Ethernet and Dialup-adapter: Sharing Internet Connection
When installing today an Ethernet network in a
PC, there is a high chance, that there is also a modem,
configured as 'Dialup-Adapter' for Internet-connection.
The usual setup would then be: have the PCs talk to each other
via the Ethernet using NetBEUI, which you use TCP/IP for the
Dialup-adapter.
So, your network diagram gets a little larger :

When installing the Ethernet card,
Windows95 will install:

All protocols have a 'Binding' to both the Network-adapter and the Dialup-Adapter. To
avoid unnecessary memory usage and also to get a slightly better
performance, you should delete all not-required protocol-adapter
bindings, just click on it to select it, then choose the
"Remove"-button.
This is my suggestion for a 'cleaned-up' Network-configuration:

You can also check the 'Bindings' by
calling up for the Adapters and protocols the Properties and
selecting the tab: Bindings:


For proper working of the network, it is
required to have a connection from the Client-module to the
Server-module via Protocol and adapter with valid bindings.
Sharing
one modem
on a Network for Internet access ?

This question shows up very often in the newsgroups, and there is
an answer:
No and Yes !
NO: Windows95 or 98 itself is NOT able to share a
modem across a network, and the PC with the installed modem
cannot be configured as a Gateway (since most
Internet-connections use a DHCP (Dynamic IP-address assignment).
Yes: using Windows 98 Second Edition (SE) and Windows ME Internet
Connection Sharing
Yes: using Windows 2000 Internet Connection Sharing
Yes: There are non-Microsoft
products available, which enhance Windows95 to be able to use one
modem for Internet access from multiple networked systems.
Such a program is often called: Proxy (make sure, that you understand
the basics of a Proxy before attempting to install
one ! ).
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TinySoftware ( www.tinysoftware.com
) offers
several packages, starting with:
WinRoute Lite (there is a 30 day
evaluation
copy on their Website) |
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Example: Using WinRouteLite to share Internet Connection on
Windows9x and NT4
Have a look at http://www.wingate.net
(yes, it is a 'net' domain, 'wingate.com'
is a different company !).

They offer an evaluation download of their 'Wingate'
product. For networks with more than 2 systems, you need to
request an activation-code, which expires after the evaluation
period, unless you purchase the product.
But for a 2 system network with 1 modem, it seems to work without
any limitation, even without activation-code and without
expiring, so some people think about such a 2 PC-version as
'freeware'.
I myself have no need for it, but I looked at their website, it
includes a very detailed section with documentation on
installation and configuration (so, please
do NOT ask me for any help , post them in the win95-networking
related newsgroups or search 'dejanews'!).
Have another look at Sygate: www.sygate.com:

According to the comments in the NewsGroups, SyGate is much
easier to setup/configure than Wingate, but it is NOT free: a 3
user license is 50 US$.
They offer a trail-version for download, which transfers up to 50
MByte, then a key-code has to be purchased.
Another product to look at: www.pscs.co.uk/software.vsockslight.html

PSCS offers for
free a light version of
their VSOCKS Windows95/NT4 Proxy Server, allowing to share a modem
for Internet access.
And another product from :
And another product from:
http://www.technocratix.com/webetc

They offer a 30-day Trail-version, after that, it requires a key
(4-user license for 79 US$, 20-user license for 149 US$).
And another product (developed in India):
They offer a Trial-download, which is lmited to
HTTP-transfer
( a full license is offered for 49 US$)

A much more complete list of Proxy-servers with download links
can be found at the
Shareware website www.windows95.com, now called www.winfiles.com in the
section : Proxy-Servers.
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