Access Point or Not

[Robert M]

If I wanted to outfit three home computers with wireless adapters and share files using the Microsoft File and Printer Sharing Service, do I need an access point?

[SpywareDr]

Like this: http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper

[Tuttle]

You don't strictly need one -- an ad-hoc network will do the job.

As soon as you want to start sharing some other resource though (like an Internet connection), you're much better off using an access point (possibly included in a wireless router) to bridge to that rather than trying to do it through one of the computers.

[Robert M]

Here's another question:
If you had a computer with only a dial-up modem installed, and no access point hardware, and installed Internet Connection Sharing on one PC, will ICS support an Ad-hoc type of network for Internet Connection Sharing?

I already know that this is not the way the go in terms of speed and convenience, cost; I just want to know if this would work at all.

[SpywareDr]

Description of Internet Connection Sharing in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310563

INTRODUCTION

Internet Connection Sharing provides networked computers with the ability to share a single connection to the Internet.

MORE INFORMATION

With Internet Connection Sharing, you can connect computers on your home or on your small office network to the Internet over a single connection. For example, if you turn on Internet Connection Sharing on a computer that connects to the Internet by using a dial-up connection, other computers on the network can connect to the Internet through the dial-up connection on the Internet Connection Sharing host.

You can use Internet Connection Sharing to permit yourself and others on your local area network (LAN) to perform different tasks at the same time. For example, one person can send and receive e-mail messages, while another person downloads a file, and yet another person browses the Internet. You can also gain access to your corporate e-mail accounts from a client computer while others on your LAN cannot. You can use Web-enabled programs (such as downloading updates) and Microsoft NetMeeting and other video conferencing programs.

Internet Connection Sharing capabilities

• Multiple users can gain access to the Internet through a single connection by using dial-up connections and by using local networking.
  
  
• Connected devices receive transparent network configuration by using Domain Name System (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to resolve Internet names.
  
  
• Any IP-attached device can connect, including earlier Microsoft Windows-based clients, non-Windows-based clients, Microsoft Windows 98-based clients, Microsoft Windows 2000-based clients, and Microsoft Windows XP-based clients with no additional client software required.
  
  
• Connected devices and software have comprehensive protocol support. For example, you can play Internet games without additional configuration, or you can use Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) and Virtual Private Networking (VPN) to gain access to your corporate network.

...

[Robert M]

Hmm,
Nothing specific about an ad hoc network in the link SpywareDr posted.

Found this link below, but it talks about a cable or DSL style only I think.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...02april08.mspx

Will look again for a dial-up style connection.

[puterfixer]

Ad-hoc or infrastructure mode is about the physical network. Internet Connection Sharing doesn't care if you have established a wireless connection, a copper-wired connection, a fiber optic connection, a serial connection and so on; network drivers and hardware take care of those details. As long as the network has been established, ICS can share the connection.

[Robert M]

Sounds logical to me, so I guess ICS and internet access via a dial-up modem can be used in conjunction with an ad hoc network.
I'm unable to test this out myself so I'll take your word for it.
Thanks