Non Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing for ADSL

On some countries, more and more families have 2 (or even 3) PC's:
- one for the parents, used for business work
- one for the children, to play (and to do some school-work......)

Both like to connect to the Internet. But in most houses, there is only one phone-line.

With Windows 98 Second Edition ,Windows ME and Windows 2000, Microsoft has included
this functionality as : Internet Connection Sharing ( ICS ) :

If your Microsoft Windows version does not include this ICS feature (like: Windows 95,
Windows98 First Edition or Windows NT4), then you can use a Non-Microsoft package
to share your Internet connection via Modem.

More and more people have now access to the Internet via a Broadband connection:
ADSL-line or Cable-Modem:

The ICS of Windows98SE/ME is designed to connect via modem to the Internet.
I was not able to configure it to connect to the Internet using an ADSL-line, although according to
the Knowledge Base article Q273587 it should be possible:

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to use Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) with a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection, it may
not work correctly on the host or client computer. You may receive a time out error message when you attempt to
browse the Internet, or your network adapter may not be recognized when you try to install ICS.

CAUSE

Some Internet service providers' (ISPs') Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connections use a software virtual adapter known
as a Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) adapter. This adapter is not recognized by ICS as an adapter that is
available to be used.

RESOLUTION

NOTE: If ICS is installed, please uninstall before continuing.

For ICS and Internet Explorer to function properly using a PPPoE adapter, ICS must be configured in the following manner:

Internet Explorer

Start Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then select Options.
Click Connections, and then click Always dial my default connection.
Under Dialup Setting, make sure that the connection to the DSL's ISP is selected as the default connection.
Click OK, and then quit Internet Explorer.

Internet Connection Sharing

Reinstall ICS and select the standard Dialup Adapter as your connection to the Internet on the host computer
(shared adapter).
Restart the computer when prompted.

I was not able to select the
connection to my ISP using the
ADSL-line.

Anybody got this to work ?

I was not able to share my ADSL Internet connection using ICS of Windows98SE,
but it was very easy to share the ADSL Internet connection using a Non-Microsoft package.
The same setup should also work for Internet connections via Cable-Modem.

There are several such packages available , I will use here as example
( installed on Win98 and NT4 ) :

WinRouteLite
from
TinySoftware

	The installation is very simple: just run the WinRouteLite.exe. Note: ONLY install WinRouteLite on the system, which has the connection to the Internet ( ICS Host ). Do NOT install WinRouteLite on the other systems (ICS Clients)
	After the system restart, WinRouteLite is running and showing an icon in your taskbar.
	Make a right-click on the WinRouteLite icon to display the control-menu: you will need to make some "Administration" :

	tab: General WinRouteLite is NOT Free ! : You can evaluate it for 30 days, but if you like then to continue to use the program, you will need to purchase it and to enter the License Nr.

	tab: Settings Select your method of connection to the Internet: - via 2nd network adapter ( T1, cable modem, DSL, ...) Select your adapter: - the PPPoE Adapter ( NOT the Network-card to connect to the ADSL modem). Verify the Advanced Settings.
	tab: DHCP: for home usage, it is most easy to enable DHCP for automatic configuration of the TCP/IP protocol of the ICS Clients. Note: if you are using such a program on an office network, which has already a DHCP server, then deactivate this DHCP-server.
	tab: DNS Proxy for home use, use the DNS defaults.
	tab: Port Mapping for home use, there should be no need to map any port. If you need to do this, download the User Guide for WindRouteLite and follow the instructions in there.
	tab: Security There are a lot of "bad guys" on the Internet snooping around and trying to "break in" to other people's systems, some just look around, Others delete data, so you need to protect your system. WinRouteLite includes a "Personal Fierewall", which is active when you do NOT Open all ports on the PC. So: NO Checkmark here !

Whatever product you decide to install : make sure that it either include a Firewall or
that you add an additional Personal Firewall !
And then TEST that your protection is working: run the test at www.grc.com :

Usage of WinRoute Lite on the Host:

Make your connection to the Internet via the ADSL-line or Cable-Modem

Using the Internet Connection on the Client systems

First: do NOT install WinRouteLite on any of the client systems !

	Configuration of Windows 9x (95/98/ME ): In the Network configuration, select for the TCP/IP protocol the "Properties" and define on the tab: IP-address: - Obtain an IP address automatically This requires, that WinRouteLite is configured to act as DHCP-server or that there is another DHCP-server on the network assigning the proper values. ( the Auto-IP-configuration of Windows98/ME and Windows 2000 will NOT assign all required TCP/IP parameters ! ) If you changed any value, you will need to restart/reboot your system.
	Verify the configuration of TCP/IP (to make sure it worked properly) by using from the Start-menu/Run the command: WINIPCFG : Display "More Info >>"
	The IP-address assigned has to be in the range configured in the WinRouteLite DHCP settings The system running WinRouteLite is defined as "Default Gateway" and as "DNS server". If you selected NOT to configure your ICS Clients for automatic TCP/IP configuration, then you can configure manually all the required information: - IP-address - subnet mask - Default Gateway - DNS-server
	In the Properties of the "Internet Explorer" (or use in the Control-panel the Internet Options ): Tab: Connections: If you have Dial-up connections on this system, deactivate them by selecting "Never dial a connection" (which is the action performed, when you run the "Internet Connection Wizard" and select to work via LAN)

If you start up now any Internet related program (like an Internet Browser or FTP-client),
WinRouteLite on the ICS Host will make the connection to the Internet. You can check this
also by making a PING:

WinRouteLite and Windows NT4:

The operation on a Windows NT4 system is identical to Windows9x, except:

	when connecting to the Internet, there will be NO RAS icon/ Dialup networking Monitor in your taskbar. You are controlling everything ONLY via WinRouteLite.
	NT4 as ICS Client can receive the TCP/IP configuration from a ICS Host running WinRouteLite. There is no WINIPCFG command on Windows NT4, use IPCONFIG to check the TCP/IP values configured by the DHCP-server.