New Seagate Harddisk

Seagate barracuda 

Seagate - The leading manufacturer of hard disks has launched a high capacity storage drive with latest a very fast rotating platter and many advanced features. It uses SATA technology and transfers data faster than previous versions.

Seagate Barracuda XT offers the performance demands of extreme gaming, HD videos and other storage-hungry desktop computing applications while delivering the fastest performance in its class.

Seagate Barracuda XT Features:

• 2 Terabyte (TB) drive – can store 45 hours of 1080i, HD-DVCPRO-encoded, high-definition video.
• 7200-RPM
• 64-MB cache optimizes burst performance and reduces data throughput bottlenecks.
• Ultra fast SATA 6Gb/s interface

Barracuda XT hard disk based on four-platter drive technology with density of 368 Gigabits per square inch, delivers the highest performance – burst speeds of up to 6 Gigabits per second – for all computer applications and also maintains backward compatibility with the SATA 3Gb/second and SATA 1.5Gb/second interfaces. This works better for windows 7.

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Hard Drive Boot Sector Fix

The boot sector on your hard drive is a file called the Master Boot Record (MBR for short). This sector of the hard drive is a major part of the computer's boot process, and without it, your operating system cannot successfully boot. If the MBR is corrupted by a virus or deleted through user error, you can fix it by using your operating system installation CD.

1. Turn on your computer, insert your installation CD, restart the computer and wait for the "Press any key to boot from CD" message to appear." Press any key on your keyboard as soon as you see this message.
2. Press "R" once the welcome menu appears and wait for the Recovery Console to load.
3. Log in to your operating system by pressing "1," pressing "Enter," typing in your Administrator password and pressing "Enter."
4. Type "fixmbr" in the Recovery Console window and press the "Enter" key. If you are asked to confirm the command, type "yes" and press "Enter."

Restart the computer and allow it to boot normally by typing "exit" and pressing "Enter."

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Top 5 Video Cards

Top 5 Video Cards

XFX GeForce 7800 GTX

The XFX GeForce 7800 GTX video card comes with a PCI Express interface, 256MB DDR3 video memory and supports a maximum resolution of 2048 X 1536. Though its price is a bit steep, its one of the fastest video cards on the market right now.

 

Powercolor Radeon X800 GT

A leading manufacturer of video cards, Powercolor has come up with the Powercolor Radeon X800 GT card. It is PCI Express based, runs on 256MB of DDR3 memory and a maximum resolution of 2048 X 1536. Cheaper than many of the cards in this list, but still gives extremely good 3D performance. Great value for money.

BFG GeForce 7800 GTX

Another PCI Express graphics card, the BFG GeForce 7800 GTX runs on 256MB of DDR3 video memory and a maximum resolution of 2048 X 1536. BFG produces quality video cards and the GeForce 7800 GTX is no exception. Its price may scare off the casual user though.

ATI Radeon 9800 Pro

The ATI Radeon 9800 Pro is still one of the hottest selling high-end video cards in the market. The Radeon 9800 Pro graphics processor scores very high on most benchmark tests. With an AGP 8X interface, 128 MB of DDR video memory and a maximum screen resolution of 2048 x 1536, this card is highly recommended.

Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT Platinum

Built on the Radeon X850 XT graphics processor, the Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT Platinum is a PCI Express card that runs on 256MB of DDR3 memory and a maximum resolution of 2048 X 1536. Highly recommended for spectacular 3D performance, and gives the GeForce video cards a run for their money.

 

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7200 RPM Notebook Hard Drives

7200 RPM Notebook Hard Drives

Five hundred, 640 and now 750 GB. Three quarters of a terabyte are now available at the most important 9.5 mm height on the 2.5” format. This is the form factor that is utilized in more than 95% of all laptop and notebook designs, including most netbooks. The latest 7200 RPM drives from Samsung, Seagate and Western Digital.

With the entire buzz in storage gravitating around SSDs, everything seems to be quiet in the hard drive space. While solid state drives have, in fact, long overtaken hard drives in terms of high performance and low power consumption, mainstream buyers are still a long ways away from swapping over to large SSDs. The cost per gigabyte is simply too high still. Moreover, they do not provide sufficient storage capacity for consumers (or at least for what consumers many times believe they should be able to store). The truth is that 500 gigabytes look far better than 64 or 128 GB to folks who think they have, or will have, gobs of digital data. But the truth is also that a notebook with a hard drive may very well provide sufficient performance for non-enthusiasts.

Making that choice always requires a balance between what you need and, more importantly, what you expect. More folks are familiar with common performance limiters, like insufficient memory, too-slow of a CPU, or an inadequate graphics processor. The issue of limited hard drive performance is less-easily diagnosed. But once you spend some time on a system armed with an SSD, you won't want to switch back to mechanical storage. Unfortunately, this remains but a wish for many folks, as price tags are great for forcing us back to earth.

In this light, conventional notebook hard drives that spin at 7200 RPM are still quite a good choice, as the throughput of almost 120 MB/s (~60 MB/s minimum) is not bad in the greater scheme of things. As long as you have a decent amount of system memory (4 GB or more nowadays), the number of heavy-use situations where a hard drive limits performance should be kept to a minimum. And in exchange, you get access to a lot more free space: 500, 640, or 750 GB on the latest product generation.

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Nvidia GeForce Launches GF114 Rises

Nvidia GeForce Launches GF114 Rises

The GeForce GTX 580 and 570 both center on GF110—a reworked GF100 with improved texture filtering, better Z-cull efficiency, and a number of transistor-level optimizations that facilitate higher clocks at comparable power use.

Similarly, GeForce GTX 560 Ti centers on GF114, the re-spun version of GF104. Before you get too excited, though, remember that GF104 already incorporated the texture filtering improvements that didn’t make it into GF100. That is to say 64-bit FP16 texel throughput doubled from two/clock to four/clock, per texture unit. GF104 has this capability, GF110 has it, but GF100 did not. What’s more, Nvidia decided not to carry over the Z-cull improvements from GF110, instead choosing to leave the raster engine unchanged.

The net effect is that GF114 is functionally identical to GF104. In fact, Nvidia even cites the same 1.95 billion transistor count. And we’re still looking at TSMC’s 40 nm process here.

The reworked silicon can clock higher at lower power levels, yielding more performance, but it’s still an improved GF104. Of course, the main difference is that, while Nvidia turned off one of GF104’s Streaming Multiprocessors to create GeForce GTX 460, GeForce GTX 560 Ti sports an unshorn GF114 (I challenge you to use that word in a sentence at some point today). Compared to the 460, that means higher clocks, more CUDA cores, theoretically higher geometry performance due to an eighth PolyMorph engine, and eight additional texture units. All of those factors combine to create a card that doesn’t end up replacing GeForce GTX 460 at all; it instead is fast enough to eclipse the GeForce GTX 470.

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Difference Between Notebook & a Small Laptop

What Is the Difference Between a Notebook & a Small Laptop?

Words that denote small and portable personal computers, such as a "notebook" and "small laptop," are often used interchangeably. However, there is a key difference between the two computers' structure.

Function

Portable computers allow users the freedom of movement with their device. As technology has advanced, so has the ability to shrink components down to a manageable size to fit within notebooks and small laptops.

Features

The main difference between the two computers is the CDROM. Notebook computers do not have a built in disc drive, but have the ability to allow one to be plugged in as a peripheral. In contrast, the laptop is slightly larger than the notebook, and has the CDROM installed within the body of the device.

Significance

With no CDROM drive, the notebook computer can be the size of a typical paper notebook. It also has the benefit of being lighter than a laptop computer.

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Types of USB Bluetooth Adapters

Types of USB Bluetooth Adapters

With a USB Bluetooth adapter, computers can pick up Internet signals in different locations or connect to other computers, cameras, printers and office networks. Several different companies market USB Bluetooth adapters, some of which have specialized proficiencies.

Kodak Wireless 2.0 USB Bluetooth Adapter

Best known for its film and cameras, Kodak makes a wireless Bluetooth adapter for use in offices. This adapter accepts JPEG images from camera phones, PDAs, PCs and digital still cameras. It has a wireless range of 33 feet and supports files up to 8 megabytes in size. With this adapter, high resolution photos can be transferred from a camera to a computer or printer.

D-Link DBT-120

The D-Link DBT-120 is a lightweight, 6-gram USB adapter meant to connect all types of wireless products in the everyday workspace, such as printers, cell phones and computers. These adapters are ideal for computers that don't support Bluetooth technology. They support networking, allowing files to be transferred from one device to a number of different computers on the same network. However, this adapter must be used with Mac OSX version 10.2.8 or later or an Intel-based PC.

Linksys USB Bluetooth Adapter

Known for wireless modems, Linksys has used this same technology to create their own Linksys USB Bluetooth adapter. It can connect up to 7 USB-compatible devices at once, as long as they are also compatible with Bluetooth technology. The Linksys creates a personal area network when it is plugged in, allowing Bluetooth equipped computers and devices access to the network when they are in the area.

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Replacing Laser Unit on Brother MFC 8500

The toner laser drum assembly unit has a fairly long life cycle, as it lasts through 20,000 pages before it must be replaced. Even so, certain factors will affect its true usage limits. For example, the quality of the toner, the ambient temperature and paper type used most often in print jobs can either increase or decrease the average length of service. You will know when the laser unit's time is really up when the "CHANGE DRUM SOON" message appears on the control panel display and degraded quality is evident on your printouts.

Instructions

1) Open the front cover on the multifunction printer.

2) Remove the old laser unit.

3) Remove the new laser unit from its packaging.

4) Rock the laser unit from one side to the other six times so that the toner inside the cartridge is distributed evenly.

 

5) Pull the protective plastic part out from the new laser unit.

 

6) Insert the laser unit into the machine.

 

7) Close the front cover.

 

Recycle the used laser unit according to federal, state and city regulations.

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USB to Serial Port Circuit

USB to Serial Port Circuit

Universal serial bus (USB) and serial ports are two different connection interfaces used with computers. Though they cannot connect directly with one another, they can be adapted to work together.

Serial Ports

Serial ports used to be the standard type of connection for computer hardware. You may still have a serial port interface on your printer or monitor. Many desktop computers still have a serial port available, while most laptops have done away with them.

USBs

USBs were designed to solve the problem of having no standard interface for external computer hardware. Almost all computer accessories (including Webcams, monitors and printers) have a USBinterface.

Adapters

Computer users who find themselves with an older piece of hardware that still uses a serial port interface can connect it to a USB port with a special adapter. This sort of adapter is extremely easy to hook up and can be found at most electronics stores.

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Facts about Power supply connectors

   

     computer power supply connectors can be pretty confusing for the newbie when setting up a new PC.

Get these connections wrong, and you'll have some funny LED lights or behaviors in your PC. In this article, we'll take a look at power supply connectors so you have an idea of what they are and how they function.

1. Best Source Of Information

First up, what's the best source of information to learn about computer power supply connectors? It's definitely the motherboard manual. Most motherboard manuals have specific instructions on how to hook up the computer power supply connectors to the motherboard. Review the manual carefully to make sense of those connectors.

2. Types Of Power Supply Connectors

What are the types of computer power supply connectors, you ask? Well, here they are:

    * Power to hard disk drives There are connectors which power the hard disk drives - you hook these up directly to the power suppy unit using the power cables supplied.

      

    * Power to the CPU The CPU is powered by a power supply connector hooked up to the motherboard. This is usually a small little connector you need to be familiar with your motherboard manual to ascertain what connector this is.

      

    * Power to graphics card Most of the heavy duty graphics cards in PCs have a separate line to power them. The power supply connector to graphics cards might come from the power supply unit, or the motherboard.

      

    * Power to computer beeper Notice how your computer 'beeps' when you first boot it up? That beep sound is powered by a computer power supply connector. You usually hook that connector between the motherboard and the power supply unit.

      

    * Power to LEDs and lights Your computer case will have LEDs and lights to indicate activity in the computer (e.g. hard disk drive activity). To power these lights, there are some small power supply connectors between the power supply unit and the motherboard as shown below

      

   

    * Power to floppy and optical drives Your floppy or optical drives will need to be powered by computer power supply connectors. These are usually hooked up between the drive and the computer power supply unit.

3. Be Careful With The Power Supply Connectors

Whenever you're dealing with the computer power supply, please ensure that you've grounded yourself properly. Very often, I hear of motherboards being short-circuited simply because the user forgot to ground himself or herself before meddling with the computer power supply connectors.

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How to Change the Ink Cartridges for the HP 5510

The HP Officejet 5510 all-in-one printer uses two ink cartridges--black and tricolor--to print documents and images from a computer, scanned copy or fax. The cartridges rest in slots in an ink cartridge carriage inside the printer. Each cartridge unlocks from the carriage easily with nothing more than the gentle application of pressure to the front top of the cartridge, so changing an ink cartridge only requires that you unlock and pull out your low, empty or faulty cartridge, insert a new one and align the cartridges so that the 5510 can print clearly.

 

Instructions

1. Turn on your HP 5510 printer. If the printer doesn't have paper in it, load the paper tray with paper. 
2. Grasp the handle of the carriage access door at the front of the printer and lift up slowly until the door rests in an open position and the carriage moves into view. 
3. Push down gently on the top front of the ink cartridge to unlock it. Pull the cartridge carefully from the slot and set it aside for disposal.
4. Remove your replacement ink cartridge from its packaging. Grasp the pink tab on the cartridge. Pull it and the attached tape carefully from the copper contacts and ink nozzles on the back and bottom of the cartridge.
5. Hold the ink cartridge in front of its slot--black (right) or tricolor (left)--with the label facing up and the copper contacts facing the empty slot. 
6. Shift the cartridge in your hand so that the back of the cartridge tilts up slightly and the cartridge front tilts down. 
7. Slide the tilted ink cartridge into the empty cartridge slot and then push it in until you feel it snap into place. 
8. Replace the other cartridge if needed. When finished, lower the carriage access door and wait for a print alignment page to print. If a page doesn't print automatically, wait for an alignment message on your printer's display and then press the "OK" button to print the page. 
9. Open the scanner lid and place the alignment page face down on the scanner with the top of the page edge-to-edge with the left side and front of the scanner glass. Close the lid and push the "OK" button. Wait for the "Alignment Complete" message, dispose of the alignment page and then begin printing as desired.

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Overview of Computer Hardware Monitoring Tools

Overview of Computer Hardware Monitoring Tools

Hardware monitoring tools can be used to intercept, capture, analyze and decode network traffic, user activity on a local or remote system, or to audit login activity on a computer system.

Network Sniffers

Hardware network sniffers physically bridge the connections between a host and the internal network of a company or the internal network to the Internet. Major businesses and governmental organizations use hardware-based network sniffers, such as the Tern EE TCP-based embedded stand-alone capture board, to capture and sort through gigabytes of network data per day.

Keystroke Loggers

Keystroke loggers are simple universal serial bus (USB) or serial port hardware devices to monitor the keystrokes and mouse movements of a user on a single computer system. They are most often used by corporate espionage experts to steal login information or passwords to a secure system but are also used by security personnel to track inappropriate use of a system. Most devices are about as small as a USB flash memory device and can be hidden easily to avoid detection by the user.

Remote Desktop

Remote desktop tools allow a user to connect remotely to a hardware system via a network. While some remote desktop devices, such as Go2Meeting or Cisco Webex, allow two-way interaction between users, others are used for one-way hardware monitoring to establish security and accountability of computer hardware. Remote desktop devices capture the real-time use of a hardware asset and can also covertly activate hardware monitoring tools such as web cameras and microphones to provide additional monitoring capability.

Physical Security Monitors

Physical security devices, such as hardware-based access control systems, closed-circuit television systems and intrusion alarm systems, provide an additional level of computer hardware assurance and monitoring. Virtually all large-scale corporations and governmental facilities implement complex networks of these hardware information monitoring systems to collect data for real-time response and later security audit.

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Software to Test Computer Hardware

Software to Test Computer Hardware

Software to test computer hardware is designed to test your computer's components for stability and dependability. It also gathers vital information from your PC, such as type of processor you use. This information will help you to troubleshoot and resolve your problems.

Signficance

Computer testing software can scan your hardware and collect and show configuration information. This software can get information such as your computer's components, system configuration and operating system. Using this software will help you repair problems with your computer.

Features

Software to test computer hardware can obtain information such as your user and system name, the model and speed of your central processing unit and power management. This software can also test your hard drives, random access memory, CD/DVD drives and video and sound cards.

Technical Support

Computer testing software companies provide comprehensive technical support. For example, companies provide online help and user manuals.

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How to Replace a Computer Processor

You've decided to take the plunge and upgrade your computer's processor. This article will explain how to replace a computer processor.

Collecting Information

1. Before you open your computer, you need to do some preliminary work. Are you planning to upgrade to the next generation of processor? Are you moving from a Pentium III to a Pentium IV or from a Pentium IV to a Core Duo? If so, just buying a processor won't be enough. You will need a new motherboard and RAM memory in addition to the new CPU. You will need to make sure all these parts work together..
If you are upgrading within the same processor family--a faster version of the Pentium III or the Pentium IV or the Core Duo--to replace the one you're using now, you may be able to keep your existing motherboard and RAM memory. But again, you will have to do a little preliminary work.

2. Determine the make, model, and revision number of your motherboard. You will need this information to know what processor speeds it supports. If you bought your computer from Hewlett Packard or Dell or a retailer like Best Buy, call their technical support. Tell them which model you have--whether it's the HP Pavilion a6710 or the Dell Inspiron 530, for example. They should be able to locate this info for you. You could also open the case and look for identifying text on the actual component.



3. Determine the speed and type of your RAM memory. Is it DDR 333MHz? DDR 400 MHZ? It matters, because the speed of your new processor needs to be some multiple of your memory for them to work well together. Example: A 2.33 GHz processor is well matched with 333MHz or 667MHz memory, but not well matched with 400MHz or 800MHz memory. A 2.4 GHz processor is well matched with 400MHz or 800MHz memory but not 333MHz or 667MHz memory.
Note: In most cases, the new processor will still work with your memory. It will just run the memory at a lower but more compatible speed to eliminate these timing issues. You could decide to accept the penalty of course, but it partially defeats the purpose of moving to a faster processor if your memory runs slower.

Changing The Chip

1. You have chosen a CPU your motherboard supports and is an even multiple of your memory. It's time to install it. Disconnect the power and all cables from the back of your computer.

2. Remove the case. Note that older cases like this one use screws. Newer ones have done away with them in favor of an access panel with quick release levers.

3. Remove your graphics and other peripheral cards. Handle them by their edges. Do not touch the contacts on the bottom of the card.

4. Disconnect data and power cables from the motherboard.

5. Remove the screws holding the motherboard in place.

6. Remove your motherboard. Place it on an anti-static surface. In this case, the motherboard is sitting on an anti-static bag that previously contained a different motherboard.

7. Unlatch and remove the heat sink and fan. Note that the hardware holding a heat sink/fan combination in place always seems to change from one generation of processor to the next. The arrangement pictured here is for a Pentium 4 motherboard. So unless you are also upgrading a Pentium 4, you are likely to see a different latching mechanism.

8. Release the Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) lever.

9. Remove your old chip. Be careful to touch it by the edges only.

10. Put in your new CPU and close the ZIF lever. Note that CPUs, whether from Intel or AMD, will have a marking like this arrow and/or a physical shape that assures it will only go in its socket one way.

11. Apply a small amount of heat paste. The purpose of this substance is to make sure there is good contact between the CPU and heat sink so that the latter will draw away heat.

12. Reinstall the heat sink and fan.
13. Return your motherboard to its case and refasten its screws. Plug in data and power cables. Plug in your expansion cards and close the case. You're ready to go again. Only a bit faster.


Warning!

Be careful when handling expansion cards, motherboards and CPUs. Do not touch exposed contacts. Not because it will hurt you, but because it will hurt your components. Your body produces enough static electricity to burn them out. You would be well advised to use a grounding strap. (A grounding strap can be nothing more than a long piece of wire with exposed conductor at each end. Wrap one end around your wrist and the other around some metal object. This will "ground" you, or drain away static electricity.)

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How to Upgrade a USB Drive

How to Upgrade a USB Drive

If you have a computer that doesn’t have USB 3.0 connection, it is possible to upgrade your hardware and install USB 3.0 equipment.

1). Power down the computer, remove the cables running into the system and unscrew the Phillips screws along the rear of the case.

2). Slide the case open to expose the interior of the computer. Look towards the rear of the computer. You will see the large motherboard, which has horizontal PCI card slots. These slots hold hardware cards, including the USB 2.0 card.

3). Push down the plastic levers that are located on both sides of the PCI card slot where the USB 2.0 card is housed. This unlocks the card from the computer.

4). Slide the card out and then insert the USB 3.0 PCI card. Push down on the plastic slots to lock the card into place.

5). Close the computer case, then tighten the Phillips screws and plug your cables into the system. Power up the computer and wait for it to start. Insert the driver installation disk and the driver-installation wizard loads onto the screen. Follow the prompts of the installation wizard and then click "Install" to complete the USB 3.0 installation.

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USB Hub Specifications

USB Hub Specifications

A standard ‘A’ male connector will fit into any USB hub. A USB hub is a useful piece of equipment for expanding the amount of peripheral devices you can connect to your computer simultaneously. Some desktops and laptops have inconveniently few USB ports. You may find yourself unable to charge your phone, load music onto your MP3 player, or copy files to an external drive at the same time. USB hubs function like multi-outlet power strips, splitting one USB port into more usable slots.

 

Cable Connections

Though some older USB hubs offer connectivity only for USB 1.0, most current USB hubs offer connectivity for USB 2.0. The difference between the two is speed: USB 1.0 connections provide a maximum data transfer rate of 12 Mbps, while USB 2.0 connections provide a maximum data transfer rate of 480 Mbps per second.

Ports

Hubs often contain between four and seven ports, with some products featuring 10 or 13. Most hubs contain USB female ‘A’ connector ports. The ports receive USB ‘A’ male connectors, which are flat and rectangular.

Power Supply

A USB hub may receive power from its own USB connection to the computer, or it may require an external power supply, which comes bundled with the unit. USB hubs which use external power supplies are often recommended, as some peripheral devices will run slower on self-powered hubs. However, self-powered hubs provide the advantage of portability, as they can be used on laptops without having to rely on an electrical outlet.

Combination Hubs

Some hubs offer a combination of both USB and Firewire connectivity. The combination hubs often contain more USB ports than Firewire ports. They can be useful if you need to expand slots for non-USB devices, such as digital video cameras that mostly connect through Firewire.

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Facts about Thermal grease

        
         The application of thermal grease between a CPU and its cooler is an important step in installing a CPU.

I know this process intimidates many beginners, but it is really simple. Here are some important facts you need to know about applying thermal grease.

Thermal grease application has long been the domain of hardcore computer enthusiasts. But recently, as more people build their own computers, it is becoming more commonplace.Applying thermal grease is important for cooling a CPU

1. Why Use Thermal Grease?

Do you know why we need to use thermal grease when installing CPUs on a motherboard? Well, the reason is simple. Most CPUs come with a cooler. The contact between the CPU and the cooler is not perfect. Hence, thermal grease needs to be applied to close off the contact between the CPU and the cooler.

2. Found in Many Kinds Of Packages

Thermal grease is available in many different forms. It all depends on the brand and quality of grease you are looking for.

3. Remove Original Thermal Grease

One of the most important steps to remember when applying thermal grease between your CPU and its cooler is to remove the original thermal grease. You see, the original CPU packaging may already come with some thermal grease on them. Make sure you remove it before you apply any new thermal grease.

4. Common Mistakes

There are 2 common mistakes I can think of when applying thermal grease. One of them is to apply too much. Using too much thermal grease endangers your system because it could leak out to other components and causes short circuits on the motherboard.

The other common mistake concerns processors with seals on them. When you buy a CPU, please make sure that there is no seal on it. Otherwise, when applying thermal grease, you will have a lot of difficulty.

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Hardware firewall

Hardware firewall

Firewall is a protective system that lies, in essence, between your computer network and the Internet. A firewall may be a standalone system, a software application or a hardware device that blocks/permits traffic, prevents unauthorized users or malicious traffic from accessing a network or a system. It acts as a barrier or a membrane between two or more networks. The job of a firewall is to carefully analyze data entering and exiting the network based on your configuration. It ignores information that comes from unsecured, unknown or suspicious locations. A firewall plays an important role on any network as it provides a protective barrier against most forms of attack coming from the outside world.

Firewalls can be either hardware or software. The ideal firewall configuration will consist of both. In addition to limiting access to you computer and network, a firewall is also useful for allowing remote access to a private network through secure authentication certificates and logins. A hardware firewall is a small metal box filled with plug openings, or ports. You hook your computer network into the box then set it up on your computer, just as you would a new printer or other peripheral. Because it's not physically on your machine, a hardware firewall is less vulnerable than a software firewall.

Software firewalls give you the level of protection you need to keep safe from hackers and other unwanted intrusions because software is far easier for computer novices to customize. The features are suited to smaller home networks. Where as hardware firewalls are used in conjunction with software firewalls thus hardware firewall filters out the traffic and the software firewall inspects the network traffic thus you get pure traffic and unwanted traffic can be blocked easily.

Hardware firewalls can be purchased as a stand-alone product but more recently hardware firewalls are typically found in broadband routers, and should be considered an important part of your system and network set-up, especially for anyone on a broadband connection. Hardware firewalls can be effective with little or no configuration, and they can protect every machine on a local network. Most hardware firewalls will have a minimum of four network ports to connect other computers, but for larger networks, business networking firewall solutions are available.

A hardware firewall uses packet filtering to examine the header of a packet to determine its source and destination. This information is compared to a set of predefined or user-created rules that determine whether the packet is to be forwarded or dropped.

A computer user with general computer knowledge can plug in a firewall, adjust a few settings and have it work. To ensure that your firewall is configured for optimal security and protect however, consumers will no doubt need to learn the specific features of their hardware firewall, how to enable them, and how to test the firewall to ensure its doing a good job of protecting your network.

To test your hardware firewall security, you can purchase third-party test software or search the Internet for a free online-based firewall testing service. Firewall testing is an important part of maintenance to ensure your system is always configured for optimal protection.

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