Internet Connection Sharing for Windows XP

Stuart W · 21-01-2004, 18:29

I just posted this on my site and thought it might be usefull here

Firstly, you will need ALL of the following:-

Internet connection (dial-up / ADSL / Cable Modem)
Spare network card in PC with internet connection
Spare network card in machine to share internet with
EITHER a Cat5 Crossover lead OR 2 Cat5 Patch leads and a hub
Some spare time!

If you are just sharing to one device, you will save money just getting a patch lead.
If you want to connect more than one device, you will need a hub. (You could use a router / switch, but for ease I will refer to hub for this walkthrough).

For ease, I will refer to the machine with the internet connection as PC and the device to connect to it as CLIENT.
The client may be a PC, Laptop, X-Box, PS/2 etc.

Follow this guide one step at a time. If you connect cables too soon it will be a lot more difficult!

STEP 1
Switch on the PC and make sure the internet connection is working.

Click on the Start button and RIGHT click on "My Network Places" and select Properties.

You should then see a screen similar to this:-

It doesn't matter if yours looks a little different, as long as one is connected (your internet connection) and the other shows the no-cable icon.

Right click on your internet connection and select Rename.
Rename it to "Internet".

Right click on the other connection and Rename it "LAN".

Shut down the PC.

STEP 2 - Using CROSSOVER CABLE (scroll down for hub)

Connect the crossover cable to the PC and the Client.

Switch on the PC.

STEP 2 - Using a HUB

Connect the PC to the hub using a patch cable.
Connect the Client to the hub using another patch cable.
Make sure the hub is switched on.

STEP 3
Once the PC is running, check the internet connection is working!

Click on the Start button and right click "My Network Places" and select Properties (as before).

You should now see something like this:-

Don't worry if your 'LAN' connection says it's unplugged, that is only because the Client is not switched on.

Right click on 'Internet' and select Properties.
Click on the Advanced tab at the top.

Put a tick in the box for Share Internet Connection.

You will see a warning telling you that an IP address will be changed to 192.168.0.1.
Just agree and continue.

Once this step is complete, shut down the PC.

STEP 4

Setting up the client is relatively simple.

You will need to configure IP information on the client to use DHCP.

If you have an X-Box - PS/2 console, just set your network settings to DHCP.

If you have a Windows 98/ME/NT/XP/2000 machine, you need do nothing at all!

STEP 5

Power up the PC.
Once up, make sure the internet connection works.

Power up Client machine.

DONE!

22-01-2004, 12:00

Nice one - Good info

Stuart W · 24-01-2004, 02:31

No probs

If anyone want's a how-to which would be usefull to many users, let me know.

Xaccers · 24-01-2004, 02:36

You're next mission, should you wish to accept it, is to do a how-to with network bridging

Stuart W · 24-01-2004, 03:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

You're next mission, should you wish to accept it, is to do a how-to with network bridging

OK, give me some more details...

what kind of networks are you bridging and why?
Also, will a lot of members find the info usefull, or just a select few?

Xaccers · 24-01-2004, 03:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart W

OK, give me some more details...

what kind of networks are you bridging and why?
Also, will a lot of members find the info usefull, or just a select few?

Ok, prime scenario.

You have two PC's in your bedroom, or a PC and Xbox, so using your very well thought out terminology, PC and Host.

You have a wired router (running DHCP 192.168.1.x so it would conflict with ICS) in a different room to yours (say your dad's computer room, or downstairs near the STB) and you only want one cable going into your room.
Your PC has two network cards.
You may have a laptop which normally connects to a network, at work for instance, which doesn't use DHCP, so has an IP such as 10.0.0.10 and you don't fancy having to change it to DHCP everytime.

You set your second NIC to an ip in the same range as your host, or if you can use DHCP, set it to use that.

In the network connection screen you select both connections (hold down ctrl and click on both) then right click on one of them and select bridge.
XP will then turn your PC into a bridge between the two networks forwarding DHCP requests etc, or if you're using a static IP address, it will sort out the routing.

This is ideal if you already have a wired router in place and at a later date fancy using a wireless laptop, as all you need to do is get a wireless card for your PC and one for your latop, saving you having to buy a wireless router, and throwing away your perfectly good wired router.

Stuart W · 24-01-2004, 09:40

OK, firstly you have asked for a how-to, then posted one.

Secondly, I wouldn't spend time doing a step-by-step for that as it is not (IMO) how the majority of NTHW users are set up.

I did the ICS guide as XP is a popular OS and a lot of people would like to share broadband around a home network and ask for details regularly on this forum

Xaccers · 24-01-2004, 09:57

Yeah but if you did it, it would probably make more sense and have pretty pictures (I was a bit tipsy when I wrote it)

And it's less complicated to set up than ICS as you just select the two NICs and hit "bridge"

Stuart W · 24-01-2004, 10:16

Again, not usefull by enugh members to warrant it.

If someone knows they need to bridge a connection, they already know how to do it.

I won't even start on the security risks you are creating by making that bridge, not to mention putting an employers laptop on the internet!

Xaccers · 24-01-2004, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart W

Again, not usefull by enugh members to warrant it.

If someone knows they need to bridge a connection, they already know how to do it.

I won't even start on the security risks you are creating by making that bridge, not to mention putting an employers laptop on the internet!

Well of course it's only useful if you have a router/firewall already, and frankly if you don't and you're using BB, then you shouldn't be allowed online in the first place

And if it wasn't for NTL letting people connect their personal laptops to the corporate network, they'd never know about the viruses that their out of date McAfee is missing

(speaking from experience here)

Stuart W · 24-01-2004, 10:31

Stuart W · 24-01-2004, 10:40

Could an admin please delete posts 4 - 11 ?

altis · 29-01-2004, 11:52

There's lots of usefule 'How to...' articles over on Microsoft's Windows XP Support Centre. There is one about enabling ICS and, towards the bottom of the list, there is a series that gives step-by-step instructions for setting up a home network.
http://support.microsoft.com/common/...nd%20kbnetwork

29-01-2004, 16:06

Have you thought about putting this up on the .info site m8 ?

I am going to post some articles on there soon.

supered · 27-06-2004, 10:29

Your guide on connecting 2 pc's is very good, l wonder if you could answer some questions so l can set up a couple of computers;
l run winme and want to connect an xp comp as client, can l just use the winme wizard or is it best to do it manually, if so ,how? winme network places is not like xp.
As regards network cards, the client comp has one and my winme comp has one, l would just need another network card for my winme comp to connect it to the client, correct?
If the xp comp has it's IP address changed would it be restored automatically to it's original IP address if the comp was connected directly to the internet at some future date.
thanks