Using Internet Connection Sharing

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) enables you to set up the computers on your home network to share an Internet connection. For more information about setting up Home Networking, click Related Topics below.

Using ICS, several household members can connect to the Internet individually or at the same time, and use the same connection, such as a phone line or broadband connection (which includes a DSL or a cable modem). Each connected computer has the ability to use virtually any of the Internet services it could normally use if connected directly. You can also change the configuration of your Internet connections and hardware, such as your Internet service provider (ISP), connection devices, and network adapters.

Before you can use ICS, all computers on the network must have network adapters installed. Then, choose the computer that will be the ICS host computer. Use the Home Networking wizard to set up your network, including ICS.

You can also configure computers on your network to use file and print sharing, so that they can use these resources from one another. Again, the Home Networking wizard helps you to set this up.

The computer in your home with an Internet connection becomes the ICS host after installing ICS. This computer must have one device for the connection to the Internet and a separate device for the connection to the home network, such as a modem to connect to the Internet and a network adapter or NIC (Network Interface Card) for connection to the home network. If you have an external cable modem (or DSL connection) that connects to the ICS host computer using a network adapter, you must use a separate network adapter to connect to your home network.

The computers that do not have a direct Internet connection rely on the ICS host computer to access information from the Internet. These computers are known as ICS clients. They require a network adapter to connect to the home network. Each client must be running an operating system that supports networking via TCP/IP. Windows 95 or later is recommended for clients.

When a computer on your network requests information from the Internet, the request is first sent to the ICS host computer. Then, the ICS host sends the request on to the ISP. When data is returned from the Internet or ISP, the ICS host computer relays the data back to the original client computer. Since the only computer visible to the ISP or the Internet is the ICS host computer, only one ISP account is required.

In addition, ICS provides greater security for your network. Only the ICS host computer is visible to the Internet making all other computers on your network less vulnerable to unauthorized access. Furthermore, the ICS host allows only virtual connections to the other computers and only when the ICS host computer initiates the connection. Finally, the ICS host itself is protected, in the same way as the clients, with the adapter it is using to connect to the Internet.

Another task of the ICS host computer is to provide a separate network address to all computers on your network. The network address provides a unique identifier to each computer, providing a way for each computer to find one another.

Notes

• ICS does not work with some versions of AOL. Please contact AOL for more information.
• If your ICS host connects to AOL, other computers on your network can use this Internet connection, however, they must use a different AOL account. AOL does not permit concurrent logins on one account, even if using different screen names.
• Your ISP may charge you for connecting multiple computers through a single Internet connection. Check with your ISP for details.