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Troubleshooting Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

By: Arie Slob

If you can't get ICS to work, you'll have to do some troubleshooting.

You get a Page can not be displayed message on the client. ICS status will show 1 computer is using the Internet Connection.

Host Settings

Please note that my setup is with a Dial-Up Adapter, so if you have another setup, you'll need to substitute all occurrences of Dial-Up Adapter, with the type of Adapter/NIC in your system.

  • Under Dial-up Networking
      Connections > Settings > General tab
    • Don't Prompt to use Dial-up Networking

      File > Properties > Server Types tab, TCP/IP Settings
    • Server assigned IP address
    • Primary and secondary DNS defined
    • Use IP Header compression (checked)
    • Use Default gateway on remote network (checked)

  • Control Panel > Network > Configuration tab

    • Client for Microsoft Networks
    • Your Network Interface Card (NIC)
    • Dial-UP Adapter
    • Internet Connection Sharing (Adapter)
    • Internet Connection Sharing (protocol) -> Your NIC
    • Internet Connection Sharing (protocol) -> Dial-UP Adapter
    • Internet Connection Sharing (protocol) -> Internet Connection Sharing
    • Your preferred Network Protocol -> Your NIC
    • Your preferred Network Protocol -> Internet Connection Sharing
    • TCP/IP (Home) -> Your NIC
    • TCP/IP (Shared) -> Dial-UP Adapter
    • TCP/IP -> Internet Connection Sharing
    • File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks
    • The Primary Network Logon can be set to any logon

  • Dial-Up Adapter

      Bindings tab

    • Internet Connection Sharing (protocol)
    • TCP/IP (Shared)

      Advanced tab

    • Enable Point to Point IP: Yes
    • IP Packet Size: Automatic
    • Use IPX Header Compression: Yes

  • Internet Connection Sharing Adapter

      Bindings tab

    • Internet Connection Sharing (protocol) -> Internet Connection Sharing
    • TCP/IP -> Internet Connection Sharing
    • Your preferred Network Protocol -> Internet Connection Sharing

  • Your Network Interface Card (NIC)

      Bindings tab

    • Internet Connection Sharing (protocol) -> Your NIC
    • TCP/IP (Home) -> Your NIC
    • Your preferred Network Protocol -> Your NIC

  • TCP/IP (Home) -> your NIC

      IP Address tab

    • IP Address: 192.168.0.1
    • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

      WINS Configuration tab

    • Disable WINS Resolution

      Gateway tab

    • No gateway

      DNS Configuration

    • Disable DNS

      Bindings tab

    • Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks

  • TCP/IP (Shared) -> Dial-Up Adapter

    • no settings made

  • TCP/IP -> Internet Connection Sharing

      IP Address tab

    • Obtain an IP address automatically

      WINS Configuration tab

    • Disable WINS Resolution

      Gateway tab

    • No gateway

      DNS Configuration

    • Disable DNS

      Bindings tab

    • Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks

  • File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks

    • Browse Master: Enabled
    • LM Announce: No

    Originally I had LM Announce set to Yes, but this caused Windows 98 to take over 1 minute to shut-down or restart. I have since set it to No. This solved my shut-down/restart problems, and ICS is still working as before.


Control Panel > Internet Options > Connections tab

  • Always dial my default connection (checked)
  • Perform system security check before dialing (checked)

      Under Local Area Network (LAN) settings

      Sharing

    • Enable ICS
    • Show Icon
    • Use Dial-up Adapter to Connect to Internet

      LAN Settings

    • Automatically detect settings (checked)

Client Settings

  • Control Panel > Network > Configuration tab

    • Client for Microsoft Networks
    • Your Network Interface Card (NIC)
    • Your preferred Network Protocol -> Your NIC
    • TCP/IP -> Your NIC
    • File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks
    • The Primary Network Logon can be set to any logon

  • Your Network Interface Card (NIC)

      Bindings tab

    • Your preferred Network Protocol -> Your NIC
    • TCP/IP -> Your NIC

  • TCP/IP -> Your NIC

      IP Address tab

    • Obtain an IP address automatically

      WINS Configuration tab

    • Use DHCP for WINS Resolution

      Gateway tab

    • No gateway

      DNS Configuration

    • Disable DNS

      Bindings tab

    • Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks

  • File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks

    • Browse Master: Disabled
    • LM Announce: No


Control Panel > Internet Options > Connections tab

  • Connect to the Internet using a local area network (checked)

Below is how winipcfg looks on my client machine.

IP Configuration


Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles dealing with Internet Connection Sharing

Last Updated: July 25, 1999