This trick shows you how to share your internet connections on
multiple computers within a workgroup with Windows XP.
Windows XP has a built-in feature that called "Internet Connection
Sharing" (ICS) that allows home users to share their internet
connections on multiple computers.
If you are not familiar with the network configurations, the easiest
way to share your internet connection is to purchase a router or
hub. Use this trick only if you don't have a router, or don't want to
use a router, or if you just want to try out the feature.
A simple way to understand this feature is, you are making your
host computer (the computer directly connects to the internet)
functioning as a router for other computers.
What do you need?
A "Host" computer that running Windows XP. This computer
must have at least TWO (2) network adapters. One adapter -
let's call it "Adapter #1" - connects to the internet and another,
"Adapter #2", connects to a hub or directly to other
computers.
Client computer(s), which run any version of Windows. A client
computer can be connected to the host computer directly by a
cross-over cable or indirectly through a hub.
This trick assumes that the host computer is connected to the
internet and you are able to access the internet on this
computer.
Configure the Host Computer
1. Logon the host computer as Administrator.
2. Click Start >> Control Panel.
3. Click Network and Internet Connections.
4. Click Network Connections.
5. Right-click the connection that you use to connect to the
internet (the connection with Adapter #1). This connection
can be either a high-speed internet connection or a dial-up
connection.
6. Click Properties.
7. Click Advanced tab.
8. Under Internet Connection Sharing, select the Allow
other network users to connect through this
computer's Internet connection check box.
9. If you are sharing a dial-up Internet connection, select the
Establish a dial-up connection whenever a computer
on my network attempts to access the Internet check
box if you want to permit your computer to automatically
connect to the Internet.
10. Click OK. You'll reieve the following message:
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?
11. Click Yes.
Configure the Client Computer(s)
To use the shared connection from the Host computer, a client
computer must be configured with "Automatic IP address". The
main configurations are:
1. Configure TCP/IP Automatic IP
2. Configure Internet Connection
The steps for the above two configurations are vary on different
versions of Windows.
The following procedures are for Windows XP client computers.
1. Log on to the client computer as Administrator or as Owner.
2. Click Start >> Control Panel.
3. Click Network and Internet Connections.
4. Click Network Connections.
5. Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click
Properties.
6. Click the General tab, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in
the This connection uses the following items list, and
then click Properties.
7. In the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box,
click Obtain an IP address automatically (if it is not
already selected), and then click OK.
8. Click Start >> Control Panel
9. Click Network and Internet Connections.
10. Click Internet Options.
11. In the Internet Properties dialog box, click the
Connections tab.
12. Click the Setup button. The New Connection Wizard
starts.
13. On the Welcome to the New Connection Wizard page,
click Next.
14. Click Connect to the Internet, and then click Next.
15. Click Set up my connection manually, and then click
Next.
16. Click Connect using a broadband connection that is
always on, and then click Next.
17. On the Completing the New Connection Wizard page,
click Finish.
18. Exit Control Panel and test the internet. You might need to
restart the computer.