Using Internet Connection Sharing Discovery and Control
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) Discovery and Control helps you effectively monitor connection statistics and control Internet connections from client computers. It is the Discovery and Control feature that allows client computers to "discover" Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) host connection statistics and to "control" the shared Internet connection through the shared Internet connection icon.
Show the shared Internet connection icon in the Network Connections folder
Discovery and Control provides client computers with an icon for the shared Internet connection, through which clients can control the shared Internet connection and view statistics and status about that connection, information that is otherwise available only on the ICS host.
When ICS is enabled, the icon for the shared Internet connection automatically appears on client computers after the client computer obtains an IP address. The ICS host computer normally assigns the IP address to the ICS client within 30 seconds of the client computer starting, assuming that the following conditions are met: the client computer boots while connected to the network, the ICS host computer is already connected to the network, and ICS is already enabled. In Windows XP the icon appears in the Network Connections folder, under Internet Gateway. On computers running Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition, an icon appears in the Communications program group and in the system tray.
If the icon does not appear on the client computer, ensure the following:
| • | The client is plugged into the network. |
| • | The ICS host computer is configured and connected to the network. |
The shared Internet connection icon may not appear on a client computer for other reasons, including if the client computer started and connected to the network before ICS was configured on the host computer, before the ICS host computer was connected to the network, or if the ICS host computer has since been rebooted. If troubleshooting does not identify the reason that the shared Internet connection icon is unavailable, you can repair the Windows XP ICS network connection. Repairing the connection forces it to acquire an IP address and to create the Internet connection icon on the client computers. For more information, see Force a network adapter to acquire an IP address
As a client, you can double-click the shared Internet connection icon to enable the shared Internet connection. While the shared Internet connection is enabled, you can double-click the icon to open the status window. From there you can view connection status and statistics or disable the shared Internet connection. You can also right-click the shared Internet connection icon of an active connection to view the Properties page, from where you can select the Show icon in taskbar notification area when connected check box or open the status window. If the connection is disabled, you can view the Properties page or enable the shared Internet connection by right-clicking the shared Internet connection icon. Enabling or disabling the shared Internet connection from any single computer, enables or disables the connection for the entire network.
Show the shared Internet connection icon in the notification area on the taskbar
Just as you can do with other network connection icons, you can show the icon for the shared Internet connection in the notification area on the taskbar. For more information, see Show network connection icons in the notification area on the taskbar
With Discovery and Control you can pause your mouse pointer over the icon to view the name of the shared Internet connection and the speed that the ICS adapter supports.
If you click the icon in the notification area on the taskbar, a status window opens. This window provides statistics and the option to disconnect the shared Internet connection from the Internet. You can also right-click the icon to view a menu that provides an alternative means of disconnecting the shared Internet connection from the Internet.
Rename the shared Internet connection icon
To make it easier for you to keep track of connections when viewing connection statistics and network information, you can rename all of your network connections. You may decide to rename the shared Internet connection on your ICS host computer, using a name such as "ICS-DSL" or "ICS-Modem." If you rename the shared Internet connection on the ICS host computer, it retains this new name permanently. The new name automatically propagates to all of the locations on client computers in which the shared Internet connection icon or status is visible: the Network Connections folder, the status window, and the notification area on the taskbar (if the icon for the shared Internet connection is enabled for display). Because the name of the shared Internet connection is shown consistently on all of your network computers, it easier for administrators and users to correctly identify which icon to use for controlling status and viewing statistics. This is especially true if multiple network connection icons are displayed in the notification area of the taskbar, where the icons are all similar in appearance. For this reason it is recommended that you do not rename the shared Internet connection icon on client computers. If you change the name of the icon on a client computer, any connection name change on the ICS host computer will not appear on the client computer. For more information, see Rename network connection icon
For additional information about using the shared Internet connection icon, see Control the shared Internet connection , ICS Discovery and Control overview, and Set permission for shared Internet connection control
Note
| • | To enable Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) Discovery and Control on Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition computers, run the Network Setup Wizard from the CD or floppy disk on these computers. For more information about the Network Setup Wizard, click Related Topics. |
| • | For ICS Discovery and Control to work on Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition computers, Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later must be installed. |
| • | Internet Connection Sharing, Internet Connection Firewall, Discovery and Control, and Network Bridge are not available on Windows XP 64-Bit Edition. |
Internet Connection Sharing Discovery and Control overview
Control the shared Internet connection
Start the Network Setup Wizard
Configure other computers on your network using the CD
Configure other computers on your network using a floppy disk