Home Networking and Broadband

[keithab]

I had hoped to share my broadband (NTL uk) connection using Home networking (Windows ME) among 3 PCs. The ISP permits multiple PCs (not simultaneously) but does not offer technical support for networking. (I have no quarrel with this and found their technical support to be fine when self-installing the original broadband).

Unfortunately, the broadband will not work at all with Home networking installed - even if Interconnect Sharing is turned off. So I have to choose between in-house networking only (without broadband Internet) or Broadband Internet only (without Home networking).

The broadband connection (set-top box, not cable modem) is straight to the 'primary' PC (crossed ethernet cable); not to the hub and the problem seems to that the broadband connection insists on only one NIC (bound to TCP/IP) being found on the connected PC. If I unbind TCP/IP from the ethernet NIC, it is OK.

I have experimented using dial-up broadband with Home networking; this sort-of worked but the trauma associated with hand-crafting all the settings on all the PCs to check out all possibilities got me down in the end!)

Is it possible to configure the system to:

a) Allow the Broadband to be used by any PC (preferable)

b) Allow the primary PC to be connected to Home networking and to use broadband without Internet Sharing (Default)

[Greenstead]

I see - you are using the modem in the STB. I don't know if that makes a difference, I use a cable modem (supplied by NTL). I will assume your ethernet connection from the STB is exactly the same as the ethernet connection from my cable modem - I think this should be correct but you might want to check that with NTL or at the NTHell forums.

First I think you should set your sights to what you really want. All PCs able to share resources between each other and all simultaneously access the internet. I think that is your intent.

There are two (realistic) options to achieve this:
Both options are based on using an internet sharing NAT service. NAT is Network Address Translation which means the service presents a single device to the ISP (NTL). This service translates your internet connections from all internal devices (i.e. PCs). To the internet you appear as a single device. The NAT service remembers which PC sent the internet query and returns the responce. From NTLs viewpoint they see a single device the same as they expect to see a single PC. There are some disadvantages to NAT but minor and can mostly be worked around.

Option 1. (The best option).
A cable NAT router. The usual choice is a combined cable router with 4 port 10/100 switch. Important other options that can be incorporated are wireless access, print server, VPN passthro or endpoint, UPnP.
The router has a WAN port which is connected to the cable modem. The PCs plug into the switch ports. All done with cat5 with RJ45 connectors. Configuration is necessary in the router and in each NIC properties - quite simple to do.
Advantages:
- Easy to setup.
- Strong security from internet intrusion.
- No PCs to leave on to maintain the internet connection.
Disadvantages:
- Costs money. (range ~ £60-£200 depending on options).
- NAT has restrictions on internet communication.
Example (most basic):
Linksys Etherfast Cable/DSL Router : £59.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/026-1225618-7890806
(I would recommend something with more features but it depends on personal needs).

Option 2.
A software based router. Microsoft ICS is available in most windows systems including ME. ICS is installed on the Host PC NIC connected to the cable router. A second NIC is required on the same PC which is connected to a hub or switch. Other PCs are connected to the hub/switch. All PCs access the internet via the Host PC (referred to as a gateway).
Advantages:
- Software is free.
- Strong security from internet intrusion.
Disadvantages:
- Cost of hub/switch
- Host PC must remain switched on all the time.
- Host PC resources taken to route other PCs to internet.
- Can be problematic to configure ( so I hear - I don't see why).
- Usual NAT restrictions.

I use a wireless cable router with 4 port switch. I have never tried ICS but there are a great many people using it, however there is also criticism.

There a variety of 'How-Tos' on this website here:
http://practicallynetworked.com/sharing/

[keithab]

I did not wish to use a router because of the cost. I am aware of the downsides of using ICS but it (was) the only option.

I have tried MS Home networking which works for file and printer sharing, but ceases to do so when a broadband link is connected to one machine - even when that machine is configured NOT to allow ICS. I think it fails because the of insistence by the broadband connection that only 1 NIC (with TCP/IP) can be present.

As stated, my original requirements were to have a shared broadband facility available (via ethernet) to all machines but since this is (seemingly) impossible, I would make do with a broadband connection on one machine, available only to that machine but with that machine being networked for file and print sharing with others via ethernet. This does not seem to be possible - despite browsing the Practically|networked site for hours and following the many contributions there plus days and hours of experimenting and configuring.

Thanks for the (low-cost) router suggestion - what facilities does it lack and how important are they?

[Greenstead]

Well, first let me assure that ICS does allow sharing of a broadband connection and file and printer sharing and it willl do so with NTL. It will work for you also. It is probably the most common method used due to the low cost of the solution. But it can be dificult to successfully implement so I can understand your dissapointment with it if you have tried for some time.
There are other guides you might try:
For example: (a simple guide for ME use of ICS)
http://www.homenethelp.com/ics/ics-install-arch.asp

The difficulty to make ICS work is one reason why I suggest the hardware router as a simpler solution. The disadvantages of NAT are common to both my options but most can be overcome by special configurations or by choosing a router with additional features.
Things that do not work on a basic NAT router:
- Some applications on the internet such as Netmeeting, some peer to peer programs, or any application that needs to open ports from the internet side.
(This can be solved either by placing the PC in the routers DMZ area, or by telling the router to forward the ports to the PC, or by a feature called UPnP - a router option).
- Ditto with some internet games which need to open ports from the internet side.
- Some VoIP applications (Voice over IP) suffer similar problems.
- Some internet games cannot be played by more than one PC simultaneously behind the router due to the fact that the router appears on the internet as a single PC. There may be no solution to this for some games.

I don't run into these problems with my router, but then I don't play on-line games. It depends what you use it for.

Good Luck.