[mberlant]

Windows ICS does indeed provide de facto firewall function to all devices except the hosting computer, which is locked in the "DMZ". It also provides manual port mapping if you can stand to deal with the clumsy interface. ICS is a basic, no-frills implementation of a router, but it remains a router nonetheless. My original U-Gate router had the same features (and lacked the same features, which had not been invented yet), as Windows ICS offers now, but it was still a router.

You make a comment that ICS is more like a switch than a router. With switches becoming more intelligent the line between a good switch and a weak router is indeed blurring. ICS, though, by virtue of its ability to assign internal addresses, modify packet headers in transiting packets and make dynamic decisions on which route a particular packet should take, is a router.

Even though NAT is the router function that most people seek in a SOHO router, it is not included in many commercial grade routers. A router can exist without the NAT function, but NAT cannot exist absent a router.

[PhoneBoy]

or firewall, though that's splitting hairs.

[rizsher]

And as expected, I've learnt a thing or two . Thanks Guyz.

[mberlant]

We're all here to learn - and to pass the learning on to the next guy.