Did you know you can share a single internet connection just by using your computer? Yes, I meant you don’t need a router or hub to do this! This is the technology called as Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) and it’s been around since Windows 98 SE.
For this tutorial, we will be setting up ICS in Windows XP because it is much easier to setup since the necessary network components or protocols are already installed. Also, most computer networkers believe that the XP edition of ICS is more and less likely to cause network issues.
Preparing for Internet Connection Sharing
In order to use ICS, the host computer (the one connected to the internet) must have 2 network adapters. One of them must be configured for the internal network (Local Area Network or LAN) and the other must be connected to the internet. Internet connection may use DSL or cable, and the LAN connection may be wired, wireless or it may even use USB-Ethernet connection.
Before you start configuring ICS,:
- Make sure that your host computer can connect to the internet (just test it by launching a browser and visit several sites)
- You have to decide if your client computers (the ones connecting to the host computer) can control the server’s internet connection through the internet gateway.
Here are the steps you should follow to enable ICS on the host computer:
- Logon to the computer as the Administrator or Owner.
- Go to the control panel. To do this click on Start>Control Panel.
- If you are using the category view, you should see Network and Internet Connections. Click that and go to Network Connections.
- If you are in the classic view, double click on Network Connections.
- Right click on the connection you are using to connect to the internet. For example, if you are using a broadband connection, right click the connection under LAN or High Speed Internet.
- Click on properties and then go to the advanced tab.
- Under internet connection sharing, make sure you put a mark on allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection.
- Once you click ok the you will receive a message which states:
When Internet Connection Sharing is enabled, your LAN adapter will be set to use IP
address 192.168.0.1. Your computer may lose connectivity with other computers on
your network. If these other computers have static IP addresses, it is a good idea to set them
to obtain their IP addresses automatically. Are you sure you want to enable Internet
Connection Sharing?
- Click yes.
- If your host computer is connected to a router or a hub, you will receive this message: . In this case, make sure that your computer is not connecting through wireless or that there are no other networking device in the setup.
Now let’s setup the connection on the client computers. Follow these steps.
- Logon to the computer as Administrator or Owner.
- Follow steps 2 to 5 above.
- On the general tab, highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) then click on Properties
- Make sure that that the computer is set to obtain IP address automatically.
- If you are going to use more than 1 client computer, it would help to set your IP addresses. You can use the following setting for one computer. Use the same subnet mask and default gateway for all client computers but make sure you change the IP address from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.3 and so on.
- Close all windows.
- Follow steps 1-3 above but this time, instead of choosing network connections, select internet options.
- Click on the connections tab and hit the setup button. A wizard should appear and you are now ready to make a new connection.
- Click next on the new connection wizard.
- Choose connect to the internet and hit next.
- Choose Setup my connection manually and click next again
- Click connect using a broadband connection that is always on and then hit next.
- Click finish to complete the connection.
That’s it. Keep in mind, however, that this connection can only be used with Internet Explorer. Also, if you are connecting VPN on your host computer, your client computers won’t be able to access the internet. Lastly, if your host computer is member of another network, make sure that there are no other computers on that network addressed 192.168.0.1 or else your host computer as well as your client computers will not be able to connect to the internet.
