MAKE YOUR WINDOWS XP PC AS A ROUTER

How to Make Windows XP PC as Router?

As an example, let say you have 7 computers and 2 network switches, and need to create 2 networks that can access Internet, so how to do it?? Some more information, one of the computers is equipped with 3 network cards and one of the network cards is connected to cable/DSL modem to access Internet, so this computer will act as a router!

Configure the network cards on the router with following information.

Router (Windows XP Professional)

Network Card A (connect to network A):
IP: 10.10.10.1
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway (GW): [leave it blank]

Network Card B (connect to network B):
IP: 192.168.20.1
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway (GW): [leave it blank]

Network Card C (connect to Internet via cable/dsl connection)
This information will be based on the Internet connection service which you have subscribed. 
IP: 192.168.1.1
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway (GW): 192.168.1.1

Configure all the computers in network A with following information.

Network A 
IP: 10.10.10.2-254
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway (GW): 10.10.10.1

Configure all the computers in network B with following information.

Network B 
IP: 192.168.20.2-254
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.20.1

Ok.. Now it’s the time to configure IP forwarding on that router…

1) Go to Start and click Run…, then type in regedit to run registry editor.

Note: Please note that only System Administrator can run registry editor.

2) Registry editor window will appear. Browse for the following registry key at the left hand side window:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesTcpipParameters

Right click IPEnableRouter registry object, and click Modify.

Note: Be extra careful when you deal with registry editor, wrong editing will crash you Windows OS.

3) The IPEnableRouter window will appear. Type 1 as Value data and click OK.

4) Close the regisrty editor and reboot the computer. After rebooting, all the computers should be able to access Internet and also share the file/printer between network A and B.

Note: When I did the test, IP forwarding will only work after rebooting the computer. So don’t forget to do it.

Note: If you feel the above process is too troublesome, advise you to get awireless router or wired router and set up a simple network. It's much easier!!

•                 SHAIKH KABIR