Home Networking...

[kandrathe]

If you know how to configure a Windows 7 TCP/IP network with no default gateway that is not considered by Windows 7 to be a "public network", please tell.

Although I am not worried about having to turn off the Windows firewall in this case. It's just that it's stupid I can't have Windows believe me that the network is a "work network".

In my case, the firewall/router is the gateway, at 192.168.1.1 and it operates as the DHCP server. The default Class C network for personal use is 192.168.1.0 (1-254) with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. It also passes along the DNS addresses from my cable provider.

So, I think you do need a default gateway (think router)... It is the default route your client machine will use to send it's information to the network. Every IP network subnet has a default gateway (router) passing traffic within, and out of the sub-network.

In Windows speak, a work Network must have a domain (windows domain or, in other words an Active Directory server). I default to putting my machines in workgroup WORKGROUP for utility. The difference is that in a DOMAIN, the clients need to seek authentication for accessing things from the Active Directory. In setting up things at home, I ignore Microsoft networking and use TCP/IP for everything.

I find Windows 8's client security even more borked. They wanted to link peoples home PC accounts to hotmail/XBOX authentication -- and that part sort of works. But now, as the local machines administrator, I can delete a client account, but I can't change their password or profile.