Sharing a mac's internet connection with windows PCs

[Mike Fishcake]

Here's an interesting one for you.

I've borrowed a Mac Mini from work over the Xmas holiday. At home, I don't have a router, so I have my main PC connected to a USB Speedtouch modem, then share that connection with my Windows notebook over wireless. That works fine.

I've also set up the USB modem on the Mac Mini, and i'm using that now, so that works fine. However, I'm tearing my hair out and stamping my feet like a child throwing a tantrum trying to get the Mac to share its connection with the Windows PC. I've managed to get it so that my windows PC can see the Mac in the actual workgroup (and vice versa) but I can't for the life of me get the windows PC to use the Mac's connection.

I've followed all the instructions in Mac OS - I've set up both computers so they're in a workgroup called Fishnet. I've gone to Sharing on System Preferences and set up Personal Web Sharing, then shared the Speedtouch USB connection over the wireless connection - the windows PC knows the connection is there, it's connected but I go to browse the web, and it just can't find it.

I've set up the network name, made sure the encryption key is exactly the same, but it just refuses to use the Mac's network connection.

Any ideas on where to go from here? I've been fiddling around for hours trying to get this thing to work, and it just refuses to.

I've probably missed off other information that you need to know, so ask away for any information.

Using Tiger on the Mac with Airport and Windows XP with a Belkin Wireless Adapter.

*gibber*

[TheAnimus]

Find a BSD guide is probably your best bet, and hope apple haven't only half implemented it.

Its worth noting the a mac mini has pisspoor performance, and as such using it as a USB to IP router might not be the most performance friendly ideas of all time.

[Mike Fishcake]

Originally Posted by TheAnimus

Find a BSD guide is probably your best bet, and hope apple haven't only half implemented it.

Its worth noting the a mac mini has pisspoor performance, and as such using it as a USB to IP router might not be the most performance friendly ideas of all time.

Not really bothered about performance that much. The two windows PCs will really just be used for general internet browsing and chat programs really, plus it's just a temporary measure for a week or two.

[Mike Fishcake]

To dig up an old thread from almost a year ago, I'm about to try this again tonight. Wish me luck

[Steve B]

good luck mike!

[Howard]

Make sure the gateway address in the TCP/IP settings of your Windows machine is set to the IP of your mac