Networking your Xbox
What do I need?
What you need depends on the connection method you choose. To connect to Xbox Live, you will need your Xbox and Xbox Live starter kit, which contains your starter disk and 12-month subscription, plus AOL Broadband.
If you choose to connect your Xbox to the internet using a home networking solution, you will need a modem router from the range of AOL supported modem routers, plus a straight Ethernet cable to connect your Xbox to the router. If you choose to connect your console using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), you do not need a modem router, but will need a special Ethernet crossover cable. You cannot connect your games consoles directly to the Internet using an AOL USB modem.
In all cases, you'll need a PC with the following:
-- A Network Interface Card (NIC), which provides a free Ethernet port on your computer
-- Windows Vista, XP or 2000 (ICS requires Windows XP)
-- AOL 8.0 or above
Subscription fees apply for Xbox Live. AOL Parental Controls are unable to restrict web access through external browsers where a computer is linked for network gaming.
Which solution should I choose?
There are currently two solutions supported by AOL to connect your Xbox to your AOL DSL broadband connection.
- Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
This solution uses Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to connect your Xbox to your existing AOL Broadband-enabled computer. You will need to use a special Ethernet cable (known as crossover cable), plugging it into a spare Ethernet port on your computer and sharing the connection using ICS. Your computer acts as a gateway and must be powered on at all times while playing online. Note: Currently, this works with AOL 8.0 and above only. Your computer must have Windows XP.
- Modem router connection
This solution uses an AOL-supported modem router for the connection to the internet. With this solution, your computer does not have to be switched on to allow you to play online. This solution also brings you the further benefits of a home network, allowing you to share your AOL DSL broadband connection between your games console, your computer and other devices. Once you have set up your home network and connected your Xbox, you are ready to play Xbox Live at any time.