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Sygate,
by SyberGen Networks ($40 for 3 users, $70 for 6 users), gets good reports
for easy installation and good support of networked games. You
can read this InfoWorld
review if you like.
Sybergen recently released Version 3 of Sygate, which has an
improved "Sygate Manager" and improved installation program.
The Web
site FAQ have also been improved, and includes more information
on how to use the "apprule.cfg" file. This is
the file that allows you to configure Sygate for applications that it
doesn't handle.
Sygate will handle many applications that are "special" to
other sharing methods, right "out-of-the-box".
It also handles triggered maps,
port ranges, and allows you to specify TCP or UDP protocols.
Version 3.0 comes with a Client program that can be installed on your
shared PCs. The Sygate 3.0 client aids troubleshooting
and captures performance information for display in the Sygate Manager.
Note that you don't have to use the Sygate Client program!
However, the Client will properly configure your TCP/IP properties
for proper communication with the Sygate Server. So you can install
it to configure your Client PC(s), then uninstall it, if you don't want
to configure the TCP/IP properties yourself. If you'd rather set
the TCP/IP properties manually, use the information
below.
Sygate 3.0 also supports "one-way" or "telco-return"
cable modems (in addition to full-duplex or two-way cable modems), but
usually only when they contain the telco modem as part of the cable
modem. The GI
Surfboard 1100 and 1200 are examples of "one-way"
modems that will work with Sygate. The Surfboard 1000 is
an example of one that won't.
The only downside to Sygate is that their tech support is via
email only. Some users report delays of many days when emailing
support questions, and some report getting no answer at all. They're
working on improving this by continuing to update the Web site FAQ and
hiring more staff.
NOTE!
If you are running Sygate 3 and getting "out of memory" messages
from Windows, check this page
for a fix.
If you don't want to let the Sygate Client program assign your IP addresses,
you can use these settings.
NOTE! These settings assume that you are manually assigning
IP addresses, and that the IP address for the second NIC in the machine
that is running Sygate is set to 192.168.0.1, Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0)
If the IP address of the Sygate Server's second NIC is not 192.168.0.1,
then either change it to 192.168.0.1 or substitute the IP
address that it is set to, wherever you see 192.168.0.1 in the steps
below.
IP address : set to a unique (not the same as
any other machine's address) address from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254
WINS Configuration: Disable WINS resolution
Gateway: set to 192.168.0.1
DNS Configuration:
- Enable DNS
- Host: Enter a unique computer name (usually the same as the
name entered in the client's Network Control Panel Identification
Tab, Computer Name field).
- Domain: Leave blank
- DNS Server Search Order: enter 192.168.0.1 and click the
Add button.
- Bindings: Check Client for Microsoft Networks and
File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks if you don't
have any other protocol (NetBeui, IPX/SPX) installed and bound to
these items. Otherwise uncheck both these items so that you do not
have either item bound to TCP/IP.
- Advanced: no changes
- NetBios: no changes.
NOTE: You can have a mix of automatically and manually
assigned client machines on your network. Just set the TCP/IP properties
accordingly.
NOTE!
If you are running Sygate 3 and getting "out of memory" messages
from Windows, 