Setup ZoneAlarm Firewall to not interfere with your home network

We had a call a couple of weeks ago about configuring ZoneAlarm , a software firewall, to allow for a home network to be setup. Often times, after setting up ZoneAlarm, network communication like sharing printers and files is blocked unless ZoneAlarm is shutdown…defeating the purpose of the firewall. Here's how to add your home network to the "Trusted Zone" in ZoneAlarm so that file and printer sharing will work with ZoneAlarm enabled:

1. Double-click the ZoneAlarm icon by the clock in the system tray
2. Click the Firewall option (see #1 in the illustration)
3. Click the Zones tab (see #2 in the illustration)
4. Click Add (see #3 in the illustration)
5. Click IP Range
6. Make sure the Zone says "Trusted"
7. Type in the lowest IP address on your network (like 192.168.0.100). You can find this out by RIGHT Clicking on your Wireless or LAN connection in the Network Connections found in the Control Panel)
8. Type in the highest IP address on your network. Make this number about 15-20 points higher than the fourth digit of the previous number. If our example as above, then use 192.168.0.120 for this number.
9. Type "Home Network" or something similar in the Description box
10. Click OK
11. Click Apply on the Zones screen
12. Close ZoneAlarm