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bullet1.gif (1724 bytes) FAQ for ComSocks v2.6x
bullet1.gif (1724 bytes) FAQ for ComSocks v2.5


  1. I can not view the whole page (with missing images), what can I do to fix this?

  2. Why does my IE never dial a connection on the gateway after I have set comsocks to manage my dial-up?

  3. When I install comsocks, I got an error complaining ws2_32.dll is missing. How to fix this problem?

  4. Is comsocks compatible with Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium?

  5. What is port 139 and how do I close it?

  6. I am a little confused by the NAT function, so what do I need to do in order to enable it?

  7. I'm using NAT and my ISP uses a proxy server. Can I still use the Remote Control?

  8. How can I use Symphoy (Proxim) wireless cards with your software to share my modem by using peer to peer networking?

  9. How can I use Comsocks as a simple LAN firewall?

  10. I try to install ComSocks on Windows 2000, but the Linkbyte CKDriver does not appear on my protocols list. What do I do?

    11.



  1. I can not view the whole page (with missing images), what can I do to fix this?
    This may happen in a ADSL connection using a PPPoE virtual adapter. It is because the MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) value in the client host is not correct. Windows has a default value 1500 for Ethernet. However, many gateways or routers along the path from the proxy server to the destination host on the Internet may have a different MTU requirement. MTU is the maximum packet size in one TCP data frame. If this value is too large, the packet may be fragmented during the transmission or gets lost if the fragmentation is not allowed. To fix this, you can use a value 1490, 1460, or 576. When you test it, prefer to use a greater value first.

    You are required to edit the Windows registry for each client host (only for clients) if you are using Windows. I am assuming that you know how to use a registry editor "regedit.exe". You should be very cautious because a severe damage to your Windows can occur.

    (1) For Windows 95 clients, Add a DWORD value (Decimal) MaxMTU=1490 to the following key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\00yy
    (where yy ranges from 00 to 30, under those keys, you will see DriverDesc=TCP/IP)

    (2) For Windows 98 clients, Add a String value MaxMTU=1490 to the following key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\00yy
    (where yy ranges from 00 to 30, under those keys, you will see DriverDesc=TCP/IP)

    (3) For Windows NT clients, Add DWORD value (Decimal) MTU=1490 and RouterMTU (Decimal) =1490 to the following key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\<AdapterName>\Parameters\Tcpip
    (where AdapterName# indicates a Services subkey for a network adapter card, i.g. RTL80291)

    (4) For Windows 2000, Navigate down to the key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\<ID for Adapter>]
    Each ID Adapter has default keys for DNS, TCP/IP address, Default Gateway, subnet mask, etc. Find the key one that is for your network card. Create the following Entry:
    type=DWORD
    name="MTU" (Do NOT include the quotes)
    value (Decimal) =1490

    (5) For a Linux client, edit the "/etc/rc.d/rc.local" file and put the following at the END of the file:

    echo "Changing the MTU of ETH0"
    /sbin/ifconfig eth0 mtu 1490

    Replace "eth0" with the interface name that is the machine's upstream connection which is connected to the Internet.

    BTW, if this doesn't work, you can try other MTU values, e.g. 1460, 576, etc...

  2. Why does my IE never dial a connection on the gateway after I have set comsocks to manage my dial-up?
    Comsocks will overwrite your IE's settings for the dial-up connection on the gateway and make IE never dial a connection. By doing this way, comsocks can control the remote dialing from clients. If you want to recover the old way, please do not let comsocks to manage your dialing. Then set IE to use a dial-up connection. There is a way to work around this, you can enable HTTP daemon, then set the IE's proxy settings on the gateway to point to its local ip (i.e. 192.168.0.1). BTW, you need to enable dial-on-demand in comsocks. There is a screen shot in the How to -> Legacy Proxy Configuration in the help file about how to set the browser.

  3. When I install comsocks, I got an error complaining ws2_32.dll is missing. How to fix this problem?
    You need to download a WinSock 2 Library update from Microsoft web site for your Windows 95. You should not install it over other Windows than Windows 95. Be warned that the Dialup Networking 1.2 (MS DUN) updates include a Winsock2 that is entirely insufficient, and the Winsock2 update must be reinstalled after installing Windows 95 dialup networking

  4. Is comsocks compatible with Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium?
    Comsocks v3.04/3.04a and above is compatible with Windows 2000. v3.05/3.05a is compatible with Windows 2000 and Millennium with certain restrictions(see the download page). v3.06/3.06a and above is fully compatible with windows 2000 and Millennium. Do not install other versions on the Windows Me (you can do so, but NAT function won't work). If you have experienced a port conflict in W2K, you can disable the system service causing the problem in the Service configuration in the control panel. Or you can modify the daemon listening port in comsocks. The possible conflict services would be DNS server, DHCP server, IIS (web service) server, FTP and Telnet server.

  5. What is port 139 and how do I close it?
    Port 139 is used by various versions of Windows for file and printer sharing across a Windows network. Ideally, this will be disabled on your gateway computer for security reasons. To do so, simply open the Network settings in your gateway's control manager. Click on the button for File and Print Sharing. Here, you will see two check boxes for allowing others access to the gateway's files and printer. Remove the x from both of these options and click Ok to exit. After these are removed Windows will no longer monitor and respond on these ports, fixing this problem.

  6. I am a little confused by the NAT function, so what do I need to do in order to enable it?
    NAT is called Network Address Translator. It attempts to provide a transparent routing to the local network. In short, by using NAT, you can configure each client host like the gateway host. You do not need to specify the proxy settings in each client (unless your ISP requires you to do so). Please do the following in order to run NAT:

    1. Your gateway should have two ethernet adapters or one dial-up adapter and one ethernet adapter.
    2. NAT should be marked on the Internet adapter with the Internet IP besides it on the gateway host (it may be the PPPoE virtual adapter if you are using DSL).
    3. Specify 192.168.0.1 as the ip address of the local ethernet adapter (the second adapter). Do not specify DNS and default gateway for this adapter since they are set by your isp.
    4. Specify each client with a unique ip address (192.168.0.2, 192.168.0.3, etc...). Set DNS and the default gateway in each client host to the gateway host ip 192.168.0.1.

      You can refer to the software help file for the detail information.

  7. I'm using NAT and my ISP uses a proxy server. Can I still use the Remote Control?
    Assuming that NAT function is working and you have set your browser's proxy settings to your ISP's proxy server. To use the Remote Control in this case, you will need to make several changes under Internet Explorer. First, select Internet Options from the Tools menu. Select the Connections tab, and then click the LAN Settings button. In the window that appears, please check the selection for Bypass proxy server for local addresses. Then, click the Advanced button. Under Exceptions, please enter comsocks.go. Now you should be able to use the Remote Control feature as normal.


  8. How can I use Symphoy (Proxim) wireless cards with your software to share my modem by using peer to peer networking?
    You can save a Symphoy Ethernet Bridge (or Conductor Ethernet Sharing Software) or a Symphoy Cordless Modem by using Comsocks proxy server software in the gateway host. Our software can enable Multi-user Internet Sharing for Symphoy peer to peer wireless network. Of course, you still need two or more Symphoy PC/ISA/PCI Cards to bring two or more computers together.
    Symphony Cards
    The following are the normal installation steps:
    1. Install and Configure Symphony Cards in both computers per Symphony Installation Guid (Speicify Security Codes, Creating Profile, etc...)
    2. Install Client for Microsoft Network, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks in the Network Neighborhood Configuration.
    3. Test Symphony Cards, make sure that you can share files between two computers
    4. Configure network properties in the gateway host (connecting to the Internet directly). Highlighting TCP/IP -> Symphony HRF PC Card, specifying IP 192.168.0.1 with subnet 255.255.255.0. NO DNS and Default Gateway settings.
    5. Configure network properties in the client host. Highlighting TCP/IP -> Symphony HRF PC Card, specifying IP 192.168.0.2 with subnet 255.255.255.0, set DNS and the Default Gateway to 192.168.0.1.
    6. Install Comsocks in the gateway host (192.168.0.1) only and specify 192.168.0.1 as its proxy ip.

    Steps 1,2,3 are normal Symphony Card installation steps under peer to peer networking to share files. If you do not know how to configure network properties, please see the on-line manual here.


  9. How can I use Comtun/Comsocks as a firewall?
    Current Comtun 4.0 release has a built-in firewall. You can adjust the security level under the firewall tab. We strongly recommend you to upgrade to the latest version in order to completely secure your gateway host and the local network. The previous Comsocks version is a basic network firewall through NAT or proxy function (not configurable), it can protect your LAN if the gateway itself is secure and Comsocks has no inbound port mappings. In order to protect your gateway better under the previous Comsocks (v3.08(a) and below) a special care must be taken to protect the gateway. Please follow some general rules to maximize the gateway's security:
    1. Always DISABLE file and printer sharing. Please see the q4.
    2. Always select strong admin and user passwords for Windows NT/2000. Change them regularly.
    3. Set a "RestrictAnonymous" REG_DWORD value to 1 in "HKLM\CurrentControlSet\Control\lsa" registry in Windows NT to disallow anonymous access.
    4. Do NOT run any unnecessary server software (eg. IIS) other than Comsocks.
    5. Only install and run minimal applications and services in the gateway host. Disable unnecessary services.
    6. In Windows NT, enable TCP/IP security and filtering under Microsoft TCP/IP Properties (Control Panel->Network->Protocol->TCP/IP->Advanced->Enable Security). Only allow those ports and protocols necessary to the function of the gateway. You can block TCP/UDP ports 135-139 for NETBIOS access(file sharing).
    7. In Windows NT, disable Guest account.
    8. In Windows NT, remove Everyone from the Access This Computer From The Network User Right under "Policies->User Rights" in User Manager.
    9. Apply the most recent Service Packs and security fixes.
    10. Enable Auditing in Windows NT.
    11. Upgrade to the Comtun latest version to maximize the protection . Or you can install a third-party firewall software to protect the gateway (e.g. Tiny Personal Firewall, ZoneAlarm Firewall, BLACKICE Defender, Nortan Internet Securty, etc...).
    12. Install third-party anti-virus software.
    13. Using third-party port scan or security detection software to test your security holes (eg. Steve Gibson's web site has a ShieldsUp).
    14. Restrict physical access to the host. Leave the server alone.
    15. Do NOT use the gateway host as your regular workstation.

  10. I try to install ComSocks on Windows 2000, but the Linkbyte CKDriver does not appear on my protocols list. What do I do?

    Login your Windows as a System Administrator. Other logins won't have the permission to install new drivers.If you are using Comtun 4.00/4.00a, you can run a reinstall wizard under the File menu of the Comtun Manager. For a previous version, please open a DOS command prompt and enter:

    INSTALL_PATH\ckinst2k.exe -i "INSTALL_PATH", where "INSTALL_PATH" is the installation directory of ComSocks.