Configuring notebook PC for two networks

[Adrian Tung]

What's the best way to configure my notebook PC for two networks which have different logins, workgroups, IP addresses and gateways?

At home I have my own workgroup and settings for my LAN but I want to be able to also access the LAN in my office without too much trouble. Is there a quick and easy way to do it?

My notebook PC is running on XP Home, BTW.

Sorry if this has been asked before, I couldn't seem to find it in the Search feature.


atwl

 

[JackMDS]

Ome possible solution.

Link: NetSwitcher.

 

[prosaic]

Assuming you're not using different combinations of protocols and clients on the two networks --

If you are using DHCP to get your IP address assignment on both networks it should just work.

If you are using DHCP on one network and a fixed IP address on the other, just set the DHCP up on the first tab in the TCP/IP properties dialog, and set up the fixed IP address information for the other network on the alternate configuration tab of the same dialog. This will cost you about a minute at boot time on the network which uses the fixed IP addy because the interface will first try to get DHCP assignment and then use the fixed IP after the DHCP request times out.

If you use a fixed IP address on both networks then you might want to consider using a third party tool like NetSwitcher as has already been suggested. It has been a little while since I've needed it, but it was an excellent and effective product for me when I used it under Windows 2000 Professional on a notebook that I used on over a dozen different networks.

If your situation is more complicated you probably should post quite a bit more information about the precise networking configuration you must use for each network.

- prosaic

 

[Adrian Tung]

Cool, just took a look at NetSwitcher and it could be the answer to all my woes!

Anyway, thanks for the link guys. I'll definitely check it out.


atwl