Hi, My PC connects to my broadband ISP through a LAN (ethernet) -- A cat-6 cable is wired from my ISP's NAT server to my house. I need to enable internet access for one more PC that's in a different room. Each PC must get access to internet irrespective of whether the other PC is switched on or not. How should I provide independent access to internet for both the PCs? Which network configuration must be used?

Well that rules out Internet Connection sharing. You have to direct wire to the ISP's nat server [whatever that it]. Question now becomes does this nat server have available network ports or is it a single port device [usually referred to as a modem]? Give a person a fish, they eat for a day. Suggest they internet search and they learn a skill for a lifetime.

You setup is a bit unusual. It is not normal to connect to your ISP via Ethernet as Ethernet has a distance limitation of 100 metres. If, as I suspect, you are sharing an ISP connection with another person, you are not going to be able to do much without that other persons help without running another cable to your house. Go to a command prompt and type IPconfig and get back. I would be particularly interested in the IP address and gateway address. Stuart

You'd have to know how your ISP allows authentication. Not just the hardware issue. Some ISP's require there software running but most use a point to point connection. They also may not allow that too. If they do they would for sure offer some advice on how they do it for a customer. A common way is to get a SOHO router made for internet. They have a way to let the router connect to the ISP (if supported). You put your login info on the web based setup. Then you let any computer connect on the lan side as needed. Again more would be needed to be known about your system.

Hi, >> does this nat server have available network ports There's no modem at all. The cable at my place is terminated with a RJ45 connector that plugs directly into my PC's onboard ethernet card. >> Ethernet has a distance limitation of 100 metres My ISP uses some intermediate device (switch/repeater) at every 100 or so metres. So it's not a problem. My ISP serves about 80 subscribers. I have a static IP address. Here's the output from 'ipconfig /all' Windows IP Configuration Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : helix Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection: Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.7.42 Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.7.1 DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.7.1 >> You'd have to know how your ISP allows authentication My ISP provides an authentication software which is a windows desktop app that has the usual textboxes to type in your special username and password. It then runs in the background througout the time your are connected to the internet. It would be easy if I could put some device (I don't know exactly what) inbetween. Ideally, ISP's cable is connected to this device on one port and the 2 PCs connect to this device on other ports. That device will then have my current static IP. Just what doodad is that? Is it a network bridge?

You are not going to be able to share this connection by normal means. 192.168.7.42 is a Class C Private address, therefore a router is out of the question as you dont have access to a public IP address. The only way you are going to get both computers on to the Internet is via a switch/hub and then you will only be able to connect with one computer at a time, not both together. If you want both computers on the Internet together you are going to have to get another IP address and another connection from your ISP. This appears to be a network where someone is sub-letting an Internet connection from a proper ISP. Not the best way to connect to the Internet. I hope you have a firewall installed on your computer. You are in fact on a LAN with all the other 80 subscribers and as such they can get access to your computer unless you take steps to prevent them. Make sure that file and print sharing is disabled to start with. Stuart

Your question is independent connection. That would have to involve a device that can simulate your logon. Some people make up a small pizza box linux router or even an embedded device. Pretty much copies what your normal computer does. If you don't mind having one computer on to get logged on then you can use a proxy application on the original computer. I like AnalogX's but there are many out there.