Connecting to multiple workgroups with same computer

[Guest]

I have a laptop that I need to connect with my home network which is set up
as a workgroup, as well as my office peer-peer with a workgroup setting also.
I can connect at home, but how do I enable two separate networks, each with
different computers visible in My Network Places? I have 4 machines at home,
but when I connect to the office network, I tried to run Network setup
wizard, and I lost my home network I had previously set up. Do separate user
accounts allow you to have different network settings for each one, or are
the network settings set globally for the computer. Thanks in advance for
any help.

 

[Robert L [MS-MVP]]

this may help, quoted from http://www.howtonetworking.com/workgroupnet.htm
How can I share files between workgroup computer and domain/workgroup computer?
I have a home wireless network and share files and a printer between two computers. I also use Win 2000/XP laptop at work with domain network. How can I share files between these computers at home?

A: Deepening on your network setup, you may 1) Logon local laptop using the same logon id and password on both machine.
2) change workgroup name to match win2000 domain and the laptop needs to install at home first ad then join the domain .
3) without changing the workgroup name and logon ID, just enable guest account in win 2000/XP.
4) If you are running XP, enable Simple File Sharing.
5) logon domain user on the domain laptop (even the workgroup is different), use command net use \\workgroupcomputer /user:administrator, (here administrator is workgroup computer local administrator), the enter workgroup computer administrator password. You should be able to access the workgroup resources.
Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services. Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more help.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
How to Setup Windows, Network, Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

I recommend Brinkster for web hosting!

I have a laptop that I need to connect with my home network which is set up
as a workgroup, as well as my office peer-peer with a workgroup setting also.
I can connect at home, but how do I enable two separate networks, each with
different computers visible in My Network Places? I have 4 machines at home,
but when I connect to the office network, I tried to run Network setup
wizard, and I lost my home network I had previously set up. Do separate user
accounts allow you to have different network settings for each one, or are
the network settings set globally for the computer. Thanks in advance for
any help.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have a laptop that I need to connect with my home network which is set up
as a workgroup, as well as my office peer-peer with a workgroup setting also.
I can connect at home, but how do I enable two separate networks, each with
different computers visible in My Network Places? I have 4 machines at home,
but when I connect to the office network, I tried to run Network setup
wizard, and I lost my home network I had previously set up. Do separate user
accounts allow you to have different network settings for each one, or are
the network settings set globally for the computer. Thanks in advance for
any help.

You don't have to change anything in your laptop's setup between home
and office. Windows networking supports multiple workgroups, and a
computer in any workgroup can access a computer in any workgroup.

To access another computer, regardless of what workgroup it's in, type
the computer's name in the Start | Run box in this format:

\\computer

To see all of the workgroups on a network, open My Network Places,
click "View workgroup computers", and press the Backspace key.

Only your own workgroup appears automatically in My Network Places.
To create a shortcut to a shared disk or folder on a computer in
another workgroup, click "Add a network place" and follow the prompts.
You can specify the location of a shared disk or folder in this
format:

\\computer\share
--
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

 

[Guest]

Thanks so much. I am connecting at work on two machines which are running
Win2K, and one I can access, the other one I can't. However, that machine
can see me, but won't allow my access. I get a prompt from the other machine
for user and password, but I don't get the same prompt from the first
machine. If I log on to my laptop with the same user and pw as required on
the Win2K machines, will I then get access. I'm replacing a desktop running
Win98, which I log onto initially with the user and pw I'm referring to. I
need to map a drive on the first machine for running a workstation from my
laptop. Thanks again for offering this great resource.

 

[Interrogative]

I have a laptop that I need to connect with my home network which is set up
as a workgroup, as well as my office peer-peer with a workgroup setting
also.
I can connect at home, but how do I enable two separate networks, each
with
different computers visible in My Network Places? I have 4 machines at
home,
but when I connect to the office network, I tried to run Network setup
wizard, and I lost my home network I had previously set up. Do separate
user
accounts allow you to have different network settings for each one, or are
the network settings set globally for the computer. Thanks in advance for
any help.

The easiest way:

http://www.netswitcher.com/

Allows you to stuff around. Interestingly, I have a wi-fi ad hoc connected
to this computer and a wired network as well, different numbers and masks.
Seems to work just fine so long as the subnet mask is different on the 2
networks. XP Home.

 

[Interrogative]

You don't have to change anything in your laptop's setup between home
and office. Windows networking supports multiple workgroups, and a
computer in any workgroup can access a computer in any workgroup.

That's a little misleading. You cant have a computer on 192.168.0.2 and
255.255.255.0 access 169.254.140.1 on subnet mask 255.255.0.0 unless both
are on the same machine without a bridge and then WITH the bridge, you have
to have auto assigned IP for that to work anyway. In case I am being
unclear, the machine acting as a bridge (or with both networks attached even
if not a bridge) can see both networks. Without a bridge, a client on either
network cannot see a client on the other network.

This I found out when I connected 2 networks to my XP home machine. My
laptop and this machine are in one network and the other 2 machines and this
machine are also in another network, this having 2 obviously. Bridging them
didn't appear to work at first until I realised I had to force compatibility
(wireless) as it wasn't going promiscuous on it's own. Once that was done,
each could see the other and all do OK with ICS so long as all used
automatically assigned IPs which unfortunately doesn't work with PC Anywhere
10.5. So, I had to disable the bridge, use static IPs again and though
neither side can now see the other, the machine that could bridge can see
both and for the moment that will work. I do believe VNC works fine without
static IP but I have yet to look at it.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

You don't have to change anything in your laptop's setup between home
and office. Windows networking supports multiple workgroups, and a
computer in any workgroup can access a computer in any workgroup.

That's a little misleading. You cant have a computer on 192.168.0.2 and
255.255.255.0 access 169.254.140.1 on subnet mask 255.255.0.0 unless both
are on the same machine without a bridge and then WITH the bridge, you have
to have auto assigned IP for that to work anyway. In case I am being
unclear, the machine acting as a bridge (or with both networks attached even
if not a bridge) can see both networks. Without a bridge, a client on either
network cannot see a client on the other network. [remainder snipped]

That's an interesting situation, Interrogative. Let me change my
statement to take it into account:

Windows networking supports multiple workgroups, and workgroup
membership has no effect on whether computers can access each other.
If two computers can access each other when they're in the same
workgroup, they can access each other when they're in different
workgroups, too.

Do you agree now?
--
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

 

[ATK]

You don't have to change anything in your laptop's setup between home
and office. Windows networking supports multiple workgroups, and a
computer in any workgroup can access a computer in any workgroup.

To access another computer, regardless of what workgroup it's in, type
the computer's name in the Start | Run box in this format:

\\computer

To see all of the workgroups on a network, open My Network Places,
click "View workgroup computers", and press the Backspace key.

I am having LAN problems which I have posted elsewhere in this group, but
I'm looking at the problems of others: please when I open My Network Places
I don't see the "View Workgroup Computers" option. Can you help please.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I am having LAN problems which I have posted elsewhere in this group, but
I'm looking at the problems of others: please when I open My Network Places
I don't see the "View Workgroup Computers" option. Can you help please.

That option should appear under "Network Tasks" on the left side of
the screen. If it doesn't, click "Network Tasks". Expand the window
to full-screen size -- if it's too small, the left-side content
doesn't appear.
--
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

 

[Interrogative]

You don't have to change anything in your laptop's setup between home
and office. Windows networking supports multiple workgroups, and a
computer in any workgroup can access a computer in any workgroup.

That's a little misleading. You cant have a computer on 192.168.0.2 and
255.255.255.0 access 169.254.140.1 on subnet mask 255.255.0.0 unless both
are on the same machine without a bridge and then WITH the bridge, you
have
to have auto assigned IP for that to work anyway. In case I am being
unclear, the machine acting as a bridge (or with both networks attached
even
if not a bridge) can see both networks. Without a bridge, a client on
either
network cannot see a client on the other network. [remainder snipped]

That's an interesting situation, Interrogative. Let me change my
statement to take it into account:

Windows networking supports multiple workgroups, and workgroup
membership has no effect on whether computers can access each other.

I would have added, above, "where both networks are attached to the one
machine" to indicate that this machine is being part of both networks as
this machine I am typing from is. It sees both networks but the client
machines on either network that dont have a direct connection to any other
network dont see each other.

If two computers can access each other when they're in the same
workgroup, they can access each other when they're in different
workgroups, too.

Well, not quite. There are a lot of variables not taken into account. Let me
try and put this simply (and yes, I agree that I probably wont succeed ):

If computer A on one network and subnet (eg 192.168.0.1 and 255.255.255.0)
wants to talk to another in the same premises without phoning into it and
that other machine, computer B is on 169.254.140.1 with subnet 255.255.0.0
you need to have a bridge in between the two machines or they will NOT see
each other. Alternatively, if you use a separate NIC for each network on
either computer A or B and then directly connect it to the other machine,
then one machine has credentials for both networks now, can be bridged or if
not needed can be left without a bridge and still see both networks. If you
dont do it that way, you need a physical connection to the other network and
have to set up the different network credentials. Yep, I was right. I didnt
do it simply.

Hmmmmm... I think it would be easily understood with a graphic
representation of what I said where you see one computer, 2 nics, 1 line
going to one network and 1 line going to the other network, clients in each
network that talk to each other but no lines between each network without
going through that computer with 2 NICs. That would show that the two
networks are incapable of talking to each other directly without a bridge
BUT the machine with 2 nics actually IS capable of doing it. With wireless
networking NICs being so cheap these days in the lower speed range, if speed
isn't an issue, it would be simpler and possibly could be cheaper if not too
many machines to have a wi-fi nic in each machine in both networks, set up
to contact both networks.

My head is spinning!

 

[Interrogative]

You don't have to change anything in your laptop's setup between home
and office. Windows networking supports multiple workgroups, and a
computer in any workgroup can access a computer in any workgroup.

That's a little misleading. You cant have a computer on 192.168.0.2 and
255.255.255.0 access 169.254.140.1 on subnet mask 255.255.0.0 unless both
are on the same machine without a bridge and then WITH the bridge, you
have
to have auto assigned IP for that to work anyway. In case I am being
unclear, the machine acting as a bridge (or with both networks attached
even
if not a bridge) can see both networks. Without a bridge, a client on
either
network cannot see a client on the other network. [remainder snipped]

That's an interesting situation, Interrogative. Let me change my

P.S. it isn't just a situation. It actually is the case all over. 2 networks
in the one place cannot have clients in one network see clients in another
without a network bridge. Only the machine that would BE the network bridge
can see both sides of the network because it has NICs set up with both
network credentials, 1 per NIC of course. That machine would be the bridge
if there is definitely to be contact between the two networks and if there
is not to be contact, would see both sides of the network without that
bridge, anyway.