www.BlackViper.com: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Services 411 - Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Default Description:

Provides network address translation, addressing, name resolution and/or intrusion prevention services for a home or small office network.

Additional Information:

It is used to allow multiple computers on your network to access the internet via only one account. This service installs on the "modem" computer. If you are using a third party firewall, hardware gateway/router or Internet Connection Sharing software package, this service is not required and can safely be left on disabled.

If you use an external hardware firewall/gateway/router between your computer and the internet, then this service and the following group of services can be disabled:

• Application Layer Gateway Service
• Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Take note: When I speak about a "modem" here, it is a dial-up modem or ISDN/DSL modem actually installed in the system case or a "single computer modem" that is externally attached via a serial cable, USB cable or ethernet cable. If you are using this configuration, I highly suggest getting an external "firewall/gateway/router" for your home network and not use ICS at all.

Additional Reading:

• ICS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Connection_Sharing
• VPN: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network

Discussion Topic Link:

Windows Vista Services Forum

Defaults Startup Type:

Default Vista Home Basic: Disabled
Default Vista Home Premium: Disabled
Default Vista Business: Disabled
Default Vista Ultimate: Disabled

Other Settings:

Safe Setting: Disabled

Service Names:

Service Name (registry): SharedAccess

Display Name: Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Default Path and Command Line Options:

C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs

Log On As:

Account: Local System Account

Dependencies:

What service Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) needs to function properly:

• Base Filtering Engine
  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
    • DCOM Server Process Launcher
• Network Connections
  • Network Store Interface Service
    • NSI proxy Service
  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
    • DCOM Server Process Launcher
• Remote Access Connection Manager
  • Telephony
    • Plug and Play
    • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
      • DCOM Server Process Launcher
• Windows Management Instrumentation
  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
    • DCOM Server Process Launcher

What other service require Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to function properly:

• None