802.11b ICS

[poppasp1ce]

Does ICS work like this? Here's the scenario, I have a computer with one 10/100 NIC and Wireless USB network adapter. I want to set ICS up with this so I can use my laptop to access the internet (via wireless). I figured I could share the 10/100 NIC connection, making that computer the AP, then it would distribute IP's via the USB adapter. The concept is identical to if I were using two 10/100 NICs with ICS as a router. The only difference being one of the NICs is wireless. I've tried sharing my ethernet connection, no luck. I've tried sharing my wireless USB connection, no luck. Is this possible?

 

[ScottMac]

I'm not sure, but I think you have to set the NIC(s) for "Ad Hoc" mode, since you don't have an access point to repeat the signals. Ad Hoc is basically a :crossover cable" for wireless.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[poppasp1ce]

<< I'm not sure, but I think you have to set the NIC(s) for "Ad Hoc" mode, since you don't have an access point to repeat the signals. Ad Hoc is basically a :crossover cable" for wireless.

Good Luck

Scott >>



I did that for both, nothing. Then I thought maybe I should set my desktop to Infrastructure considering it would be acting as a 'software' AP, still nothing.

 

[wjsulliv]

Dude this is a great question.

My first question would be can you get the two computers to interface through the wirelss connection (share files, etc.)?
Maybe try www.practicallynetworked.com ?

I am very interested in the full answer to this question as I have just switched my home network to wireless but haven't yet uninstalled my hardline (cables etc) and want to get ICS for my dial-up shared properly over the Wireless network first.

 

[poppasp1ce]

<< Dude this is a great question.

My first question would be can you get the two computers to interface through the wirelss connection (share files, etc.)? >>



No, I can't even get file sharing to work. I set both wireless adapters to Ad-Hoc, but they can't see each other. I tried give each of them static IPs, 10.0.0.1 and 10.0.0.2 with subnet 255.255.255.0. I have them on the same SSID, tried same channel and different channels, no go. One thing that confuses me is my USB adapter has two operating modes, Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure, although my PCMCIA card has three operating modes, 802.11 Ad-Hoc, Ad-Hoc, and Infrastructure. What's the difference between the two Ad-Hocs?

 

[JackMDS]

I never tried to share Internet this way; not sure, it can work.

However as Scott said first make it works between the two computers.

You have to use the 801.11b Ad-Hoc.

You have to assign a static Number (use the 192,168,xxx,xxx band)

Assign a separate IP to each.

The IP of the card that the Interent will come from has to be assigned as the DNS of the client card (in the Client card properties menu).

Make sure that they are on same group, same mask, and have separate name.
Same Channel, SSID, etc.

It should work; I have a setting like this to share files. Between a Desktop, and iPaq.

 

[wjsulliv]

Ok, I'm not sure how to make this work in Win 2000, as I just got mine to work in Win XP Pro.

First I'll explain XP Pro. It was really simple, I reran the networking wizard and told the system to share my dial-up connection via both the pci 10/100 and the pcmcia/pci wireless card. It told me I would need a networking bridge, and then it made one. A couple of minuets later, and one restart and I am now writing this from my laptop through the wireless nic and my shared dial up connection.

Ok, on to your problem as Win 2000 doesn't do all that XP stuff lets try some other things...

First do either network card show problems in the device manager?

Second, are you running current drivers?

If yes to both of those, try rerunning the networking wizard.
Make sure they are both listed on the same network name (I.e. mine are both on the "home" network)

Try rescanning with both in ad-hock (unless you have an Access Point)

Remember that 2000 does not lag at start up to set up the network, and that it can actually take up to 2 minuets for 2000 and XP to fully be network ready. So if both your machines are searching for an IP, start one up, and then after you can view the network properties try booting the second.

A note about ad-hock, etc.
Basically, there are two wireless modes.
Infrastructur, for use with an Access Point
Ad-Hock for use without an Access Point
Ad-Hock is sometimes also refered to as 802.11B ad-hock (which is just a slightly newer modified ad-hock that is supposed to be a little better, but both ad-hock and 802.11b ad-hock should be compatable.

Ok and finally my best advice, as this was my problem with 2000 when initially setting up a network...

Make sure your Laptop and Desktop think they are different people. Mine were both under William J Sullivan. So they couldn't see each other because they both thought they were the same machine. And I don't mean the network/computer name, I mean the windows login name for Win 2000. So you may need to go into the control panel into user accounts and rename one of the machines, or log on as a different user.

 

[ktwebb]

The 802.11b card is simply a Network Interface Card that happens to be wireless. It will certainly work, as long as you set the card to Ad Hoc, making it a wireless workgroup card. The Proxy/NAT machine is NOT an Access Point, doesnt have any function of an Access Point, yada yada yada. Now, why yours isnt working is just some troubleshooting to do. Besides setting them to Ad Hoc, you might try making sure both are on the same channel (frequency), usually that is 6 or 2.437 Ghz but make sure they match, then set the SSID manually, then since your utility software might not work for detecting other NIC's instead of an AP, manually assign IP's and start pinging to test connectivity.

 

[poppasp1ce]

Okay, I got a little farther, kinda. I got file sharing and ICS working for about 10 seconds. It started working, I jumped up to brag to my roommates (I literally ran out of my room yelled, "IT WORKS!" then came back into my room) then it stopped working. Neither file sharing nor ICS works now (again). I have tried assigning static IPs like I described in my previous post. Both wireless cards are on the same channel (tried different channels too) and on the same SSID. Both wireless cards on operating in Ad-Hoc mode. No problems with either card in device manager, both cards working great (just not great together). My wireless USB adapter is using the lastest firmware and drivers. My laptop is using the drivers that came on CD because the ones on Linksys's site do not work (someone try to download them and run them, they give an application error, yes I tried redownloading them many times). If someone would go download the drivers for the WPC11 v2.5 and just run it (don't go through the entire install, just see if it will run, it would be helpful). I still don't understand why it worked for those brief 10 or so seconds. I swear I did not change any settings after it started working and before it stopped working. Anything else you all need to know?

 

[poppasp1ce]

Alright, everything works now, the catch is, it only works for about 10 seconds at a time. About every 10 seconds or less I have to click the re-scan button to scan for BSSID. When it finds the BSSID, it starts working again. It's almost like its forgetting where to go. This is similar to releasing an IP then renewing it (via ipconfig or winipcfg), the only difference being I have to do it every 10 seconds :| I did figure out a way to 'keep the pipe open', if I do a large file transfer via wireless, everything works for the duration of the file transfer. For example, say it takes 4 minutes to transfer 100MB, this means ICS and everything else will work for the next 4 minutes without me having to re-scan the BSSID, hardly practical I'd say. Anyone have anymore ideas?

I got the newest drivers working, seems they have to be extracted and run from the root directory, C:\ in my case. Anyways, I got them installed without a problem.

 

[wjsulliv]

Check your power settings, make sure they are set to the always on state, and the setting that allows you to turn off network devices to conserve power is turned off. Maybe the computer might be turning the card off if its not in use?

 

[poppasp1ce]

Ad-Hoc mode does not allow for power saving to be turned on. In other words, its off.

Wait, I see what your saying. But it was already off in device manager.