[eddiecatflap]

..i've got an icebook connected to a usb modem and have an imac in another room that wants to share the connection .

..how on earth do i do it?

..i always assumed the mac was easy to configure but its driving me nuts.

..i have an ethernet cable running from mac to mac - how do i set things up.. i thought it would just work.

[fulmer]

first step: return your USB modem and get an ethernet one. USB modems are hell on earth, and will cause you no end to trouble.

Next, get a router. They're cheap. That will allow you to share the connection with no troubles at all. Plug in both Macs to the ethernet ports on the router, and you're good to go (after, of course, you've configured the router, which is painless enough).

[eddiecatflap]

..my net provider gave me the alatel usb frog modem , and i'm using home 500 - its the single user service , will i be breaking the law if i change the modem for an ethernet one ?

[fulmer]

I can't imagine that you'd be breaking any laws.

Just tell them you want an ethernet modem. You might have to pay for it, but they should give you one. If not, and if you still want to share the 'net connection, then you might want to find another ISP.

however, maybe we can just work with what you have...

...Have you tried turning on Internet Sharing?

Open System Preferences. Click the Network panel. In the Show drop-down menu, choose Network Port Configurations. Make sure Built-in Ethernet is checked and in second place (in first place should be your current connection method; second place will be the port/method from which you share the 'net connection). Click Apply.

now, return to System Preferences main menu/panels listing. Click the Sharing panel. Click the Internet tab. Turn on Internet Sharing.

Make sure your iMac is connected to your iBook via an ethernet cable, not a crossover ethernet cable. I'm not 100% sure on this point, but pretty sure.

hmm. I've done the best I can. I don't use USB modems because they're such a pain in the neck to use. If this does not work for you, then I would see about getting an ethernet modem and router. Heck, I'd still try to get one, but if you can share the 'net using what you have, then you may be content with that. Good luck.

[TomHMeredith]

On the point of:

its the single user service , will i be breaking the law if i change the modem for an ethernet one ?

It's not breaking the law, but some ISPs have it as one of their terms and conditions that you only use one computer on the connection, and don't share it. Some say that you can do it, but they won't give any technical support.

So, I would imagine that the worst that could happen is they disconnect you, but it's unlikely that they will ever find out, so I wouldn't give it a second though.

Tom

[fulmer]

Originally posted by TomHMeredith:
its the single user service , will i be breaking the law if i change the modem for an ethernet one ?

It's not breaking the law

Don't worry about it if it's not against the law. You're paying for the bandwidth, and USB modems are crap. Just tell them that it crashes your computer and otherwise doesn't function properly, and that you want an ethernet one.

[ghporter]

Go with what fulmer says, return the USB modem with an explanation that your computer doesn't like it or it crashes programs or something-you're not sure what. Tell them that you can deal with an ethernet modem because you have a Mac, and they make ethernet easy (absolute truth!).

The problem with most USB modems is twofold. First, I have yet to hear of a USB 2.0 broadband modem (either cable or DSL), so they have a serious bandwidth limitation between the modem and the computer.

Second, some USB driver implementations cause serious problems with certain software. It's way too involved to go into here, but as an example, a Brand C modem may crash SuperSoft software, but not bother microSpaz programs. Too risky for my taste. USB 1.1 was never intended for the kind of traffic you can have with a home broadband connection.

Finally, owning a router is not, per se, evidence that you're sharing a connection. Maybe you're using the NAT firewall capability, and filtering certain ports so that the bad guys don't mess up your computer. Don't worry, Mr. Ashcroft has bigger fish to fry than somebody that hasn't read every word of a user agreement with an ISP, and your ISP doesn't have any way to tell one way or the other. Just don't go hosting a free porn site and then complain about how they cramp your bandwidth, ok?