Need some Networking help

[gsethi]

Here is the current Scenario:

Computer A -> connects to Internet via WiFi connection, Has USB printer attached
Computer B -> no connection to Internet.
A & B are currently connected to a Router to share printer only.

Now, I want both Computer A and Computer B to access the internet using Computer A's wifi connection and also want to keep Printer sharing.

I am confused as to what to do. When I bridge connections (wifi and lan connection to router), i cant access the internet over wifi 🙁

Here is a diagram:
Computer A -------------- Router------------ Computer B
|
Printer & Internet over Wifi

I can currently share the Printer with both computers but now want to share the Internet also.

 

[bruceb]

Does your printer have a WiFi connection card built in ? ? ?
If so, let the router direct the jobs to the printer and just
connect both computers to the router thru their own WiFi
or hardwired connections .. All the devices must be in the
same Work Group & SSID (router network name) .. also
they must all have the proper WIFi Passwords inputted.

 

[JackMDS]

If you get your prime connection via WIFI and do not have a Router at the source, you need to Route your two computers with software Router (ICS) and make sure that the in between second Router ( he Wireless Router between A to B) works as an Access Point (Not a Router).

 

[Madwand1]

The cleanest way to do this IMO would be using a compatible router running DD-WRT firmware in client mode.

Wi-Fi internet <-> DD-WRT in client mode <-> {computer A, computer B...}

"Client bridge" mode is normally used in similar circumstances, but here I suggest the DD-WRT "client mode" feature, because it incorporates a firewall.

 

[zetsway]

Originally posted by: gsethi
Here is the current Scenario:

Computer A -> connects to Internet via WiFi connection, Has USB printer attached
Computer B -> no connection to Internet.
A & B are currently connected to a Router to share printer only.

Now, I want both Computer A and Computer B to access the internet using Computer A's wifi connection and also want to keep Printer sharing.

I am confused as to what to do. When I bridge connections (wifi and lan connection to router), i cant access the internet over wifi 🙁

Here is a diagram:
Computer A -------------- Router------------ Computer B
|
Printer & Internet over Wifi

I can currently share the Printer with both computers but now want to share the Internet also.

There's an option in windows XP to share your internet connection. That would be the easiest way. If you need help LMK

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: Madwand1
The cleanest way to do this IMO would be using a compatible router running DD-WRT firmware in client mode.

Wi-Fi internet <-> DD-WRT in client mode <-> {computer A, computer B...}

"Client bridge" mode is normally used in similar circumstances, but here I suggest the DD-WRT "client mode" feature, because it incorporates a firewall.

How do I connect the WIFI USB card to the router ? Do you mean Connect USB wifi card to Computer A and then network cable from Computer A to Router ? Does this network cable goes in WAN port or regular LAN ports on the router ?

thanks

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: gsethi
How do I connect the WIFI USB card to the router ? Do you mean Connect USB wifi card to Computer A and then network cable from Computer A to Router ? Does this network cable goes in WAN port or regular LAN ports on the router ?

From you original post, I thought that you had a WiFi Internet service of some sort, and were connecting to that using a WiFi adapter. In my previous post, I suggested adding a wireless router which is compatible with DD-WRT firmware (check DD-WRT's supported hardware list for details) and using that to connect to the WiFi Internet. Once you had that working, the rest of the computers could simply be wired to that router.

One catch could be providing login details to the WiFi Internet -- DD-WRT would have to be able to login as you currently do on your desktop.

An alternative would be as zetsway suggested -- use your wireless adapter as at present, but set up Internet Connection Sharing for the wired port, and then connect the second computer to that port directly (using a crossover cable if necessary). Here the router isn't necessary, as all it does is provide a wired link between the two computers -- you could do that with just a plain cable. If you still want to use the router as a simple switch, then you'd have to disable DHCP on it.

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: Madwand1

Originally posted by: gsethi
How do I connect the WIFI USB card to the router ? Do you mean Connect USB wifi card to Computer A and then network cable from Computer A to Router ? Does this network cable goes in WAN port or regular LAN ports on the router ?

From you original post, I thought that you had a WiFi Internet service of some sort, and were connecting to that using a WiFi adapter. In my previous post, I suggested adding a wireless router which is compatible with DD-WRT firmware (check DD-WRT's supported hardware list for details) and using that to connect to the WiFi Internet. Once you had that working, the rest of the computers could simply be wired to that router.

One catch could be providing login details to the WiFi Internet -- DD-WRT would have to be able to login as you currently do on your desktop.

An alternative would be as zetsway suggested -- use your wireless adapter as at present, but set up Internet Connection Sharing for the wired port, and then connect the second computer to that port directly (using a crossover cable if necessary). Here the router isn't necessary, as all it does is provide a wired link between the two computers -- you could do that with just a plain cable. If you still want to use the router as a simple switch, then you'd have to disable DHCP on it.

Thanks for the Update. The Wifi Connection I am using is Tmobile Hotspot (so after I have a Wifi connection, the browser takes me to the hotpost webpage where I have to login before I can surf the web).

It seems like taking the router out and just connecting both computers with a crossover cable would be better and then bridging the Wifi and Wired connections on Computer A.

One question...Can I just use a crossover coupler and use my existing normal patch cables (thus making it one huge crossover cable) ? The reason is that I dont want to re-run another 50ft+ crossover cable over the ceiling 🙁

thanks

EDIT: I just bought a cross over cable and a RJ45 straight coupler. Using the crossover cable, with straight coupler and a straight 50ft cable = long 50ft+ crossover cable, right ?

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: gsethi
One question...Can I just use a crossover coupler and use my existing normal patch cables (thus making it one huge crossover cable) ? The reason is that I dont want to re-run another 50ft+ crossover cable over the ceiling 🙁

EDIT: I just bought a cross over cable and a RJ45 straight coupler. Using the crossover cable, with straight coupler and a straight 50ft cable = long 50ft+ crossover cable, right ?

Many modern NICs have auto-crossover, so you could try using the straight cable first. If that doesn't link, then your coupler + crossover, should do the trick.