Menu Close

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

General Information

None at this time

[tab name=’Windows 8′]

Windows 8

Default Description

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

Additional Information

None at this time.

Default Startup Type

OS SP0
Windows 8 x86 Disabled
Windows 8 x64 Disabled
Windows 8 Pro x86 Disabled
Windows 8 Pro x64 Disabled
Windows 8 Enterprise x86 Disabled
Windows 8 Enterprise x64 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

Note: No dependencies are listed for any service in the WDP build I used to draft this information.
[/tab]

[tab name=’Windows 7′]

Windows 7

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:

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.

Default Startup Type

OS SP0 SP1
Windows 7 Starter Disabled Disabled
Windows 7 Home Basic Disabled Disabled
Windows 7 Home Premium Disabled Disabled
Windows 7 Professional Disabled Disabled
Windows 7 Ultimate Disabled Disabled
Windows 7 Enterprise Disabled 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:

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

  • None (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)

[/tab]

[tab name=’Windows Vista’]

Windows Vista

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:

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.

Default Startup Type

OS SP0 SP1 SP2
Vista Home Basic Disabled Disabled Disabled
Vista Home Premium Disabled Disabled Disabled
Vista Business Disabled Disabled Disabled
Vista Ultimate Disabled Disabled Disabled
Vista Enterprise Disabled Disabled 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:

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

  • None (HB, HP, B, U)

[/tab]

[end_tabset]

Additional Reading