Our DSL modem connects to our Vonage phone adapter and to a USB-Ethernet port plugged into a Win 7 machine. The PC’s main Internet connection is via its onboard LAN port, which is connected to a cable modem. The DSL/USB connection isn’t needed by the PC per se, it’s primarily there for a Linux virtual machine to connect to the DSL modem/Internet and troubleshoot.
The only other time the DSL comes into play is when the cable connection goes down. At that point, a couple A/B switches are thrown and the entire house goes through the DSL modem. Now, everything, everything goes through a Linksys router (no special firewall setup on that, just the basic NAT).
Why turn it off? When the DSL modem’s firewall is set above minimum, we cannot connect our Vonage phone adapter. I’ve tried working with the Internet provider, Vonage, and used Port Forward (paid version), but nothing has worked.
Can I safely (within reason) turn the firewall off? I can’t imagine how the phone adapter is at risk. The USB/Ethernet cable worries me, though. The PC doesn’t really use it on its own—is there a way to isolate it yet still have it conveniently available to the VM? Is Windows Firewall sufficient protection and I don’t need the DSM modems?
DSL modem is a Westell B90-755044-15. There is a set of pre-configured port-forwarding options (including other VOIPs), but not one for Vonnage.
Is there more information needed?
Thanks