Therefs no need to have multiple Internet accounts or connections for every computer on the network; just turn on Internet Connection Sharing.
Once your computers are networked, you can share a single computer’s Internet connection with all members on that network. In the old days, you had to have an Internet connection and account for each computer in the home, but not anymore. If you’re still running a setup like that, it’s time to move forward. If you’ve just networked a second computer, it’s time to get that one connected to the Internet.
The first decision youfll make is what computer is going to be the host. The host should meet the following requirements:
- It should be running Windows XP Home or Professional.
- It must be set up to run most of the time. If the computer is not on, others on the network will not have Internet access.
- If more than one computer meets the first two requirements, but also has DSL, broadband, or a cable modem, choose the fastest computer as the host.
Each network computer that will share this connection must meet the following requirements:
- It must have a NIC and be able to connect to the network.
- If it has Internet Sharing capabilities, they must be disabled.
- It must be running Windows 98 or higher.
To enable Internet Connection Sharing on the designated host computer (or to disable it on any other computer on the network that is not acting as the host):
- Open Network Connections. There are two ways: right-click My Network Places and choose Properties; or from Control Panel, select Network And Internet Connections (if in Category Mode), and then choose Network Connections.
- Decide which connection is the connection to the Internet. It wonft be the Local Area Connection. Figure 8-2 shows a variety of choices. The correct choice in this instance is under Dial-Up and is named, appropriately, Internet.
- Right-click this connection and choose Properties.
- In the Internet Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
- Under Internet Connection Sharing, check Allow Other Network Users To Connect Through This Computer’s Internet Connection. Depending on your preferences, enable or do not enable the other two choices. Each has to do with how much control over this connection other network users will have.
- When finished, click OK.