| Once you've got your wireless network set up, | | | | method'. On this screen you need to select 'This |
| I've no doubt that one of the first things you'll | | | | computer connects directly to the Internet. The |
| want to do with it is share an Internet connection | | | | other computers on my network connect to the |
| -- after all, that's why most home users put in a | | | | Internet through this computer'. From here on, |
| wireless network to begin with. Well, the good | | | | you should be able to click next again until you get |
| news is that Windows has Internet Connection | | | | to the finish. Say 'yes' to turn on file and printer |
| Sharing built in. The bad news is that setting it up | | | | sharing when you're prompted.Your computer is |
| can sometimes be a little less than fun.The | | | | now ready to be a gateway to the Internet.The |
| problem is that the Internet Connection Sharing | | | | NetworkThe next step is setting up the other |
| Wizards that come with Windows 98 Second | | | | computers on your network to make use of the |
| Edition and Windows Me don't work very well, and | | | | gateway you just created. Run the Network |
| in some cases, can break your existing Internet | | | | Setup Wizard on each of these computers, but |
| Connection. The good news is that it's not that | | | | this time through choose 'This computer connects |
| hard to set up, as long as you do it properly.How | | | | to the Internet through another computer on my |
| Internet Connection Sharing WorksWhen you set | | | | network or through a residential gateway'.If the |
| up Internet Connection Sharing, you set up one of | | | | computer that will now be using a shared Internet |
| your computers as a 'gateway' to the Internet, | | | | connection was using a dial-up connection before, |
| and then use this gateway to access the Internet | | | | then there are a few things left to do -- you |
| with your other computers. Essentially, requests | | | | need to change some settings in the web |
| for data from the Internet are being sent out | | | | browser Open Internet Explorer, then go to the |
| through the gateway, and the responses are | | | | Options screen (in the Tools menu). Click the |
| being sent back across the network ('routed') | | | | Connections tab. You should click 'never dial a |
| back to your computer. The gateway computer | | | | connection', and untick three boxes: 'automatically |
| is still the only one that's directly connected to the | | | | detect settings', 'use automatic configuration script' |
| Internet.If you have trouble visualising what's | | | | and 'use a proxy server'.The Trouble With |
| happening, imagine for a second that the | | | | Internet Connection SharingTo go back to our bar |
| computers are people. Let's call the | | | | for a moment, imagine Bob leaves. Oh dear. |
| computer-people Bob, Fred and Alice. They're all in | | | | Looks like Fred and Alice can't get any more |
| a bar together, but Bob is the only one with | | | | drinks, doesn't it? The same thing applies to the |
| money for drinks (we could say he has a | | | | computers on your network -- if the gateway |
| 'connection' to the bar). Fred and Alice can ask | | | | computer is switched off, they will lose all their |
| Bob to buy them a drink, and Bob can bring over | | | | access to the Internet.That's not the only |
| the drinks, for them to have as they usually | | | | problem, though. While Internet Connection |
| would. At no point, however, can Fred or Alice go | | | | Sharing works fine for the web and email, it can |
| and order a drink at the bar.Setting It Up: The | | | | be more problematic when it comes to doing |
| GatewayNote: this guide assumes that you have | | | | other things. Downloading files from filesharing |
| already set up your wireless network, but you | | | | networks, for example, or using |
| have not connected it to the Internet yet.The | | | | videoconferencing, requires you to mess around |
| computer with the modem connected to it is the | | | | with the gateway computer's settings. After a |
| one you need to set up first -- as the gateway, | | | | while, it can get quite frustrating. If you're in this |
| it's going to be providing Internet access to all | | | | position, you should really try a wireless router -- |
| your other computers. On this computer, go to | | | | see our article 'Create Always-On Networks with |
| the Control Panel, then click Network Connections. | | | | a Wireless Router'.Information supplied and written |
| From here, you can run the Network Setup | | | | by Lee Asher of |
| Wizard by clicking 'Set up a home or small office | | | | Eclipse Domain Services |
| network'.Click next through the wizard until you | | | | Domain Names, Hosting, Traffic and Email |
| get to a screen called 'Select a connection | | | | Solutions. |