Abstract: In a computing network environment having a gateway device that is connected on one side to at least one local area network and on other side to a plurality of initiating hosts, a method of establishing direct communication between a first initiating host and a second initiating host through the gateway device without necessity of involving the local area network in this communication and its related data transmission. The method comprising the steps of first obtaining the addresses and information of all connected hosts needed for establishing communication and storing it in a memory location accessible to said gateway device in form of a port-sharing table. The gateway device will be handling all requests for communication setups between hosts.