A Newbie Question about networking

[Space for rent]

I have a wireless router (LinkSys WRT54GS) in use supporting only a
desktop (host) and a laptop. My desire is simply that I want to be
able to switch between the LAN and an exclusive hardwired connection
to the host. How would this be done?

Thanks for any input you offer!

 

[Space for rent]

I forgot to mention I am using a Motorola Surfboard SB5101 cable
modem, a
Dell Dimension 8100 desktop and a Dell Inspiron B130 laptop. Any
further information needed, please ask.

 

[Maincat]

I have a wireless router (LinkSys WRT54GS) in use supporting only a
desktop (host) and a laptop. My desire is simply that I want to be
able to switch between the LAN and an exclusive hardwired connection
to the host. How would this be done?

Thanks for any input you offer!

I'm not sure that I totally understand the question, but my guess would be
to switch the wireless off on the router when you don't need the laptop.

I'm sure there's a better answer than that though.

 

[Space for rent]

I'm not sure that I totally understand the question, but my guess would be
to switch the wireless off on the router when you don't need the laptop.

I'm sure there's a better answer than that though.

I apologize for not being lucid, the concept I am chasing here is that
I wish to use the desktop as a hardwired standalone unit at times for
work purposes, and while not dedicating that time frame to that
purpose, I wish to have the wireless router support both the laptop as
well as the desktop. I plead guilty to having littel knowledge of
networking. It may be as simple as switching off the router, but my
question is would that enable the cable modem to still provide access
to the desktop, or would I need to set up two connections on the host
and switch at that point?

 

[Malke]

I apologize for not being lucid, the concept I am chasing here is that
I wish to use the desktop as a hardwired standalone unit at times for
work purposes, and while not dedicating that time frame to that
purpose, I wish to have the wireless router support both the laptop as
well as the desktop. I plead guilty to having littel knowledge of
networking. It may be as simple as switching off the router, but my
question is would that enable the cable modem to still provide access
to the desktop, or would I need to set up two connections on the host
and switch at that point?

I'm still not understanding exactly what your end goal is. If the
desktop machine is connected to the wireless router via an ethernet
cable, it is not using the wireless part of the router. Are you saying
that you don't want to have sharing between the desktop and the laptop?
If yes, just turn off File/Printer Sharing on the desktop.

If you want to share an Internet connection (your cable) between
multiple computers, the best way to do this is with a router as you are
currently doing. The wired desktop doesn't steal the bandwidth from the
wireless laptop unless you are doing a huge amount of downloading.
Perhaps explaining why you think you need to do this would help.


Malke

 

[Lem]

I apologize for not being lucid, the concept I am chasing here is that
I wish to use the desktop as a hardwired standalone unit at times for
work purposes, and while not dedicating that time frame to that
purpose, I wish to have the wireless router support both the laptop as
well as the desktop. I plead guilty to having littel knowledge of
networking. It may be as simple as switching off the router, but my
question is would that enable the cable modem to still provide access
to the desktop, or would I need to set up two connections on the host
and switch at that point?

Sorry, it's still not clear.

- What do you mean by a "hardwired standalone unit"? That is, hardwired
to what and standing alone from what?

- What do you mean by "host"?

- And what is it that you want to be able to do at the same time as you
are using the desktop as a standalone hardwired unit?

Are you concerned about wireless security when using the desktop for
certain applications?

--
Lem -- MS-MVP - Networking

To the moon and back with 4KB of RAM and 72KB of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm