Using ICS (Internet Connection Sharing)
In this articleIf you want to share one Internet connection among several computers, you have two options:
How does ICS work?
First, you need one computer, called the host computer, that is connected to the Internet and that has a separate connection to the other computers on your network. You enable ICS on the Internet connection. The other computers on your network then connect to the host computer, and from there to the Internet through the host computer's shared Internet connection.
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| A network using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) |
Enabling ICS
To enable ICS, on your host computer:
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| | 1.
| Open Network Connections by clicking the Start button  , clicking Control Panel, clicking Network and Internet, clicking Network and Sharing Center, and then clicking Manage network connections. | | 2.
| Right-click the connection that you want to share, and then click Properties.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. | | 3.
| Click the Sharing tab, and then select the Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection check box. | | 4.
| If desired, you can also select the Allow other network users to control or disable the shared Internet connection check box. | | 5.
| Optionally, to allow other network users to use services running on your network, click Settings and select the services you want to allow. |
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When you enable ICS, your local area network (LAN) connection gets a new static IP address and configuration, so you'll need to reestablish any TCP/IP connections between your host computer and the other network computers.
To test your network and Internet connection, see if you can share files between computers and make sure each computer can reach a website.
Configure TCP/IP
To use ICS, make sure the local area network (LAN) connection on each network computer is configured to get an IP address automatically. To do this:
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| | 1.
| Open Network Connections by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Network and Internet, clicking Network and Sharing Center, and then clicking Manage network connections. | | 2.
| Right-click the LAN connection, and then click Properties. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. | | 3.
| Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), and then click Properties. | | 4.
| Click Obtain an IP address automatically or Obtain an IPv6 address automatically. |
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The Internet options on your network computers should also be configured for ICS. For more information, see Change Internet settings for ICS (Internet Connection Sharing).
Do not use ICS on a network with domain controllers, DNS servers, gateways, or DHCP servers. And don't use ICS on systems configured for static IP addresses.
ICS and VPN connections
If you create a virtual private network (VPN) connection on your host computer to a corporate network and then enable ICS on that connection, all Internet traffic is routed to the corporate network and all of the computers on your home network can access the corporate network. If you don't enable ICS on the VPN connection, other computers will not have access to the Internet or corporate network while the VPN connection is active on the host computer.
ICS and ad hoc networks
If you share your Internet connection on an ad hoc network, ICS will be disabled if:
| • | You disconnect from the ad hoc network. |
| • | You create a new ad hoc network without disconnecting from the ad hoc network for which you enabled ICS. |
| • | You log off and then log back on (without disconnecting from the ad hoc network). |
Router
A device that sends, or routes, information between two networks (for example, between a home network and the Internet). Routers find the quickest paths for sending information, which makes network connections faster. Routers can be wired or wireless.
Traffic
The number of visits to a website, or the amount of user activity on a website or on a network.
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
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Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
A set of rules, called network protocols, that computers use to exchange information over the Internet and over home and business networks. TCP/IP includes standards for how computers communicate and conventions for connecting networks.
Domain controller
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Domain controller
A server in an Active Directory network that manages user logon and access to network and shared resources.
Virtual private network (VPN)
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Virtual private network (VPN)
A network that connects one or more computers to a large network, such as a business network, using the Internet. A VPN is encrypted, so only authorized people have access to it.
IP address
Short for Internet Protocol address. An IP address identifies a computer that is connected to the Internet or a network. An IP address usually consists of four groups of numbers separated by periods, such as 192.200.44.69.
Local area network (LAN)
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Local area network (LAN)
A network of computers, printers, and other devices located within a relatively limited area (for example, a building). A LAN enables any connected device to interact with any other on the network.
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
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Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
A Microsoft Windows technology that allows computers on a network to access online services through a single Internet connection.
Help and How-to
