Microsoft ICS starting point - Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing

is Microsoft's answer to sharing internet acccess on a home network.  Microsoft ICS comes built in to Windows 98SE, Windows 98ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.  Using NAT, ICS allows all the computers on your home network to access the internet through a single computer with ICS installed.  The ICS Zone at HomeNetHelp will guide you through installing, troubleshooting, and configuring Internet Connection Sharing for advanced internet applications. 

Unfortunately, ICS is limited in a few ways. First, it has no logging capabilities and no filtering features. In addition, advanced applications like h.323 (netmeeting) and VPNs refuse to work with it.  If however you are simply interested in basic connection sharing for your home network and do not wish to invest in a Router, ICS may be the way to go.

The tutorials here look at ICS when setting it up to share a broadband connection but the same concepts can be applied to a dial-up modem.

Plan for and install Microsoft ICS on your home network.  This installation guide covers Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP! ICS Install Guide

Basic Troubleshooting

getting ICS running with   ICS Troubleshooting 

HomeNetHelp is not the only ICS resource on the web.  Take a look at our comprehensive list of Tools, Resources and Tutorials ICS Resources

Just like any internet sharing system, be sure to run some kind of security software on the computer runing the ICS. A general firewall and antivirus package should be fine. Something like Mcaffee Antivirus should be fine. Coupons make buying it less painful. Also check out Kaspersky Antivirus Coupons. Both of these come with the option of a firewall. Your ICS acts as a basic firewall to your other computers but is not a firewall to itself unless you run something like one of these programs.