ics xp host 98 client slowdown

I have a home network with an xp machine hosting ICS and 2 98 machines and one xp machine as clients. Everything runs perfectly if only the xp machines are accessing the internet, but as soon as either of the 98 machines access the internet the connection slows to a standstill (but does not drop out). It will sometimes get back up to speed on its own accord minutes later, but usually won't get moving again until the 98 machine istops browsing. The 98 machines have no other problems over the network. When things stop I cannot ping a website (the request times out) from the host or any client, but can ping other machines on the network fine. The 98 machines worked fine previously with an older 98 machine hosted ICS. All machines are set up to get IP addresses automatically. IPCONFIC shows all machines receive valid IP addresses OK. I can't find anything to help me on the net at all. aNY IDEAS?

 

One idea springs to mind immediately. 98 is not a particularly adept OS at dealing with DNS. And it may have trouble with the way DNS caching is configured on the XP systems (especially the ICS host) on your local network.

Take a look http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/tune-24.html and using that info,

- drop your MaxCacheEntryTtlLimit to 1 (and will probably move it back to the default after things are working but for now, very low duration of one second)

- set NegativeCacheTime to 0 (zero)

- create QueryIpMatching and use the value of 1.

 

Email from chalkie2 - it worked.