Networking question. Please help

[aceO07]

I'm trying to network my computer and laptop.

Here's the setup I have and would like to setup.

Currently: DSL goes to Router. Computer is hooked to Router.

From that point, I want to have a USB wireless adapter to Computer. And also put wireless adapter onto Laptop. Then I can walk around with laptop in house.

However, I have not been able to get it to work. I have tried all sorts of configurations with the connection properites, ip addresses, internet sharing, wireless settings and I can't get it to exchange information.

Both of the wireless adapters can detect each other. They can connect and the laptop will get an ip address. I've even gotten a configuration in which the Router will assign the Laptop an ip address. However, in all the times I've tried, it does not send data between the computers. I have tried all sorta of WEP settings, even no security and the same result (no data exchange). From the Laptop can't ping the Computer or any external sites.

The Computer is running WinXP with a X-Micro 802.11g usb adapter. The Laptop is running Win2K with a Microsoft 802.11b PCMCIA card. They both have firewalls (ZoneAlarm), but I disabled that during most of my tests. It doesn't appear to block any traffic anyways.

Are there any settings or ip address or anything that I need to set in order to get this to work? I've try dynamic ip, static ip, a mix of both... ICS... Nothing seems to be working...

Help if you can think of anything. Thanks.

 

[Carapace]

I could offer step by step help, but my best advice would be to tell you to take one of the adpaters back and get a router with wireless..........for many reasons.

 

[aceO07]

Can you give me the steps? I don't want to get a router. It's also too late. I don't mind learning something new. I just can't find the resources to do so..

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: aceO07
Can you give me the steps? I don't want to get a router. It's also too late. I don't mind learning something new. I just can't find the resources to do so..

1. Enable ICS(internet connection sharing) on the PC
2. Set both cards to ad-hoc mode
3. Give them both similar 192.168.1.0 IPs that match up with the numbers given by ICS, where only the last number varies between 1 and 254, such as 192.168.1.2 for the wireless USB and 192.168.1.3 for the laptop. Ips are set manually in network connection>properties>TCP/IP properties.
4. The subnet mask on both will be 255.255.255.0
5. The default gateway will be the number that ICS sets as the default gateway for the new network.
6. the DNS server IPs are provided by your rovider. Don;t have them? no problem. Regardless of whether or not you have DSL or Cable internet, in your router's settings, there should be a status page that gives the current internet/WAN/public IP. It should also show the DNS IP adresses. Write them down and enter them in the settigns for both PCs on their wireless interfaces.


Enjoy..

 

[Cheetah8799]

Probably easier if you just get a wireless router. Check out the Netgear MR814, I like those.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Cheetah8799
Probably easier if you just get a wireless router.

once again, good advice. IT is such a pain to set it up the other way. Worst, if the main PC is off, there is no internet access....and then you have to wait for it to boot...urgh.

 

[Carapace]

The way you want to network can be done, in fact it's done quite often, but I feel it's not the best setup for a novice, especially if you use a lot of programs that access the Internet such as AIM, netmeeting, peer to peer, etc...........

The reason why is now your laptop is behing two NAT devices, your router and the ICS machine.......one of which isn't very configurable (the ICS machine), nor very good (at least that's my opinion.

If the ICS machine powers off, locks up or dies, so does your connection to that machine.
I hope it works out for you, I used to have my laptop hooked up like that........I was constantly messing with something on it trying to make something else work.

 

[aceO07]

I picked it up again and got it working yesterday. It didn't take too long. Wasn't hard at all, just need to make sure that you know all the steps.

[Mainly for Win2k/WinXP]
1. Install Wireless on MAIN computer
2. Install Wireless on OTHER computer
3. Disable WCZ service on BOTH computers.
4. Enable ICS for connection that has Internet on MAIN computer, this will set up Wireless connection
5. Config WEP and SSID to be the same on both computers (ad-hoc mode)
6. On OTHER computer, main sure the Internet Option module in Control Panel has Automatically Detect Settings is NOT checked.
7. SUCCESS!

My mistake was not being aware of step of 6.