Network Solution 1: PC to PC with Crossover cable
Network Solution 2: PC to PC with a Hub or Switch
Network Solution 3: PC to PC with a Wireless Access Point
Network Solution 4: PC to ISDN Router
Here is a great way to setting up the network for future expansion, it can be a little daunting at first but once you've done it, you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment. Again, have a single PC connected up to the NT1+II via the USB or RS232 cable, then follow the instructions for setting up the wireless access point to the same PC. This PC is the Gateway PC as described in section 1. The difference with wireless connections is you need an Access Point and a Wireless network card to talk to each other instead of running a cable.
There are many different access points on the market out there so do a bit of research before buying so that you get something that will do what you want.
Some of the units label themselves as Wireless Broadband Routers but don't actually connect to the Broadband connections directly, they will still require some setting up and can be a little confusing to the novice, but you can use them as Access Points and they work well.
Once you've gotten the Access point installed and the network card installed on the second PC, run the Network Setup Wizard located in the Network Connections section of the Control Panel. Open the Control Panel, then click Network Connections, then click File / Network Setup Wizard.
We want to run this setup program FIRST on the PC that is connected to the ISDN NT1+II so that this PC establishes itself as the Internet connection sharing PC or the Gateway PC for any others to connect through. During the process, indicate that this PC connects directly to the internet and choose the Dial-up connection you have to your ISP as the way it connects.
Once you've run that wizard, you can then run the same Wizard on another XP machine and indicate that it connects via another PC via a Local Area Network connection and it will 'find' the Gateway PC and set itself up to connect to it for it's own internet connection.
With Wireless connections it is very important to configure the security of the connection because if you don't, ANYONE with a wireless card in the immediate vicinity of your access point can tap into your connection and USE YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION!!! If you only have a limited download each month, that could be blown out and YOU will be liable for the excess payments. BE WARNED!!
By default Access points come out of the box with no encryption active!! To secure a wireless connection enable the WEP encryption on both the access point and the network card it connects to. Enter in a random 26 character hexadecimal code (numbers from 0 to 9 and A to F) write this down and double check it and enter it into the other point as well. If the access point has WAP encryption then go for that as it's more secure.
If you're running another Operating system and have to configure the connections manually, then that is another story altogether. I can't provide all OS instructions but you should be able to get the general vibe of things from the instructions below.
To configure the setup manually,
1) Go into the Control Panel / Network Connections and right click your Local Area Network connection, click Properties, find the TCP/IP option and highlight it, click the Properties button, Place the dot in 'Use the following IP address', type in 192.168.0.1 for the IP address and 255.255.255.0 for the subnet mask.
The IP address we are using here is in a range that is set aside for internal networks and is not used on the Internet side of things. The subnet mask is standard for this IP range.
You will also have to set the DNS servers as well, that information is usually specific to your ISP as each has their own Domain Name Server addresses. For Bigpond, you can use, 139.134.5.51 and 139.134.2.190 , they are listed on the Bigpond web site if you look hard enough. DNS servers help convert web address names to IP addresses, the Internet won't work without them.
Click OK to finish.
We have just set the Network Connection of our Gateway PC to 192.168.0.1 , this is like giving your house a street address, on our local area network, this PC can now be found by the others.
2) In the same Network Connection window there will be another icon for your ISDN Dial-up account. Right click this icon and click Properties. Click the Advanced Tab and check the 'Allow other network users to connect through this computers Internet connection's tick, you can also tick the other two options as well if you wish, they're self explanatory.
Click OK.
3) On our second PC, we will have to do a similar setup, but this time, not use the same IP address as this won't work. Again, to explain, e.g. the postman will have a bit of trouble if both you and your neighbour have the same street address.. !!
On the other PC, go into the Network Connections and right click your Local Area Network connection, click Properties, find the TCP/IP option and highlight it, click the Properties button, Place the dot in 'Use the following IP address', type in 192.168.0.2 for the IP address and 255.255.255.0 for the subnet mask. For the Default Gateway spot, type in 192.168.0.1 address of our Gateway PC. This way our second pc knows where to look for a way out of our Local Area Network. You will have to put the DNS server IP addresses here as well, so this second PC knows where to send that sort of query when it's online.
Click OK.
There should be no Dial-Up connection needed on this PC as it just uses the LAN for all it's access.