Installing multiple Network Adapters in Win XP Pro SP2

[Kugar]

I want to install a 10/100 Ethernet card AND a USB Wireless network adapter
together in my Win XP Pro system, so that I could connect the Ethernet card with
my Wireless Router/AP only when needed for firmware update etc.

I want to know:

1-If there is any real or potential problem with having two NICs like I am
planning to ?

2-How to designate one of the NICS as the Default adapter ?


Any hints/comments would be appreciated.

Tia

Matt

 

[Robert L [MS-MVP]]

Normally people use two NICs for ICS or connecting to two networks. Assuming you want to setup ICS, you need assign outside NIC as default gateway and keep the inside NIC default gateway blank.

how to setup Windows ICS How to Setup Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) .... To setup a win9x (in our case) as ICS client to access the internet, you need to do two things. network ...
www.howtonetworking.com/Windows/ics.htm


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
I want to install a 10/100 Ethernet card AND a USB Wireless network adapter
together in my Win XP Pro system, so that I could connect the Ethernet card with
my Wireless Router/AP only when needed for firmware update etc.

I want to know:

1-If there is any real or potential problem with having two NICs like I am
planning to ?

2-How to designate one of the NICS as the Default adapter ?


Any hints/comments would be appreciated.

Tia

Matt

 

[Jack]

Hi
The simplest would be to disable the wire NIC when you use the USB, and vice
versa when you need to use the wire NIC, it just take two or three "fast"
Clicks.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[Chuck]

I want to install a 10/100 Ethernet card AND a USB Wireless network adapter
together in my Win XP Pro system, so that I could connect the Ethernet card with
my Wireless Router/AP only when needed for firmware update etc.

I want to know:

1-If there is any real or potential problem with having two NICs like I am
planning to ?

2-How to designate one of the NICS as the Default adapter ?


Any hints/comments would be appreciated.

Tia

Matt

Matt,

1) Most computers that have WiFi connectivity also have a wired network. This
is not unusual, or any potential problem.

2) You can use a properly adjusted Metric value for each adapter. Automatic
metric, based upon one being designated as a wireless adapter, may work without
any action on your part. I just setup a laptop, and didn't have to adjust
anything. When I connect using a cable, it uses the cable automatically. The
cable goes to the WiFi router.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/have-laptop-will-travel.html#Dual>