Sharing a dial up internet connection using Netscape

[Quasimodo]

Is this possible?

I haev been trying to network our computers to share a dial up connection (win xp-both computers), but when I get to the part that says to right click on my network connection (which is netscape) and click on properties, all I get is the netscape dialer. I can't go anywhere from there. Is this because it's a software-based internet connection?

Are there any cheap dial up ISP's that are NOT software based?

[mjc]

How are you networking the computers?

Are you trying to use Windows ICS? Or a router/switch/hub/some other network device?

Does one computer connect and not the other one?

[Quasimodo]

I'm sorry to have been so vague mjc.....Ok here's what I am using:

5 port 10/100/1000 mbps desktop switch (d-link dgs-2205)
my son's computer: Win XP Pro
my computer: Win XP Home

I dont' know if I am trying to us Windows ICS, I think I must be because I am trying to set up the network through Windows XP on both puters.

What's happened is that I was able to see my son's shared files (through my network places), but he couldn't see my shared files/printer. Now I can't access his files at all...the screen just freezes up.

What I most likely need to do is to make sure the computer network is working first, before dealing with the internet problem.

Do you know, just for future ref., how I can find an internet service that is not software based?

[mjc]

Almost all dial up connections are 'software' based...whether they use their own proprietary software (AOL, Netscape, PeoplePC, Earthlink, etc) or the built in Windows software (most smaller/local ISPs).

Using ICS you set the connection up on one machine and then it helps you set the connection up on the other. The only problem is that the 'main' machine has to be on in order for the second machine to connect.

For file sharing, etc, you need to make sure that computer name and workgroup are exact matches. With XP, that permissions are properly set...

Here is a list of differences between Home and Pro...

http://www.connectedhomemag.com/Networking/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=24428

Some MS articles on networking XP...including a troubleshooter.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=fd7fd48d-6b4a-448e-a632-076f98a351a2&displaylang=en

[Quasimodo]

OK yeah, but is it even possible to share the internet connection with a dial up connection that has it's own proprietary software? Can it be done and how do I do that? I read another article that said this:

"ICS is your only option when using a dial-up connection or a device that requires being directly connected to a computer via USB or by a proprietary card installed in the computer. I do not recommend even attempting to share a software based Internet program (like AOL or MSN)."

here's the link to the whole article: http://www.networkclue.com/os/Windows/winxp/ics.aspx

I'm wondering, am I reading this wrong, or does it say not to even try to share an internet connection if you have an isp like aol, or in my case, netscape?

I have printed out this thread and the files that you posted so I'm going to work on those, but could you let me know your thoughts on the above article and excerpt? Thx.

[Erik]

On some it will be possible, on others not. The problem is that some companies (like AOL) can and have placed blocks to sharing that isn't done in some way they approve. AOL, at least the last time I checked, required you to initiate a connection with the software before being able to access the interent. Even if shared over a network. With the recent AOL decision to no longer act as an ISP it might be different.

Either way, why try sharing such a slow speed connection? You would probably be better off setting up an internal network for file sharing, and adding a modem to each PC for internet.

[Quasimodo]

On some it will be possible, on others not. The problem is that some companies (like AOL) can and have placed blocks to sharing that isn't done in some way they approve. AOL, at least the last time I checked, required you to initiate a connection with the software before being able to access the interent. Even if shared over a network. With the recent AOL decision to no longer act as an ISP it might be different.

Either way, why try sharing such a slow speed connection? You would probably be better off setting up an internal network for file sharing, and adding a modem to each PC for internet.

Yeah I was thinking of doing that. It just seemed easier and less expensive to do it this way for now.

Do you know of any ISPs that support ICS?

Thx.

[Paul Komski]

Do you know of any ISPs that support ICS?
Which country do you want to do this from?

What is needed is a Windows DUN "connectoid" and most ISPs (AOL apart) that I have used (even those that install their own connectoids) allow you to configure a Windows-based DUN as per any instructions on their websites. Basically all you need is the access telephone number and possibly (but not always) a login name and password. Then setup the connection using the Wizard from Control Panel's Internet Options Connection tab.

Make sure you have set up functional file sharing between the PCs BEFORE you go ahead and share the DUN interface.

I have found sharing DUN on a two-PC LAN to be surprisingly very effective for normal surfing because even two simultaneous users are not always downloading pages at literally the same time and speeds not really affected at all if just one PC is accessing the internet at a time.

[Quasimodo]

Thanks Paul for your input.

Actually, I am using Netscape...do you know if it is possible to configure Netscape to do this? File sharing is established and functional with my other computer, but I haven't established it with my other 2 puters, because they are not yet part of the network (will be doing this later).

Netscape has told me that they do not support this...are they part of AOL? It seems like I've heard that they are.

[Paul Komski]

The browser is less important than the ISP - even though there has been an AOheLL marriage to Netscape. AOheLL tend to put their hooks into everything and "take-over" the way you access the web. It used to be possible to minimise the AOheLL browser and use other utilitites for accessing the internet but with their control of the connectoid and mail services certain areas are restricted and if not utilising the AOheLL browser for some time the connecion could time-out. I have used Netscape from time to time but haven't used recent versions. I always used to be able to surf just fine with it on my ordinary dial-up (two different Irish national carriers Eircom and IOL with non-subscription/PayAsYouSurf public access dial up numbers).

Which ISP are you currently using and where?

[Quasimodo]

Ok the situation is resolved here. What I did was to make a new connection complete with netscape access numbers and my login info through windows. I was able to configure it to share the connection with those on my network, which works beautifully. I did run into a snag where I couldn't access the network from either of the computers when it was online with this new connection, but I figured out that the host puter needs to be set with my IP address, default gateway and dns address, while the other puter needs to be set up to obtain IP and dns addresses. Works fine now.

Sitch resolved. I am the master again. :)

[Paul Komski]

Well done. Perhaps you might like to try Twiga's RDU (http://www.twiga.ltd.uk/rdu.asp). Simple to setup and use with the Server put on the PC with the DUN and the clients on the other PCs. It lets both see what's going on and connect/disconnect etc as you configure things. It's not officially supported any more but its freeware and I always use it with ICS.

[Quasimodo]

Thanks, Paul. I'm downloading it now.

Let me ask a dumb question: Is my PC the server (the pc with the internet and modem) and the rest of the pcs the clients?

Also, do I load RDU to all the computers?

Thanks again!

[Paul Komski]

Is my PC the server (the pc with the internet and modem) and the rest of the pcs the clients?
For the purposes of ICS and RDU the answer is yes. It sounds more complicated than it actually is and you will be prompted as to whether to choose server or client when you run it on each PC. You don't have to run it on all computers but only those that have it running will be able to communicate with the server and actively interact with the connection.

[Quasimodo]

ok yeah, i got it. i figured it out pretty quickly because of the prompting.

Thanks Paul. I really like the program. It's nice to know what everyone else is doing....I was thinking that it would be difficult to know whether I should sign off the internet or not. That would be awful if someone was downloading....LOL

Thanks again!