Connection sharing

I don't understand your question.  Could you try explaining it a bit better?

Steve

I have one computer running Windows 2000. And another computer running Windows XP. One can connect to the other no problem. I wanted another Windows 2000 computer to get internet access. So I add Internet Connection Sharing. This computer is connected by a crossover cable. Will this last computer be able to access the resources of both of the other two computers?

I'm still not clear on how you have this all set up.  Are you trying to share a broadband connection or a dialup connection?  How are the first two computers connected to each other?  If you want three computers to share a single internet connection, the best solution is to use a router.  Please explain how you are setting this up - the details are important.

Steve

Cable connection. I don't think one would use a crossover cable connection if you were using dial-up, would you? The first two machines are connected by regular ethernet cable, each machine from a cable from a hub. I'm just interested in the operational properties of ICS.

I can't really think of any other details. Windows is all very up to date AFAIK on these machines. There aren't that many options to it.

On one machine, first I saw icons for all 3 machines in the NPlaces. But the machine attached by crossover to another machine gave an error message. Shortly later, it simply wouldn't appear in NPlaces. So I'd like to diagnose what's up with it.

Install two ethernet cards in the machine that is making the connection to the cable modem.  Connect one of these ethernet cards to the cable modem and the other to the hub using a regular network cable.  Install Internet Connection Sharing on that computer.  Connect all other computers to the hub.  Do not use any cross-over cables and do not install internet connection sharing on any of the other computers.  All computers will then share the connection through the PC that is directly connected and all computers will be able to share files and printers if you have installed file and printer sharing and have designated drives or folders as shared resources.

Steve

Ok. New idea to me. Thanks.

But for the current setup as is, can you or anyone here describe the status of access options?

If everything was done right, and I was master of tech, could this last machine connected only to the 2nd computer access resources of the two other computers? All three machines do access the Internet just fine.

First of all a cross-over cable can be used to share a dial-up connection, so my first response was not out of line like you suggest. I still don't see exactly how your network is set up.  You say you are connected to a hub and all computers get an internet connection.  That suggests that you have two network cards in the computer that is connected to the internet and you are running internet connection sharing software on that computer.  One network card would have to be connected to the broadband modem and the other to the hub in order for this work, unless each computer has its own IP address assigned by your ISP.  You claim that you want to connect another computer to the computer running intenernet connection sharing through a cross-over cable.  Does this mean that you have a third network card installed in that computer?  Again, I am having trouble seeing exactly how you have this set up.  In general, since the local network operates on local lP address in the range 192.168.xxx.xxx, the computers will only be able to see each other and share resources if they are behind the internet sharing connection.  If they are all connected to the hub, then this would work.  If one computer is connected to a third network card in the computer that is connected to the internet and has an assigned IP address in the local range, then yes it should work. 

Steve

A cable modem is connected to a hub. The hub connects by cable to two other computers. The first computer has just one network card. The second has two. And it is running ICS Connection Sharing. The third computer connects to the 2nd machine. So I am searching for some description of the status of this connection, since it does get the Internet.

This setup does not follow from the setup you suggested. So I'm wondering just with software, and forget about hardware, what kind of communication currently would take place in the described situation?

I don't think there are any other details of setup, other than software. If there's any menu I can check that will help, please say so.

Are you sure that the hub is not a router?  Do you have static ip addresses that are assigned by your isp to the two computers that are currently connected to the "hub" and connect through the internet.  If not, how do these two computers get their IP addresses.  Internet Connection sharing works when one network card is connected to the cable modem and the other is connected to the hub, so I still don't understand how everything is working.

Steve

It is called a Kingston Etherrx hub. To your second question, hmm. Let's say I go to Local Area Connection and click properties. Then click at the bottom and click Properties again. It says here: Obtain an IP address automatically. Nothing has needed to be set up special.

You say that:

> Internet Connection sharing works when one network card is connected to the cable modem and the other is connected to the hub, so I still don't understand how everything is working.

Well, if one computer receives an internet connection, any way, then it can use ICS and offer its internet connection to another computer. Isn't that what it's supposed to be? Like if you look in Help, I don't think it says you have to place a cable from here to there a certain particular way.

Ok, I can now understand how the computer connected to the second network card can get an internet connection through internet connection sharing.  But the second network card is behind the internet connection sharing adapter and therefore will not be able to see any of the computers connected to the hub.  You have an unconventional network, so who knows what will happen.

Steve

The network card is a physical piece of electronics. And it is inserted in a slot in the desktop. So, can you explain more what you can mean by "But the second network card is behind the internet connection sharing adapter"?

I hoped to do a search on the Net for some clues on the original question. But I could not think of any keywords that could narrow the topic at all.

Anyone else can jump in too?  Cody?

And also, why would all 3 computer icons occur on the first computer under Workgroup before?

jodpur,

A few observations: 

It is still unclear what it is you are really trying to do.  It sounds like you want all three PCs to participate in File and Printer Sharing, but you have not specifically said that.

Since PC1 and PC2 are connected to the hub which is connected to the cable modem and they are configured to Obtain an IP Address Automatically, they must be receiving public IP addresses from your ISP.  You would be ill advised to enable File and Printer Sharing using public addresses

PC2 is running ICS and by design ICS performs Network Address Translation.  Therefore the network adapters receiving private IP addresses from ICS (the second adapter in PC2 and the adapter in PC3) are outside the public address range being assigned to PC1 and PC2 (the first network adapter in PC2).  PC3 will never be able to perform File and Printer Sharing with PC1, but should have no problem performing File and Printer Sharing with PC2.  ICS clients are effectively behind a firewall, the result of NAT.  It is not possible for PC3 to gateway through PC2 to access PC1 for File and Printer Sharing.

Steve's earlier recommendation is the best solution: get a 4 port wired router, like a Linksys BEFSR41, and connect it to the cable modem.  Then connect all three PCs to the router.  All the PCs will be protected by the firewall in the router and all the PCs will be able to perform File and Printer Sharing, as well as share the internet.  Unless your ISP is especially magnanimous, you are paying for an additional IP address for PC2, perhaps as much as $5 per month.  Put that towards a router and in 8 months the router will be paid for.