Re: Internet connections on windows machines

[Darryl Barlow <darrylb@iprimus.com.au>]

Tom,

Setting up connection sharing is very easy in Windows.  Just look at the help 
topic internet connection sharing which should take you through it.  I 
haven't used it since an early version of Windows 2000.  Generally windows 
will set up the gateway machine on 192.168.0.1 and the gateway will function 
as a dhcp server for the network.

I know XP now incorporates some sort of firewall which you can activate, but I 
believe it is fairly basic.  I don't know how or whether you can do 
port-forwarding.

I agree that a firewall router type appliance would be preferable.  
Alternately, if you have an old unused machine around smoothwall or mitel 
server (formerly e-smith) and similar solutions also do a good job.  However, 
I bear in mind the possibility that your friend will not be keen on 
reconfiguring his whole network.

regards,

Darryl