Router's ALG Config Settings

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Kaos Kid
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Router's ALG Config Settings

Post by Kaos Kid »

Dayum this DIR-850L Router has MANY more settings than my old Linksys G Router. In one of my router config pages I see settings that say they are for VPNs. If I don't run VPNs, do I need these settings enabled? I also don't use skype or VOIP from my router. Is there any reason for me to keep the following settings enabled, and if not will I see any benefit to disabling them?

PPTP

IPSec (VPN)

SIP

Thanks!
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skier
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Re: Router's ALG Config Settings

Post by skier »

I would disable them, there may not be any noticeable difference but Routing overhead will be a little better
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Kaos Kid
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Re: Router's ALG Config Settings

Post by Kaos Kid »

Cool, thanks Ski
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kenc51
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Re: Router's ALG Config Settings

Post by kenc51 »

ALG - Application Level Gateway

PPTP - Point to Point VPN = disable no problem

IPSec (VPN) - Client VPN - disable no problem

SIP - VoIP - disable no problem

Disabling the above will not mean you can't have VoIP or a VPN, it just makes it harder to setup.
The ALG is to allow this traffic to passthrough and the sessions to be monitored and controlled correctly - if there's no device / client on th lan requiring it you turn it off.

If won't help with performance though. ALG on our router takes up 8 bytes of memory

ALG is sort of like a pre-defined port forward (not quite) - it's a security feature
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application-level_gateway
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