I am trying to connect my stationary G4 733
running OSX 10.2.3 with my PowerBook G4 867
currently running OSX 10.2.1 (need to get online
to update). My connection is a Cable connection,
and I am using a Realtek RTL8139 Chipset
Ethernet card with the OSX 10-2 drivers installed
to connect to the Internet, and want to use the
buildt in ethernet card for sharing Net-connection
as well as having the comfort of the Gigabit
transfer rate.

However easy it is presented in the help
documentation, I am having serious trouble
sharing the connection. I have upgraded to a
multiple IP deal with my cable provider (3 IPs), so
it should not affect the IP setting of my provider...

I read some place that I would have to use
DHCP for providing the IP for my powerbook, and
the first time I did, it worked for a little while. The trouble is that as long as I keep the
powerbook connected to the Stationary, neither
will connect to the net. The second I pull the cable
out of the PowerBook, the Stationary is back on
the Internet.

Also, it seems to be dealing IPs in all directions,
giving the Powerbook a new IP every time I
reconnect it, claiming tha old IP is still in use. I
guess i will solve this problem buying a HUB, but
the way I read the documentation it should work
fine sharing this connection directly as long as I
use two network cards.

And yes: I have activated Internet sharing in the
"sharing" preferences.

Anyone with a clue? I am glad for any help that
can make me understand this a little better...

I do not use Mac OS X, so I am not entirely
sure how the internet sharing feature
works. But as far as I know, if you want to
share a DHCP connection you need to
use a router. I suggest IPNetRouter from
www.sustworks.com, which will allow you
to share one IP between multiple comps.
Hope this works.

Don't buy IPNetRouter unless you can but it for less than the cost of a hardware router. You can get wireless-capable (very useful for the 'Book if you get an Airport card) routers for under $70 and wired-only routers for less than $40.

Last I checked, IPNR was about $80 and requires a Mac to be on all the time, which wastes a great deal of electricity.

p