Alpha Shield Hardware Firewall, User Manual

Page 10 of 19 

Make sure that power is being provided to your computer and that the computer is 
switched on. 
Make sure that the Network RJ-45 (Ethernet) cable is a straight through connection 
provided with the AlphaShield Home Edition. 
Make sure that your Network Interface Card within your computer is not a fixed fast 
Ethernet 100Mbps card that cannot switch or auto negotiate to 10 Mbps. 
Make sure that the AlphaShield’s PC port is not being connected to the Cable/DSL port 
or the AUX port. 
Make sure that you have the RJ-45 jack plugged into a Network Interface Card on the 
computer and to no other type of peripheral card. 
If all of the above is correct, then the cable could be faulty.  Replace the cable with 
another straight through RJ-45 (Ethernet) Network cable. 
 

The Connect (Center) LED  is always on solid green.  Why?  

The Auto Mode has been selected on the rear of the unit.  This solid green indication is 
normal for this mode and the logical 15 minute disconnect time-out is bypassed.  The 
AlphaShield Home Edition remains always connected and provides security via the IP 
Stealth and RPA technologies until the Disconnect button (Grey) is manually pressed. 
 

My AlphaShield Home Edition does not time-out. Why? 

If AlphaShield Home Edition is in Auto Mode, then it will not disconnect. However, if 
the selected mode is either Manual or Lock Mode, then the connection session timer has 
not expired because there is client user activity being detected.  If the client is 
downloading or uploading a large file that exceeds the inactivity timer value, the Connect 
(Center) LED will stay green. The AlphaShield Home Edition will stay connected and 
will not disconnect the client until the data file transfer is completed and the timer value 
expires with no transmission activity.  The second condition is the normal operation of 
the AlphaShield Home Edition in Manual or Lock Mode. 
 

Cannot make a connection to the Internet and the Connect (Center) LED and Data 
LEDs are solid red. Why? 

This is normal for the AlphaShield Home Edition if it is in the Lock Mode. In the Lock 
Mode, AlphaShield Home Edition has physically disconnected the computer from the 
Network connection and will not allow any communication to take place. This mode 
should be used only if the user requires security of an extreme measure. This mode is 
recommended if the user does not access the Internet for an extended period of time or 
has left the computer unattended and wishes no communication to take place between the 
computer and the ISP. 
 

The red Connect (Center) LED comes on too often.  Why? 

AlphaShield Home Edition is in Manual or Lock Mode and the user is not creating 
enough user activity to reset the inactivity disconnect timer.  This is normal operation in 
Manual or Lock Mode if the user is not using his or her Internet connection.  The 
Connect (Center) LED will give a 30 second warning by flashing green prior to 
disconnection.  It will turn red upon a logical or physical disconnection.