ICS Control v.21 - utility for controlling internet connection sharing

[lysdexical]

UPDATE
April 5, 2008 - v0.21 released.

ICS Control is a GUI front-end for Internet Connection Sharing, a component of Microsoft Windows Mobile. It can be configured to do a variety of things including sharing your cellular internet connection over an adhoc WiFi network.

Requirements: .NET Compact Framework 2.0 and Windows Mobile 5 or later with the IPNAT driver included (most WM6 builds have this built-in). The "Internet Sharing" application that some phones have is not required, but IPNAT is.

ICSControl is a single .exe file, included in the zip file below. You can place it directly in /Windows/Start Menu/Programs/ on your device and it will appear as an icon in Programs. Or you can place it elsewhere and create a shortcut.

Comments, bug reports, and requests are welcome.

If you like this program and would like to express your appreciation with money, you can donate via Paypal.

Changelog

v0.21
- Added host names from DHCP leases to DMZ and InternalHost dropdown lists.

v0.2
- DHCP Lease editing is completed.
- Virtual Server (aka incoming port mapping) configuration is completed.
- Application definitions (aka outgoing port triggers) configuration is completed.
- Added really simple icons.
- Attempts to accomodate weird ipnat driver configurations.
- Other minor changes/fixes.

v0.11
- Added auto-dialing to Connection Manager destinations
- Added private interface IP setting
- Fixed bugs involving the up/down controls.
- IMPORTANT: If you were using v.1, some of your saved settings may be messed up. To fix this, press the Set All Defaults button at the bottom of the settings panel.

More info on Internet Connection Sharing

ICS allows a private network (for example, an ad-hoc WiFi network) to access another network (for example, the internet) as long as the Windows Mobile device is connected to both networks. It should be able to share between any set of adapters. The common configurations of course would be:

Cellular to WiFi (probably the most common scenario, sharing internet access to a WiFi network)
Cellular to Bluetooth PAN
Cellular to USB

But it should also work with more "interesting" combinations like:

VPN to Wifi - get wireless clients onto a VPN
Wifi to Bluetooth - allow bluetooth network devices to access a WLAN.
Wifi to USB - basically the pda acts as a wireless network card for the PC (neat, eh?)

[pflatlyne]

Will this allow you to select the wifi adapter as well?

[lysdexical]

Originally Posted by pflatlyne Will this allow you to select the wifi adapter as well?

Yes. I guess I should point that out as that is probably what people want to do with it. It should be able to share between any set of adapters. The common ones of course would be:
Cellular to Wifi,
Cellular to Bluetooth PAN,
Cellular to USB.

But it should also work with more "interesting" combinations like:
VPN to Wifi - get wireless clients onto a VPN
Wifi to Bluetooth - allow bluetooth network devices to access a WLAN.
Wifi to USB - basically the pda acts as a wireless network card for the pc

[marriotheblackguy]

Will test this out when I get home tonight...will find out if Sprint noticed it later this month when the bill comes in

[bedoig]

Wow! Sounds great. Downloading now.

[aarmd]

This looks interesting. I am hoping this might help me get my phone connected to my laptop as a modem. I do not appear to have the ipnat.dll. Any suggestions?? TIA. AARMD

[lysdexical]

Originally Posted by aarmd This looks interesting. I am hoping this might help me get my phone connected to my laptop as a modem. I do not appear to have the ipnat.dll. Any suggestions?? TIA. AARMD

Transplanting ipnat.dll (and the necessary registry settings) from another device is possible but I'm pretty sure it's illegal to distribute it. I know, people do it all the time, and there is no reason for MS to care, but I'd still rather not be the one to do it.

[aarmd]

I am using a Verizon 6800 with WM6 Pro and DCD 2.2.5 ROM installed by an acquaintance. I can find an ipnat file, but it is not listed as a .dll. It shows up with the Windows logo. Does this help at all? I am sorry, but I am somewhat new at all this. AARMD

[lysdexical]

Originally Posted by aarmd I am using a Verizon 6800 with WM6 Pro and DCD 2.2.5 ROM installed by an acquaintance. I can find an ipnat file, but it is not listed as a .dll. It shows up with the Windows logo. Does this help at all? I am sorry, but I am somewhat new at all this. AARMD

That's it. File Explorer hides the extension.

[dangelon]

Cool, this is working on my Alltel 6800. I have a laptop that had its internal wireless hosed, I am now posting using the HTC as a (very expensive) wireless card
Right now I am running through USB, I have to check it out and see if it works with bluetooth.