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ICS is much easier to set up in Win2000 than in Win98SE
and WinMe. There's no software to install,
and it doesn't add any network components or protocols. But Win2000
gives you less control over how ICS works. You
can't:
disable the DHCP server.
change the server's IP address or the range of addresses allocated by
the DHCP server.
share the connection over two different networks.
WARNING #1!
These instructions are for Windows 2000 Professional. They
don't apply to Windows 2000 Server.
WARNING #2 Don't
enable ICS if any
computer in your network is configured as a domain controller, DHCP server, or
DNS server. Don't enable it if another computer is running ICS or
Network Address Translation (NAT).
WARNING #3 To
enable ICS, you must be logged on as a user which is a member of the
Administrators group.
WARNING #4!
If you establish a Virtual Private Networking (VPN) connection while sharing a
different connection, the client computers won't be able to access the Internet
until the VPN connection is ended.
Continue below for Broadband setup. Go
here if you're using a Dialup modem to connect to the
Internet.
Setup
for Broadband Connection
If you are using a cable modem, 'DSL or other high
bandwidth Internet service that connects to your Win2000 computer
via an Ethernet card (NIC), you'll need to do the following to
use ICS:
NOTE:
It's important that you have two network
adapters installed before you try to set up ICS. (see
this page if you need
more info)
If two adapters
are not installed, you won't see the "Sharing"
tab in the Local Area Connection properties window.
To prepare for ICS installation:
Install your cable modem, DSL or other high bandwidth
connection and test it so that you know you can connect
to the Internet
Install a second NIC and set up your LAN with TCP/IP
so that you know your computers can communicate with each
other.
With those steps completed, the rest is easy! Here's how
I set up Win2000 ICS to share a cable modem connection.
Open the Network and Dial-up Connections folder by right
clicking My Network Places on your Desktop and selecting
Properties. Then right click the Cable Modem
network connection and select Properties.
The Properties sheet shows the network components associated
with the connection.
Click the Sharing tab, then check the Enable Internet
Connection Sharing box.
If you have more than one network adapter connected to local
area networks, you'll see this screen instead. Click the
down arrow and select the one to use for sharing the Internet
connection.
Click OK. Win2000 warns you that it will change
the IP address of the LAN adapter. Click Yes to continue.