One computer connecting to two networks at home

jaydee

Diamond Member
May 6, 2000
4,500
4
81
Hello,

I have a small home network with a Linksys W54G router, that is NOT connected to the outside internet. My desktop computer is connected to the router directly through wired Ethernet. For internet access, I create a wireless hotspot from an android phone and connect my desktop computer via the on-board WiFi adapter.

My problem is that in order for the internet to work on my desktop, I have to unplug the Ethernet between the router and my desktop computer, as I think the default gateway is via the router when they are connected; thus it can't find the outside world as long as I'm connected to the home network.

I was wondering if its possible/what the procedure is to connect to both my local network, and the WiFi hotspot simultaneously on the same computer. Thanks!
 

jlazzaro

Golden Member
May 6, 2004
1,743
0
0
remove the default gateway address from your wired connection (may need to set a static IP address). the default gateway should only exist on the connection which is internet-accessible.
 

jaydee

Diamond Member
May 6, 2000
4,500
4
81
remove the default gateway address from your wired connection (may need to set a static IP address). the default gateway should only exist on the connection which is internet-accessible.

If I remove the default gateway from the local network, will I still be able to reach to all my LAN connections?
 

Fardringle

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
9,200
765
126
The gateway only tells the system where to go for an address that is not on the local network. If you are only accessing local network resources on the connection, the default gateway is not used (or needed). When the computer sees that there is no gateway assigned to the local connection, it will look at the other connection, see a gateway there, and use that connection to access resources outside the network (i.e. on the Internet).