Internet Connection Sharing
From Free net encyclopedia
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is the name given by Microsoft to a feature in newer versions of its Windows operating system (as of Windows 98 SE) for sharing a single Internet connection on one computer between other computers on the same local area network. It makes use of DHCP and Network address translation (NAT).
One connection, the shared connection, is set to use ICS in a property dialog, specified along with another connection that other computers use in order to make use of the shared connection.
ICS offers configuration for other standard services and some configuration of NAT. However, while ICS makes use of DHCP, there is no way to review DHCP leases using ICS. The service is also not customizable in terms of which addresses are used for the internal subnet, and contains no provisions for bandwidth limiting or other features common to more advanced systems.