Internet Connection Sharing, Windows Firewall

[HTFiddler]

This is an intermittent problem re. ICS and Windows Firewall:

1. connect 2 laptops, both running XP Pro, with yellow crossover cable
or connected thru a hub

2. set host to Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). It forces the Local
Area Connection onto 192.168.0.1

3. set client to Obtain an IP Address automatically

4. files and other shared resources are visible on both laptops ... so
far so good!

5. host can access the Internet fine

6. client accesses the Internet half the time ... the other half, I
get Page Not Found!

7. When client cannot get to the Internet, I go to Windows Firewall:
Advanced tab: uncheck Local Area Connection (LAC). Internet is then
immediately accessible from the client! Then, I can recheck Local
Area Connection in the Firewall, and continue Internet access from the
client!

---

I have had this happen now on 2 different and unrelated LAN's. One
used a hub ... the other a crossover cable. It all makes no sense.
Why does it work sometimes and not others? Why after failing, does
unchecking, then rechecking the Firewall LAC fix it?

Maybe I need to just go with another firewall. Any suggestions on a
good cheap or free one?

Thanks everyone!

Henry

 

[db]

the cross over cable can be used
to connect two computers together
via the lan connection "or"

connect the modem to the router.

from the router to the computers
should be ol'regular network
cables.

--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
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~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Anteaus]

If you are on ADSL or cable you'd be better with a combined modem/router.
This eliminates all of the problems associated with both USB modems and ICS.

They are no longer the expensive items they used to be, and the work
involved in getting a USB/ICS setup to behave itself will cost more in real
terms.

 

[htfiddler]

If you are on ADSL or cable you'd be better with a combined modem/router.
This eliminates all of the problems associated with both USB modems and ICS.

They are no longer the expensive items they used to be, and the work
involved in getting a USB/ICS setup to behave  itself will cost more inreal
terms.

--------------------------
"This is a wonderful computer. It''s 20yrs old and absolutely reliable.  
And, in all that time it''s only had four mobos, six processors, two cases,
seven OS''s ...."















- Show quoted text -

Thanks but I am on a Verizon aircard. The problem is obviously with
Windows Firewall. Seems no one knows how to fix it either. Oh
well ... just takes a few seconds to uncheck Local Area Connection at
the Firewall.

 

[Richard]

Thanks but I am on a Verizon aircard. The problem is obviously with
Windows Firewall. Seems no one knows how to fix it either. Oh
well ... just takes a few seconds to uncheck Local Area Connection at
the Firewall.

- - -

Have you tried refreshing the browser to re-establish the connection?

Are Internet Options on both computers configured for ICS?

Are both computers XP Service Pack 3?

Do both computers use the same antivirus and anti-malware programs?

---
To make a local area connection
* If you have a network adapter installed, and have set up a home or small
office network, you are connected to a local area network (LAN). You are
also connected to a LAN if your Windows XP Professional computer is part of
a corporate network. When you start your computer, your network adapter is
detected and the local area connection automatically starts. Unlike other
types of connections, the local area connection is created automatically,
and you do not have to click the local area connection in order to start it.

Notes
* A local area connection is automatically created for each network adapter
that is detected.
* If more than one network adapter is installed, you can eliminate possible
confusion by immediately renaming each local area connection to reflect the
network that it connects to.
* If your computer has one network adapter, but you need to connect to
multiple LANs (for example, when traveling to a regional office), the
network components for your local area connection need to be enabled or
disabled each time you connect to a different LAN.
* If more than one network adapter is installed, you need to add or enable
the network clients, services, and protocols that are required for each
local area connection. When you do so, the client, service, or protocol is
added or enabled for all other network and dial-up connections.
---
* If you disconnect your local area connection, the connection is no longer
automatically activated. Because your hardware profile remembers this, it
accommodates your location-based needs as a mobile user. For example, if you
travel to a remote sales office and use a separate hardware profile for that
location that does not enable your local area connection, you do not waste
time waiting for your network adapter to time out. The adapter does not even
try to connect.
* When you enable Internet Connection Sharing, the local area network
connection to the home or small office network is given a new static IP
address and configuration. Consequently, TCP/IP connections established
between any home or small office computer and the ICS host computer at the
time of enabling ICS are lost and need to be reestablished.
---
from Windows Firewall FAQ
What will change for a new home network:

* Windows Firewall will be turned on for all connections.
* The Network Setup Wizard will no longer create a network bridge
automatically. A network bridge joins two network segments so that they act
as one unified network. This change only affects networks with multiple
network segments. However, if you have a mixed network (for example, wired
and wireless), you might want to set up a network bridge to connect the two
parts of your network.
* Using an Internet gateway device is recommended, rather than Internet
Connection Sharing. An Internet gateway device is a piece of hardware that
you buy at a computer store. This is also sometimes called a base station or
a residential gateway. Your network connects to the Internet through this
device.
- - -
How to enable Internet Connection Sharing on a home or a small office
network connection in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314066
- - -
Windows XP Service Pack 3-based computers in a private network that uses
Internet Connection Sharing may lose network connectivity after you change
the network adapter settings of the private adapter on the Internet
Connection Sharing computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951446
- - -
How to configure Internet Connection Sharing in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306126
- - -
How to Configure a Static Client for Windows XP Internet Connection Sharing
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309642
- - -
HOW TO: Enable or disable Internet Connection firewall in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283673
- - -