Internet Connection Sharing runs slow...

[Bluefront]

My LAN works normal....I recently enabled ICS on the main computer to use it's modem for the internet connection. It usually connects at 50Kbps. My laptop connects to the LAN using a wired connection.

Now I notice the internet goes much slower on the laptop, much slower than dialing out directly using the laptop modem.....which usually connects at 42Kbps. Plus many pages won't load on the first try. Is this normal using ICS?

 

[sonoma1993]

Im assuming it will be slower because the computer that dials in your dial up isp has to download somekind of information to maintain a internet connection.

 

[Markbnj]

Your traffic is going through a software NAT on the system that is running ICS. A NAT is a service that translates the addresses of the systems on your network (192.168.0.x or 192.168.1.x usually) into the single external IP address that the rest of the Internet sees (your WAN IP address, which in your case is being assigned by the dial-up server you're connecting to). You already have a very slow connection, so adding a second machine and software NAT is certainly going to slow it further.

The best way to share an internet connection in the home is:

Modem->router/firewall/wireless access point->everyone else.

For the most part this is used on cable modem/dsl installations. I've never tried sharing a dial-up connection, but if you absolutely have to then I am guessing having dedicated hardware doing the job will make things better. Some of the routers out there from Linksys and dLink and others have back-up dial-up connection capability. That might be worth looking into, and you'd be all set if you ever get broadband.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Bluefront
My LAN works normal....I recently enabled ICS on the main computer to use it's modem for the internet connection. It usually connects at 50Kbps. My laptop connects to the LAN using a wired connection.

Now I notice the internet goes much slower on the laptop, much slower than dialing out directly using the laptop modem.....which usually connects at 42Kbps. Plus many pages won't load on the first try. Is this normal using ICS?

A dialup modem line is so slow that any PC should be able to share it without a slowdown or issue.

Is your laptop hardcoded with any DNS/IP information, or is it set for DHCP? Do you have a router on your network that also is a DHCP server? If so, typically you should disable it (that is, turn off the DHCP Server functionality on the router) and let your main computer with the modem (and the second NIC) handle the DHCP Server functionality.