i like to share internet connection with another pc.can i do it without buying an extra nic or router. these 2 pc's already have a nic each.am using a cable modem. i dont know anything about networking but this was how i planned it to do.my main pc's (pc directly connected)nic { intel pro/100 VE }has a usb too.my cable modem is connected to rj45 connector of the nic.but stil i have another port left to connect usb cable in that nic. my other pc ( client )nic doesnt have usb interface.but with the help of a USB to Ethernet Adapter can i connect these two pc and share internet connection . am a newbie.this may sound really stupid to you guyz.but plz help.is it possible.?

Get a router. Connect from cable modem to WAN port of router then connect each PC to LAN port. Only other viable option is if the cablemodem has option of USB connection to your PC then do that and run crossover cable between the NICs of the two systems. Enable ICS in the Host. I used to have a signature but it disappeared and I just couldn't be bothered writing another so please feel free to ingore this.

I agree with Richard59: unless you really can't afford it, buy a router. You could buy an inexpensive wired device (e.g., D-Link DI-604) that would connect up nicely with your cable modem, and would also give you a little extra protection through its hardware firewall. Having a router also eliminates any further IP address issues with your ISP because they would only need to assign one actual IP to the router itself.

my cable modem has a usb connection and i did connect evrything as richard said. is my isp gona charge me anything extra for this kind of connection? and how do i enable ics in windows 2000?

No your ISP will not charge anything exra since you have only one connection. ICS stands for Internet Connection Sharing. I'm not sure whether 2k has a similar networking wizard to XP or other windows versions. If so then run it and you are given the option I used to have a signature but it disappeared and I just couldn't be bothered writing another so please feel free to ingore this.

But, I will also agree with the two above. Get a router. Without a router your computer is directly connected to the internet. A VERY GOOD firewall would be mandatory and even then you would be at a greater risk than someone with a router. Michael J

While a router may be a good solution it does require setup and purchase. It is better if done correctly as then offer a bit of firewalling. You can just get a free proxy server from Analogx. A proxy server just allows internet connections from one machine to go to another. The other machine needs to be set so it's gateway is the proxy's ip address. The proxy would need to have two ip connections. One being connected to internet. The other connected to other computer. I would set a static ip on the two that connect to computers. Use private numbers. Set dns to proxy ip address on remote computer READ the read me files. It will tell you how to use ports or http. You only need http 80 to be sent to the other computer for most things.