<snip>
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...docs/en-us/hnw_nohost_computerw.mspx?mfr=true
Individual Internet connections
If you have an external DSL or cable modem, you can connect it to an
Ethernet network hub and also connect your computers to the
Ethernet hub as this illustration shows. Each computer in the
network has a direct connection to the Internet through the network
hub.
[...]
For file and printer sharing using this configuration, it is
recommended that you install a network protocol that is not used on
the Internet, such as IPX/SPX, and disable file and print sharing
on TCP/IP For more information about IPX/SPX, see IPX To install
and enable file and printer sharing using the IPX/SPX protocol, see
To enable file and print sharing on the IPX/SPX protocol
For a secure home or small office network, it is recommended that
you configure your network to take advantage of Windows XP Internet
Connection Sharing and Internet Connection Firewall or to use a
residential gateway.
Wow - that's old. ;-)
I think you may be using old reference material and over-thinking things.
Get a Cable Modem/DSL NAT device/router. Something that gives you your
own private LAN (Local Area Network) usually in the 192.168.x.x range -
but it can be in the 10.10.x.x range in some cases. Many times - more
frequently than not these days - the Cable Modem or DSL modem itself has a
NAT device/router built in. The only problem is that usually they also
only have a single network port for such things - meaning you either need
a network switch or you (if wireless) you put a wireless network device in
all of your computers that don't have one already. ;-)
In other words - if you actually are using a HUB - chunk it and spend the
$40 U.S. on a router/NAT device. Your setup is easier, safer and your
life gets better. ;-)
Essentially - if you get a NAT device (home router) - you can connect your
DSL, Cabel or other high-speed Internet modem to the router/NAT device and
then all your computers connect to it. They get DHCP (automatically
assigned) IP addresses from the device and when you talk between computers
on that LAN (local area network) - you are only speaking across the
router/NAT device - not the Internt - meaning you are limited to the
lowest connection speed to the device itself - not your Internet
connection speed. So if you get a gigabit router and all of your computers
are connected via wire to it - you get gigabit computer-to-computer speeds
and whatever your Internet speed (whatever you pay for) to the Internet.
The box does all the routing for you.
If your high-speed Internet modem does not have a built in 4-port wired
and/or wireless router... I suggest you get something that does. I like
Netgear stuff, but everyone has their own opinion. I recommend the
Netgear WGR614 <-- very reliable, easy to setup, etc.