems to start when the laptop boots (even though I have it set to manual). Also, when I rt-click my Local Area Connection, and select properties and then Advanced - the check box to enable/disable ICS isn't even there! Anyone have any ideas? I think the laptop is clean of viruses - have active malware in place and a 2-way firewall.

Comments

  • Your-Amish-DaddyYour-Amish-Daddy The heart of Texas
    edited December 2007
    My Linksys WRT54GX4 has always showed up as an internet gateway.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    It's UPNP.
  • maxwelltfmaxwelltf
    edited December 2007
    Thrax wrote:
    It's UPNP.

    What does that mean - that UPnP automatically decided that a gateway was needed? My similar setup at home doesn't need a gateway (yes, my Dlink router at home is an older model that does not have UPnP) in order to operate behind a a cable modem. What is the purpose of this gateway?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    Whether or not the router appears as a "Residential Gateway" in your network devices section, any device that funnels traffic from multiple computers <i>is</i> a gateway. It just so happens that your router is UPnP-aware, and is broadcasting what it is to your PC, rather than just being some anonymous tunnel that happens to accept ethernet traffic.
  • drasnordrasnor Starship Operator Hawthorne, CA Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    If it bothers you then you can disable the UPnP service on your computer or disable UPnP on the router. I'd leave it alone though; UPnP-aware applications can configure UPnP devices to do things like dynamically open and close firewall ports and configure port forwarding so it's a nice thing to have.

    -drasnor :fold:
  • maxwelltfmaxwelltf
    edited December 2007
    Thanks everyone for your responses. It answered alot of questions. I will just leave it alone and let things hum along. :-)
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    Good call. Not having UPnP enabled has caused me problems in the past.
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