Windows XP Networking Guide : Network Setup Wizard
If you plan your network to use
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS),
you must run the Network Setup Wizard on the ICS host
first and save the network setup files in a floppy disk to
run on other computers in your network. The ICS host is
the computer that connects directly to the Internet and shares its
Internet connection with other computers. The ICS host must be
turned on whenever other computers want to connect to the
Internet.
Using
residential gateway (router) to connect your network to the
Internet prevents you from having to always turn on one computer
for Internet connection. Because any communication from any
computer in your network must pass through the residential gateway, the
computer is practically hidden from the Internet. The
gateway assigns itself a permanent address and a unique dynamic
address for each computer (client) on your network.
If your computer connects directly to the Internet or
through a hub,
your computer is seen from the Internet. As a security precaution,
make sure to set up the Windows Firewall correctly and update your
anti-virus software regularly to protect your computer from any
harms.
If you enable file and printer sharing service in the Network
Setup Wizard, you can go to a specific folder in Windows Explorer
and enable it for sharing (by right clicking on the file or folder
name and click "Sharing and Security" or by clicking "Share this
folder" task in the File and Folder Tasks). For sharing a specific
printer, go to Control Panel, click Printers and Faxes, point your
mouse to a printer name, right click on it, and click Sharing. You
can also enable printer sharing by selecting a printer name
and pick "Share this printer" task in the Printer Tasks.
The Network Setup Wizard also can help you create a
Network Bridge
when your network uses mixed media types such as Ethernet, HPNA,
wireless (Wi-Fi), and FireWire devices so your mixed networks can
work as one network. When you run the Network Setup Wizard, it
automatically detects if there are multiple network adapters in
your computer and ask you whether you want to create a Network Bridge.
It must be noted though, the network adapter that is used for connection to a DSL or cable modem
should not be added to the Network Bridge.
|
