using ethernet for the workgroup, and wireless for the internet

[googlegroups]

I have 4 computers running xp. I have a wireless router for the
internet as we only have the cable coming in to the house in one room,
and none of the computers go in there. To transfer music and files, it
would be nice and quicker to connect through the ethernet switch. Is
it possible to tell the workgroup to use the ethernet for accessing
folders on other computers, but still access the internet through the
wireless connection?

The LAN is not always connected, so sharing a WLAN connection through
the LAN would be a hassle with regards to constantly turning the
wireless network card disabled and enabled.

Thanks,

paul o.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have 4 computers running xp. I have a wireless router for the
internet as we only have the cable coming in to the house in one room,
and none of the computers go in there. To transfer music and files, it
would be nice and quicker to connect through the ethernet switch. Is
it possible to tell the workgroup to use the ethernet for accessing
folders on other computers, but still access the internet through the
wireless connection?

The LAN is not always connected, so sharing a WLAN connection through
the LAN would be a hassle with regards to constantly turning the
wireless network card disabled and enabled.

Thanks,

paul o.

Yes, it's possible. Here's an outline of the procedure. I'll be
happy to give details if you have questions about any part of it:

1. Configure the LAN with a different subnet than the WLAN. For
example, if the WLAN uses 192.168.1.x, use 192.168.0.x for the LAN.

2. If you assign LAN IP addresses manually, don't assign a default
gateway address. If the LAN has a DHCP server, make sure that it
doesn't assign a default gateway address. This will ensure that
Internet access uses the WLAN.

3. In the WLAN TCP/IP properties on each computer, un-check the boxes
for "Client for Microsoft Networks" and "File and Printer Sharing for
Microsoft Networks". This will ensure that accessing folders on other
computers uses the LAN.

 

[googlegroups]

Yes, it's possible. Here's an outline of the procedure. I'll be

happy to give details if you have questions about any part of it:

1. Configure the LAN with a different subnet than the WLAN. For
example, if the WLAN uses 192.168.1.x, use 192.168.0.x for the LAN.

2. If you assign LAN IP addresses manually, don't assign a default
gateway address. If the LAN has a DHCP server, make sure that it
doesn't assign a default gateway address. This will ensure that
Internet access uses the WLAN.

3. In the WLAN TCP/IP properties on each computer, un-check the boxes
for "Client for Microsoft Networks" and "File and Printer Sharing for
Microsoft Networks". This will ensure that accessing folders on other
computers uses the LAN.

Is there any way to ensure/force the computers to look to the WLAN for
the internet? Some times it looks LAN first and never makes the
switch.

thanks again,

paul o.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Yes, it's possible. Here's an outline of the procedure. I'll be
happy to give details if you have questions about any part of it:

1. Configure the LAN with a different subnet than the WLAN. For
example, if the WLAN uses 192.168.1.x, use 192.168.0.x for the LAN.

2. If you assign LAN IP addresses manually, don't assign a default
gateway address. If the LAN has a DHCP server, make sure that it
doesn't assign a default gateway address. This will ensure that
Internet access uses the WLAN.

3. In the WLAN TCP/IP properties on each computer, un-check the boxes
for "Client for Microsoft Networks" and "File and Printer Sharing for
Microsoft Networks". This will ensure that accessing folders on other
computers uses the LAN.

Is there any way to ensure/force the computers to look to the WLAN for
the internet? Some times it looks LAN first and never makes the
switch.

thanks again,

paul o.[/QUOTE]

Step #2 does that, Paul. Internet access uses the default gateway
address. Since the LAN won't have a default gateway address, the
computers won't try to use the LAN.

I've thought of another step to ensure that accessing folders on other
computers uses the LAN:

4. Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on the LAN connection:

a. Open the Network Connections folder.
b. Right click the LAN connection.
c. Click Properties.
d. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
e. Click Properties.
f. Click Advanced.
g. Click WINS.
h. Click the Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP button.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

[snip]
I've thought of another step to ensure that accessing folders on other
computers uses the LAN:

4. Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on the LAN connection:

a. Open the Network Connections folder.
b. Right click the LAN connection.
c. Click Properties.
d. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
e. Click Properties.
f. Click Advanced.
g. Click WINS.
h. Click the Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP button.

I'm sorry, Paul, but I made a mistake above. It should say:

4. Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on the WLAN connection:

a. Open the Network Connections folder.
b. Right click the WLAN connection.
c. Click Properties.
d. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
e. Click Properties.
f. Click Advanced.
g. Click WINS.
h. Click the Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP button.

 

[googlegroups]

2. If you assign LAN IP addresses manually, don't assign a default
gateway address. If the LAN has a DHCP server, make sure that it
doesn't assign a default gateway address. This will ensure that
Internet access uses the WLAN.

How does one know if the LAN has a DHCP server? I do not believe it
does, I am jus using a netgear ethernet router to connect the
computers.

Thanks,

Paul O

 

[googlegroups]

Thanks very much for your help. I am a touch confused here. Am I
enabling or disabling NetBIOS, and is it over the LAN or WLAN?

Thanks Again,

Paul o.

[snip]
I've thought of another step to ensure that accessing folders on other
computers uses the LAN:

4. Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on the LAN connection:

a. Open the Network Connections folder.
b. Right click the LAN connection.
c. Click Properties.
d. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
e. Click Properties.
f. Click Advanced.
g. Click WINS.
h. Click the Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP button.

I'm sorry, Paul, but I made a mistake above. It should say:

4. Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on the WLAN connection:

a. Open the Network Connections folder.
b. Right click the WLAN connection.
c. Click Properties.
d. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
e. Click Properties.
f. Click Advanced.
g. Click WINS.
h. Click the Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP button.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I'm sorry, Paul, but I made a mistake above. It should say:

4. Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on the WLAN connection:

a. Open the Network Connections folder.
b. Right click the WLAN connection.
c. Click Properties.
d. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
e. Click Properties.
f. Click Advanced.
g. Click WINS.
h. Click the Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP button.

Thanks very much for your help. I am a touch confused here. Am I
enabling or disabling NetBIOS, and is it over the LAN or WLAN?

Thanks Again,

Paul o.[/QUOTE]

I think that I contributed to that confusion, Paul. Sorry.

To make sure that accessing folders on other computers uses the wired
LAN, not the wireless WLAN, disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on the
wireless WLAN connection:

a. Open the Network Connections folder.
b. Right click the WLAN connection.
c. Click Properties.
d. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
e. Click Properties.
f. Click Advanced.
g. Click WINS.
h. Click the Disable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP button.

Follow the same steps on the wired LAN connection, except change the
last one to:

h. Click the Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP button.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

2. If you assign LAN IP addresses manually, don't assign a default
gateway address. If the LAN has a DHCP server, make sure that it
doesn't assign a default gateway address. This will ensure that
Internet access uses the WLAN.

How does one know if the LAN has a DHCP server? I do not believe it
does, I am jus using a netgear ethernet router to connect the
computers.

Thanks,

Paul O[/QUOTE]

A typical home broadband router has a built-in DHCP server. To tell
if a computer gets its IP address from a DHCP server:

1. Open the Network Connections folder.
2. Right-click the LAN connection.
3. Click Status.
4. Click Support.

Under "Address Type", see whether the IP address says "Assigned by
DHCP".
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[googlegroups]

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to news groups and what not.
Could anyone tell me if what I am doing qualifies as "a reply message
in the news groups" as has been requested?

I do want everyone to benefit from what I have done, as I get very much
other people's communications, and I want to do my part to help as
well.

Thanks,

Paul O.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to news groups and what not.
Could anyone tell me if what I am doing qualifies as "a reply message
in the news groups" as has been requested?

I do want everyone to benefit from what I have done, as I get very much
other people's communications, and I want to do my part to help as
well.

Thanks,

Paul O.

You're doing fine, Paul. You're replying to my messages in the news
group, and I'm replying to your messages in the news group. Other
people can see the messages, learn from them, and join in if they want
to.

What I ask people not do is:

1. Post a news group message with a title like "A Question for Steve".
Other people could reasonably infer that they're not welcome to read
or answer it.

2. Send a question to me in an E-mail message that only I would see.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com