Internet sharing using a router

I want to know if it is possible to have a computer share its internet connection to other computers using a wireless router. Basically you can only get on the internet through it but allow other computers to share the connection through the router. maybe that was confusing.

If it is possible how would you go about doing it? I tried searching but I don't know the exact phrases to look up.

Thanks!

 

ICS? <-- Host computer needs two Network Adapters though.

PS: I'm not sure what you want to do.

 

If your wanting to control access and still use a wireless router, you will have to impliment some access control. If your want to do a parental control it's best done on the PC level.

It's kind of hard trying to figure out what you want.

 

You can make a local network and share the files in PC.

 

Just off the top of my head - it could probably be done as long as you're willing to have the host computer (the one that's sharing it's internet connection) connected to the internet via ethernet cable (i.e., wired, not wireless). You would then just set up an ad-hoc wireless network using that computer's wireless NIC so that any client computer (i.e., any other computer that's going to be sharing the first computer's internet connection) would communicate with the first one via wireless. However, I don't believe that that would require a router, just two computers capable of connecting to an ad-hoc wireless network.

 

Im thinking he has USB modem connected to his current computer, and he wants to use a wireless router to spread the internet to his other computer/s.

If so, its beter to use the router as the center of the network

 

If you have a wireless router, simply set up DHCP to give out IP addresses and any PC within range that has a compatible network card and the security settings (that you also set up) can use the external network connection. All at the same time.

 

Look up bridging internet connections

Alex

 

What you're describing is a combination Modem/Router unit, and yes, of course you can send the signal to other systems to share your 'net connection. That's one of the main purposes of Routers and Wireless connections to begin with.

There are several things that will determine what you'll need for setting up a shared network:

1. Broadband service type (Cable, DSL, FIOS, etc.)
2. Brand and Wireless Standard of current router and any other system adapters (A, B, G, or N). The current top wireless standard is Wireless N (802.11n), with speeds up to 200mbps, a far cry from the G standard of 54mbps.
3. Range of the furthest system away from the access point (where your modem/router is physically connected to your broadband input)
4. How many network devices you have and can use

In addition to the above, you'll need to figure out how many systems and other appliances you want to connect to your network (by appliances I mean devices like gaming consoles for online gaming). Also, you need to determine if you want one or more systems to have dedicated priority access to the 'net over other systems on the network. Once you've determined that, you can then determine what hardware you have already and can still use, or if you need to start from the ground and build a new network based on your requirements.

For any network setup, in addition to your modem/router combination, each system connecting to your network via wireless must have its own wireless adapter. Although your primary network administering computer is usually connected via CAT-5 cable, you can connect it wirelessly to the access point if conditions dictate it, but that's usually not the case.

While many notebooks come with generic wireless adapters (either hard units or virtual), in the end you're always better off having adapters that match your particular router brand. The type of adapter will determine the throughput (speed) of the data getting to your system, since different ports have different speed standards. For example, you can use a Media/Gaming adapter which is wireless but connects to your system's Ethernet Port. Other examples are USB adapters and PCI Express Card adapters.

Even though network units are made to the same standard, they're of course made by different companies, and even though they're supposed to be compatible, each company builds it units with its own design and processes, so 100% compatibility isn't realistic. If you can't afford to get matching adapters, then go with any installed units, but just be aware you'll have setup and speed issues to deal with.

While previous wireless standards (A,B, & G) have only used one frequency band (A - 5ghz, B & G 2.4ghz), the N standard uses 2 overalapping frequency bands (2.4ghz and 5ghz) to achieve the exceptional range and speeds it can give you. Wireless G top speed can't exceed 54mbps - with Wireless N, you can achieve up to 200mbps. My own systems typically run around 130 - 140mbps, depending on how much my network is being used.

Using 2 bands has also provided users with a new option in networking - Dual Band capability. Where previous standards only allowed you to use just one frequency band, the N standard allows you to access and use both the 2.4 and 5ghz band individually. However, to get the full potential of this, you need both a Dual Band N (DBN) router and your systems need to have DBN adapters. Using a DBN router with an N adapter will not allow you to access the bands individually.

Why would you want to have this kind of usability? Let's say you've got a network with 6 devices hooked up wirelessly on a non-DBN system - 4 computers, a streaming media device (like Slingbox) and a gaming console. You want your system and your game console to have priority access over other network systems. You can do that by router settings, but since you're only using one frequency band, all traffic is competing for one band, and you're going to see a reduction in speeds.

With a DBN system, you can setup your router so that you effectively have 2 separate access bands, 5ghz and 2.4ghz, each with its own ID and settings. To have priority over other systems, you'd setup your computer and the gaming console to access one of the bands - for myself, I use the 5ghz band for my notebook and PS3 data, but primarily my notebook as I'm a consultant and designer and 'net speed is important. All other systems are setup for the 2.4ghz band, so when all of us are using the network, there isn't any problem with network speed since the systems are split between the 2 bands, as opposed to a single band system where all network devices are vying for resources on one band only.

That's why I said you need to determine what your current and future needs will be. Don't ever buy just for the present - anticipate at least a year or 2 down the road what your possible needs will be, then go from there.

Again, depending on the brand you have or get depends on how easy it is to setup. Personally I use Linksys devices on both my own network and when I setup client networks also. They're pretty reliable, and the new Network Setup Manager they started adding with new systems a couple of years ago really simplify network creation and maintenance, more so than either XP or Vista. Setting up is easy, and adding a new device or finding a problem is a even easier, which for me means I don't have to spend a lot of time if a client has a problem. Usually all I have to tell them to do is to reset the network with the Linksys Manager to get it going.

Network Security - there are different ways of achieving Network Security. You can either use any one of the encrypted options that come with your router, or you can use MAC address filtering other similar type processes. Since the encrypted security features running on N standard devices tend to cause server drops during online gaming, I use MAC address filtering instead of encrypted security options. The primary reason for using network security, outside of the obvious, is to prevent your neighbor (or your neighbor's kid) from slowing down your network by hooking into it without you knowing. That's another great feature if the Linksys Manager - you can tell visually if there's something connected that doesn't belong.

While each network setup is different depending on the systems and user requirements, it's not that hard to do. Where people usually get lost is in the various wireless settings, but like anything else, all you really need to do is educate yourself.

Linksys has a pretty good Learning Center on their site with video tutorials on network basics - you can view it at:

http://tinyurl.com/6zoqw3

This should at least get you started.

 

Or You could a simple Proxy Server to accomplish it mate .. and i would recommend Analogx Proxy

simple steps :

1. install analog proxy
2. then set youip:6588 as proxy ort in you friends system or anyone whom you're trying to share your internet connection

* HTTP (web browsers) (port 6588)
* HTTPS (secure web browsers) (port 6588)
* SOCKS4 (TCP proxying) (port 1080)
* SOCKS4a (TCP proxying w/ DNS lookups) (port 1080)
* SOCKS5 (only partial support, no UDP) (port 1080)
* NNTP (usenet newsgroups) (port 119)
* POP3 (receiving email) (port 110)
* SMTP (sending email) (port 25)
* FTP (file transfers) (port 21)

 

Thanks so much for all of the input! You guys have given me some great ideas and options that will fit my situation. Also thanks for the suggestions of where to look for more help! I will give it a try here and see if it works out.

 

Using a Proxy causes more problems than solutions for people who are just learning basic networking. Aside from that, just about every port you've listed is already part of the basic configuration of N routers anyway.

 

I know thats why i asked him to use AnalogX Proxy , its very easy to use and its preconfigured ... all you need to do is install and off you go ....