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Gone Fishing
Premium Member
join:2001-06-29

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Gone Fishing

Premium Member

[Info] Network Magic by Cisco: Free for Linksys HW Customers

Read more @ DSLR:
»[Info] Network Magic by Cisco
» [Info] No charge for Linksys by Cisco Hardware Customers
»Home Network software?

Quaoar
join:2004-08-11
Fort Collins, CO

Quaoar

Member

The new releases of Linksys N routers have FIRMWARE that provides, essentially, parental control of linked computers. As a default, the router is set to prohibit access to web sites that are not suitable for children. These sites include many very popular sites: Gawker.com is a case in point.

The problem with these routers is that the supplied network management software HAS NO CONNECTION TO THE PARENTAL CONTROL FEATURES. So, out of the box, when the linksys network management program is installed from CD, the user has no ability to modify the parental control defaults.

Now comes Network Magic, the only way that one can turn off the parental control configuation set in the firmware. It works quite well once one gets beyond the registration phase.

Note, that in my experience with this disaster of firmware defaults in the Linksys N routers, is to

1) download Network Magic free version and install.

2. Run Network Magic to reduce the web security to zero.

3. Uninstall Network Magic.

4. Uninstall the router management package and reboot.

Unless steps 3 and 4 are done, web browsing speed will not be restored. Rebooting the computer after step 2 does nothing to restore web browsing speed.

Cisco/Linksys should be ashamed to have instituted parental controls without providing a ready means of modifying this security.

PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD

PGHammer

Member

said by Quaoar:

The new releases of Linksys N routers have FIRMWARE that provides, essentially, parental control of linked computers. As a default, the router is set to prohibit access to web sites that are not suitable for children. These sites include many very popular sites: Gawker.com is a case in point.

The problem with these routers is that the supplied network management software HAS NO CONNECTION TO THE PARENTAL CONTROL FEATURES. So, out of the box, when the linksys network management program is installed from CD, the user has no ability to modify the parental control defaults.

Now comes Network Magic, the only way that one can turn off the parental control configuation set in the firmware. It works quite well once one gets beyond the registration phase.

Note, that in my experience with this disaster of firmware defaults in the Linksys N routers, is to

1) download Network Magic free version and install.

2. Run Network Magic to reduce the web security to zero.

3. Uninstall Network Magic.

4. Uninstall the router management package and reboot.

Unless steps 3 and 4 are done, web browsing speed will not be restored. Rebooting the computer after step 2 does nothing to restore web browsing speed.

Cisco/Linksys should be ashamed to have instituted parental controls without providing a ready means of modifying this security.
This is because that firmware predates Cisco's acquisition of Pure Networks (and thus Network Magic). Further, NM is also available for routers that do NOT have parental controls set in the firmware (example - any Linksys G router).

My biggest use for software such as NM is for mixed-Windows wireless LANs (especially if the admin box is running Windows 7 *and* there will be one or more XP-based clients; Windows XP doesn't support the Windows 7 HomeGroup feature without third-party help). Otherwise, what's the point?
ihatedslr
join:2000-12-11
US

ihatedslr to Gone Fishing

Member

to Gone Fishing
So is it free or not?

Gone Fishing
Premium Member
join:2001-06-29

4 edits

Gone Fishing

Premium Member

No charge for Linksys by Cisco Hardware Customers...


Network Magic free version
said by ihatedslr:

So is it free or not?


Network Magic Basic 5.5

DSLR: "» [Info] No charge for Linksys by Cisco Hardware Customers"