On 19 May 2003, at 16:48, SOLOMON NINAWALE wrote:

> My question is: Is it possible to use a PC as a Gateway...?

  Briefly:  YES.

  One of the key strengths of digital technology is that a general-purpose
processor, with appropriate software, can often be made to do the job of any
specialized bit of hardware.  Not necessarily as fast, but often fast
enough, and with better economies of scale.  Word processing machines and
simple terminals have already disappeared because PCs could do the same jobs
(and more!) for less.

  There are three different main varieties of gateway:

1. Router (packet forwarder)
  On NT, this was just a checkbox under Network Properties.  It's not quite
so easy in 2K/XP, because having clients turn this on when they shouldn't
can cause problems.

2. NAT
  This is what the ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) included with 98/2K/XP
does.

3. Proxy
  Microsoft's "Proxy Server" product has been replaced by ISA ("Internet
Security and Acceleration") Server.

  Third-party software for each of these functions is also available.

  The primary hardware requirement for a gateway is that it have two or more
communications interfaces.  Usually at least one will be Ethernet; the other
might be that, or a modem, or cablemodem, or ....

David Gillett

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