OBTAIN AN IP ADDRESS BY USING DHCPBEFORE YOU BEGIN THIS EXERCISE, YOU...

4. Configure the remaining computers to obtain their IP address and DNS server

information automatically and restart the computers. When each computer

restarts, it will obtain addressing information from the ICS computer and should

be able to connect to the Internet. IP addresses of the computers will fall in the

range 192.168.0.2–192.168.0.254.

ICS Limitations

Because of what ICS does for a network (IP address allocation, name resolution, and

acting as the network’s gateway), and because the IP address the host computer uses

is always 192.168.0.1 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, several conditions must be

met while ICS is used:

■

The IP addresses of the computers on the network must also be in the 192.168.0.x

range, and the subnet mask must always be 255.255.255.0. If network computers

cannot use these addresses, ICS does not work properly.

■

Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 servers configured as domain con-

trollers, DNS servers, gateways, and DHCP servers cannot be used on the network.

ICS is intended for use only in a workgroup environment.

■

Computers with static IP addresses that do not fall in the ICS range do not work

with ICS.

■

If more than one network adapter is available, and if two or more LAN connec-

tions are configured and all of them connect to computers on the network, those

connections need to be bridged. Bridging a connection is as simple as right-clicking

the connection and selecting Bridge Connections.

■

ICS must be enabled from the dial-up, VPN, broadband, or other connection to the

Internet.

Problems can also occur with ICS if the host computer originally had a static IP address

on the network or if the address 192.168.0.1 is being used by another computer on the

network.

Note If you are having problems with an ICS configuration, check the items in the preceding bulleted list. Make the appropriate changes to the network to resolve the problem.

Troubleshooting ICS

Although you can troubleshoot ICS by using many of the connectivity troubleshooting

methods already covered in this chapter, if the network is small (10 or fewer comput-

ers), it is generally easiest to start over with ICS than to troubleshoot it. After you know

that you have removed any offending DHCP or DNS servers or any computers with

static IP addresses, simply reconfigure ICS on the host computer, and then reconfigure

and restart the other computers on the network.

Lesson Review

Use the following questions to help determine whether you have learned enough to

move on to the next lesson. If you have difficulty answering these questions, review

the material in this lesson before beginning the next lesson. You can find answers to

these questions in the “Questions and Answers” section at the end of this chapter.