Cheap and Easy Internet Sharing
This article explains a very simple setup, that can be used for sharing files, printer
and an internet connection (with only one IP address) using MS Windows 98 SE
(Second Edition). This configuration
does not provide optimum security, but is a lot better than the standard Win98
SE install. This should be sufficient for the casual user.
This is what you need: Cable or DSL Modem,
one PC with two ethernet cards, a few PC's with
one ethernet card, a hub and enough ethernet
cables to tie it all together. The printer is optional.
Install and bind NetBEUI for File and Printer Sharing on the client computers on the
local network.
In Windows 9x Control Panel -> Network:
Step 1: Make sure that both TCP/IP and NetBEUI are installed. (There is usually no need for
IPX/SPX. Unless you are running Novell you can usually remove it.)
Step 2: If you want local networking, make sure that both Client for Microsoft Networks, as
well as File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks are installed.
Step 3: Double click on "TCP/IP -> [your network adapter]" and then Bindings.
Make sure that both Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and Printer Sharing for
Microsoft Networks, are UNchecked. (Click No if you get a dialog box warning you about no
bindings.)
Step 4: Double click on "NetBEUI -> [your network adapter]" and then Bindings.
Make sure that both Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and Printer Sharing for
Microsoft Networks, are Checked.
This will ensure that your computer uses TCP/IP only for access to the Internet, and
that all local networking will use only NetBEUI. Since NetBEUI is not a routable protocol,
none of your local traffic will go out over the Internet, and nobody on the Internet will
be able to access your local network services.
For the typical casual user of the Internet, this is probably sufficient. More serious
users should consider a firewall. This is because there are other ways that you can be
attacked; e.g. a Trojan horse that gets installed like a virus; denial of service attack;
IP spoofing; etc.
Note: The Cable Modem can connect to the gateway machine using either ethernet or USB.
To the OS both options looks like network connections.
Note: You may want to refer to this Microsoft Support Knowledge Base article,
if you experience problems with your Windows 98 Second Edition ICS
(Internet Connection Sharing) setup:
Q230116: Slow Transfer Rates with ICS and High-Bandwidth
Devices
Partly based on a text by David Rothman - thanks to Keith
for some good comments.
For information on improving the security, read more about NAT, Firewall and Proxy software that can be installed on
the gateway machine.
See also the other articles about internet sharing.
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Firewall software with stateful packet inspection and a unique intrusion detection and logging system. This software is a must on all Windows machines with an always-on internet connection and a public IP address.
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internet sharing