Can a wireless LAN talk to a wired LAN?

[xenolith]

I have this "school" with 3 PCs connected to a wireless router and DSL modem. For some weird reason (something to do with usage costs), the adjoining corporate office has 3 other PCs that are connected via traditional cat5 router and cable modem. They're wondering if there's some way to uplink the two LANs for basic peer-to-peer file sharing. If so, can you point me in the right direction as to how it's done? Thanks.

 

[xenolith]

I'm thinking maybe a simple 10/100 ethernet hub between the two routers, will that work? Remember, the three wired PCs can not connect to the web via the DSL modem?

 

[xenolith]

Now I'm thinking just to cat5 an uplink port to a regular port on the two routers. Right? Oh boy, I need help.

 

[dakata24]

<< Now I'm thinking just to cat5 an uplink port to a regular port on the two routers. Right? Oh boy, I need help. >>



sounds right to me.. use the uplink port of the cable modem router, and connect that to a regular port on the dsl router.

hehe. you replied and answered you're own question.. good job.

edit: what kind of wireless/wired routers are you using?

 

[xenolith]

Thanks dakata24, I just needed verification from someone.

what kind of wireless/wired routers are you using? - dakata24

Wireless: Linksys BEFW11S4

Wired: SMC Barricade 7004ABR

So I guess I should start looking for about 200 feet of cat5 patch cable.

 

[Abzstrak]

uhm, just plugging them together wont neccessarily work, they're probably on different IP ranges and wont be able to talk to each other.

They should just network them all together via the DSL and drop the cable modem. definetely would save them some $$$ and reduce headaches.

 

[Hoober]

Have them buy a wireless access point. Any of your generic AP's will do... Linksys, SMC... the list goes on. If its for business I'd recommend a Cisco AP. Anyway, take the AP and plug it directly into the wired router. Presto, you're all on the same network. Just need to configure everything to work together. Drop the DSL costs and save money in the long run.

 

[xenolith]

Sorry I should have been more clear. The three office computers can not use the school's DSL connection. The dsl account is free and for "student use only." They were informed that the adjoining corporate office is not to use the dsl account or face disciplinary action. Therefore, they hooked up their three office machines with a cable ISP service and would now like to file share with the three school computers.

Abzstrak, wouldn't just using static IP addresses and subnet mask in NETbeui protocol for the LAN resolve the IP range issue?

Hoober, "wireless access point," isn't that what they have with the Linksys BEFW11S4 wireless router? If it's not, I wouldn't know how to set up an AP.

How about an old 486DX computer connected between both routers, would that be a good poor man's AP?

 

[Hoober]

Sorry, read right over your description of the routers. Yes, the Linksys wireless router would also be your wireless access point.

As for getting the six computers to file share with one another through two different routers running on two different internet connections -- bit over my head. I'd love to find out how to do it, though.

 

[xenolith]

Thanks anyway Hoober.

I'd really like to know for sure this can even be done. Can't find any info on this anywhere. I'd hate to show up at the site and look silly if just patching the routers together doesn't work. It's times like this I wished I learned how to hack. :disgust:

 

[Abzstrak]

yea, if netbios is NOT encapsulated in tcpip, then it should work ok. Just remember U should go over ten users that way, and that only allows the growth of 4 people.

I'd probably suggest using a router between the two lans.

 

[AnoTech]

Uplink your switch/hub to your wireless access point. It works the same as uplinking a number of routers together...

 

[xenolith]

All right, I'll just have to take the plung and try uplinking the cable modem to the wireless AP as suggested and disabling netbios over TCP/IP. The best way to learn is from our mistakes... right?