Comparing NAT and ICS

As you have discovered throughout this chapter, NAT and ICS are two solutions included with Windows 2000 that provide home offices and small businesses a cost-effective method for connecting multiple computers to the Internet using a single connection. Although they provide similar services, there are distinct differences between the two, making each better suited for specific environments. Table 8.1 summarizes the key differences between NAT and ICS.

Table 8.1. Differences Between NAT and ICS

NAT	ICS
Configurable IP address range	Fixed IP address range
Requires manual configuration	Enabled through a single check box
Supports multiple public IP addresses	Supports a single public IP address
Supports multiple internal interfaces	Supports a single internal interface

Be sure you are familiar with the differences between ICS and NAT.