Internet Connection Sharing - HELP!

Polonious

I've recently setup a small office network. It comprises of one windows 2k pc (server) and 3 windows 98 pc's (clients). The server is connected to an ISDN line and works fine. I've setup Internet connection sharing on it so that all of the pc's on the network have internet access. This also works fine..... however, when turning on the other 3 pc's in the morning something is kicking off the isdn connection on the server. All 3 pc's seem to do this when you switch them on at first, and then at regular intervals throughout the day. I thought this was MS Outlook at first, dialling up to check for new email, but it happens even when outlook is not running. There is no other software running on the pc's that could do this from what i can see. I've a feeling it has something to do with the dns or dhcp settings on the server, but dont know enough to tell if this is true.... Anybody got any ideas on how to determine what is happening or any of ye see this before???? All help greatly appreciated...

Thanks

P.

madmoe

@Polonious
Hey, I need to set up Internet connection sharing in a manner similar to yours (i.e. small office) but am having a lot of problems doing it. Can you detail how you got it up and running please?

Cheers

madmoe

Also once the coonection sharing is running how would I go about setting up Outlook on each machine so that they can all use the one account?

GUI

ok lads..
i set this up for a SOHO setup 20 users back in decemeber..

Internet connection sharing--

(1) never use windows connection sharing

problem with this if 2 users are using an application simultaneously on a network..
i have seen wierd results

also machines cannot use static IPs with ICS

(2) the only ICS sharing software if you had to use it would be Sygate Office Network..
-contains these all as optional
DHCP server..
Bandwidth Management
Activity Log..
DNS formarding..
Permissions List..
White And Black List Certain IPs for access
very easy to use if you know what your doing..


ANYWAYS way i would do it

---

i purchased a DLINK 304 ISDN/ADSL router

each client on the network is DHCP served an IP from router.
the default gateway is the IP of the router

Primary DNS is the DNS of my ISP 159.134.237.6
Secondary DNS is the secondary DNS of my ISP 159.134.248.17

you configure this manually on each pc..
or you can serve it to each user by DHCP (better)

then the router is configured to dialup the internet when..
an IP address is called not in the
private IP scope i use 192.168.1.0-192.168.255.254
or when a DNS resolution has to be made!

also configured router for remote access for users and..
lots of other goodys..

router was about 300 euro at the time..

you will not experience any of those problems ye are having using this.


if you have to use an ICS client..
i use Sygate here at home..
i must stay it is excellent, no overhead and excellent control...

but go with router for more then 2 users sharing a net connection

Polonious

GUI_XP, thanks for that. The router option would definitely be the way to go and sort out a big headache, however it's not really an option in this case to fork out the funds for this solution. I'll look at Sygate though and see if that's an option. Cheers. BTW if you know anyone who has gotten the Windows ICS to work, that would be a bonus!

GUI

Its easy to get ICS working on windows but its crap IMO..

box with net connection acts as DHCP,DNS and as default gateway..

you cannot use statically assigned IPs with it either..

its not as fast as it should be at routing either..

i think its quite poor

router would be cheaper then few licenses of sygate

jbkenn

What you need is AnologX proxy available free here
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/proxy.htm

Works with any Internet connection 56k/ISDN/DSL

If you need help setting it up pm me with your phonr number and I will talk you through it

jbkenn

Polonious

jbkenn. Nice one, i've setup up thisand it works a treat, but for one problem. I tried setting up an email account so that we can check mail from a machine on the network. However, i can send mail fine but not receive mail. Proxy doesn't seem to be letting it through... Any ideas?

madmoe

Thanx 2 everyone for all their help! I got ICS working perfectly.

Jaden

Smoothwall = Good and Free.

Everything Else = Bad.