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Managing your Network's Internet Connection
Internet connections
To connect a network to
the Internet, you need to first choose a type of Internet service (cable,
DSL, or dial-up, among others) if you don't already have it, and then
choose how you want to connect that Internet link to your network. We'll
look at the network connections first.
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)www.tartoos.com
You can connect an
Internet connection to your network with hardware or with software. In the
long run, using a proper hardware router will give you the best
performance and security results all around. But if you don't have the
hardware yet, you may want to use Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) as an
option for the short term. ICS is included in Windows XP, Windows 98
Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition, and Windows 2000. With ICS,
you can turn one computer—usually your newest and most powerful PC—into a
server (also called a host computer) for the rest of your network. ICS
transfers data between the Internet connection and the other computers on
your network.
If you decide to use ICS
for any length of time, read the documentation, follow the steps exactly,
and give yourself time to do the job. Setting up ICS is not something to
squeeze into 30 spare minutes—count on 15 to 30 minutes for each computer
and Internet connection on the network. You might not use all that time,
but it's a good idea to avoid the carelessness that comes with hurry.
www.tartoos.com
Setting
up ICS with Windows XP
The Network Setup Wizard
helps take some of the behind-the-scenes work out of sharing an Internet
connection on your network, and Windows Help documents many of the common
scenarios you may encounter as you make sure the connection works on each
computer. Running the Network Setup Wizard is the easiest and fastest way
to start ICS.
One important thing to
keep in mind is that, for security reasons, no other hardware on your
network (servers or gateways of any kind) should be configured with a
static Internet Protocol (IP) address. You should configure all hardware
to use automatic IP addressing. If you installed hardware like this, check
its configuration; if someone else installed it, check with them before
setting up ICS.
www.tartoos.com
Broadband router
Routers have many
advantages over software-based Internet sharing, and good ones can be
purchased inexpensively. With a broadband router, you can share an
Internet connection with different types of networks (such as Wi-Fi®,
HomePNA™, and Ethernet® connections) simultaneously through one piece of
equipment. Many routers have firewalls built in for extra system
protection. Many routers can keep a record (or log) of Internet activity
on your network; this comes in handy for troubleshooting issues later,
managing security, and keeping track of which users are doing what.
Routers also may offer an increased degree of security for your network by
masking the identities of the computers they serve, making it more
difficult for hackers to stumble across your computer online.www.tartoos.com
Generally, the more
expensive the router, the more features you'll get. Routers on the market
now can control specific types of connections (or traffic) between your
network and the Internet. For example, you can configure some routers to
keep personal information like addresses and phone numbers from ever
leaving any computer on your network, "turn off" individual Web sites, and
prevent certain types of data from connecting to your network. A
high-quality router normally will allow you greater control over what
happens on your network.
www.tartoos.com
Specific types of
Internet connections
There are pros and cons
with every type of Internet connection. Connecting each of them to a
network brings its own unique considerations.
Dial-upwww.tartoos.com
With a dial-up
connection, you use a modem that connects through a phone line and is not
a digital subscriber line (DSL). If you have a dial-up connection and
install a home network, there's no reason you can't share the Internet
connection. It'll be slower than the other types of Internet connections,
but if you're using dial-up already and prefer its price point, this is
probably an acceptable trade-off.
ICS manages dial-up
connections as well as broadband connections. Since ICS is currently
available in Windows XP, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000, and
Windows 98 Second Edition at no extra charge, this is a natural choice for
sharing a dial-up connection. Very few combinations of routers and
external modems will allow you to use a hardware solution for sharing a
dial-up connection.www.tartoos.com
Cable modem
You have many choices if
you want to share a broadband Internet connection from a cable modem. Your
service provider will probably send you an external modem that allows you
to run an Ethernet connection from your server to that modem. Some
computers have cable modems built in but they tend to be the exception,
even with newer computers. Even though renting a cable modem may seem like
an added expense when you could just buy one, many people opt to rent so
they can easily return any defective units for a free replacement and
count on their Internet service provider (ISP) for technical support.
www.tartoos.com
Note:
Make sure that any router your ISP sends is compatible with any network
routers you have, or with Internet Connection Sharing.
If you use ICS to share a
cable connection, you'll need two network cards in your host computer: one
for the cable modem and one for your network. You can also install a
broadband router between your server and your cable modem. Both of these
solutions are practical and widely used.
www.tartoos.com
DSL
Using a digital
subscriber line (DSL) to connect to the Internet is similar to using a
cable connection, except that you'll get your signal through a phone line
instead of coaxial cable (like cable TV). If you use DSL, voice
conversations travel through your phone lines without interference, so you
can talk on the phone and surf the Internet at the same time on the same
line with no trouble.
Some DSL modems don't
work with broadband routers—if your DSL modem connects only through
Universal Serial Bus (USB) connections, you might not be able use a
router, but check your documentation to be sure. Is there an Ethernet
connection on the modem? Many DSL modems offer both. An Ethernet
connection looks like a large telephone jack, and most connections are
marked with the name of the connection type. Some ISPs may not work well
with broadband routers, either, so check the documentation you get from
your provider.
If you use ICS with a DSL
modem, you'll need two network adapters installed in your host computer:
one for the DSL modem and one for your network.www.tartoos.com
Note:
Make sure that any router your ISP sends is compatible with any network
routers you have, or with Internet Connection Sharing.
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