We have two PCs running Windows 2000 connected to a switch. We connect the broadband link to the same switch, but we can only have one computer connected to the Internet, and cannot use Windows networking to communicate with the other PC. The ISP allows for only one IP address to be allocated dynamically from its Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server. Either PC can be connected, as long as we first release the IP address.Is there a different way of solving this problem? We’ve thought about forcing both computers to use the same media access control address, but don’t know what the consequences would be.The solution is not duplicating the MAC addresses.Hide your LAN behind a gateway that provides network address translation (NAT) and routing services for your LAN’s Internet connection. It’s possible to configure Routing and Remote Access Services on one of the Windows 2000 PCs to provide these services for the other PC using Internet Connection Sharing or NAT. See Demand-Dial Routing and Router-to-Router VPNs in Windows 2000 for instructions. It would be easier to buy a small broadband router to place between your switch and the ISP connection. Related content news analysis Western Digital keeps HDDs relevant with major capacity boost Western Digital and rival Seagate are finding new ways to pack data onto disk platters, keeping them relevant in the age of solid-state drives (SSD). By Andy Patrizio Dec 06, 2023 4 mins Enterprise Storage Data Center news analysis Global network outage report and internet health check Cisco subsidiary ThousandEyes, which tracks internet and cloud traffic, provides Network World with weekly updates on the performance of ISPs, cloud service providers, and UCaaS providers. By Ann Bednarz and Tim Greene Dec 06, 2023 286 mins Networking news analysis Cisco uncorks AI-based security assistant to streamline enterprise protection With Cisco AI Assistant for Security, enterprises can use natural language to discover policies and get rule recommendations, identify misconfigured policies, and simplify complex workflows. By Michael Cooney Dec 06, 2023 3 mins Firewalls Generative AI Network Security news Nvidia’s new chips for China to be compliant with US curbs: Jensen Huang Nvidia’s AI-focused H20 GPUs bypass US restrictions on China’s silicon access, including limits on-chip performance and density. By Anirban Ghoshal Dec 06, 2023 3 mins CPUs and Processors Technology Industry Podcasts Videos Resources Events NEWSLETTERS Newsletter Promo Module Test Description for newsletter promo module. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe