NetBios Names with 2 Network Adaptors

[Dennis]

Most laptops sold today come with two network adaptors, a wireless adaptor and
the standard LAN wired adaptor.

If the laptop is inserted into a small network that has warless and fixed wire
connections a Netbios name conflict occurs if both adaptors are enabled and the
laptop is hooked up to the wired LAN.

In order to prevent this one of the adaptors has to be disabled. But if you are
constantly switching between wired and wire states disable/enable is a bother.

Thus does the assigning different suffix names to each adaptor in the TCP/IP
properties Advanced section "Use this connection's DNS suffix in DNS
registration allow for both adaptors to be present without Netbios name
conflicts?

 

[Guest]

That is a interesting idea but I don't think it will make a difference. My
understanding of the netbios conflict [and this is a old one] in this case
never involves DNS or the IP settings.

Problem here is just like having two machines with the same ip address. In
this case its the same machine broadcasting the netbios name of the machine
on two ports connected to the same network.

Usual solution is disable the netbios binding on one of the cards. This is
not going to make it easy for you because of the switching between
configurations. My thought is a Hardware Profile with one nic enabled for
each profile would address this issue.

 

[Dennis]

That is a interesting idea but I don't think it will make a difference. My
understanding of the netbios conflict [and this is a old one] in this case
never involves DNS or the IP settings.

Problem here is just like having two machines with the same ip address. In
this case its the same machine broadcasting the netbios name of the machine
on two ports connected to the same network.

Usual solution is disable the netbios binding on one of the cards. This is
not going to make it easy for you because of the switching between
configurations. My thought is a Hardware Profile with one nic enabled for
each profile would address this issue.

This is not an obtuse problem. All of today's laptops com with 2 adaptors, a
wireless and a wired.

I gave each adapter a different fixed IP address. That solves the IP addressing
problems but does not solve the NetBios name problem.

In order to solve the Name proble I gace each IP address a different suffix.
When they are bothe connected at the same time through the router, I can see
both IP addresses active. However, the receiving computer on the network only
sees the Netbios name without the attached suffix. So I'm wondering which
adapter the Browser on the recieving computer is locking onto. I can see and
exchange files with both adapters enabled on the laptop.

 

[Jetro]

Solution is obvious. Most modern laptops has a mechanical switch/button to
enable/disable built-in wi-fi hardware (or eject PCMCIA card). If you plug
in a wire you don't need wi-fi connection within the same network and vice
versa. Moreover do not connect your laptop to any wireless network available
within a range automatically, otherwise it's better forget about a wired
connection.

BTW, I wonder if "constantly switching" means "running from basement to
attic and back" )

 

[Dennis]

Solution is obvious. Most modern laptops has a mechanical switch/button to
enable/disable built-in wi-fi hardware (or eject PCMCIA card). If you plug
in a wire you don't need wi-fi connection within the same network and vice
versa. Moreover do not connect your laptop to any wireless network available
within a range automatically, otherwise it's better forget about a wired
connection.

BTW, I wonder if "constantly switching" means "running from basement to
attic and back" )

My laptop does not have a disable wireless button.

The main reason to switch from wireless to wired is trasfer speed. If you are
transfering between computers very large files then use the wire.

 

[Chuck]

Most laptops sold today come with two network adaptors, a wireless adaptor and
the standard LAN wired adaptor.

If the laptop is inserted into a small network that has warless and fixed wire
connections a Netbios name conflict occurs if both adaptors are enabled and the
laptop is hooked up to the wired LAN.

In order to prevent this one of the adaptors has to be disabled. But if you are
constantly switching between wired and wire states disable/enable is a bother.

Thus does the assigning different suffix names to each adaptor in the TCP/IP
properties Advanced section "Use this connection's DNS suffix in DNS
registration allow for both adaptors to be present without Netbios name
conflicts?

Dennis,

You're not the first person to use dual network adapters (wired / wireless) on a
computer, and ask for advice here. But you are the first, that I'm aware of,
who has equated the presence of those two adapters to causing a NetBIOS Name
conflict.

The Automatic Metric feature in Windows XP works quite well in networks like
yours, and should allow you to move from wired to wireless use transparently,
without having to change configurations, or mechanically enable / disable a
network card.
<http://support.microsoft.com/?id=299540>

Is it possible that another network configuration, maybe a workaround for
another problem, causes your name conflicts?

 

[Jetro]

Create 108 Mbps wireless network if adapter is capable unless your wired
network is Gigabit or lock down the wire to 10 Mbps )

 

[Dennis]

Dennis,

You're not the first person to use dual network adapters (wired / wireless) on a
computer, and ask for advice here. But you are the first, that I'm aware of,
who has equated the presence of those two adapters to causing a NetBIOS Name
conflict.

The Automatic Metric feature in Windows XP works quite well in networks like
yours, and should allow you to move from wired to wireless use transparently,
without having to change configurations, or mechanically enable / disable a
network card.
<http://support.microsoft.com/?id=299540>

Is it possible that another network configuration, maybe a workaround for
another problem, causes your name conflicts?

Thanks Chuck.

I saw the Automatic Metric option but never knew what it did until you gave me
the URL above.

I have the wireless adaptor and the wired adaptor set to different fixed IP
addresses. I also have set there suffix's to different names although it seems
that with the Automatic Metric I do not need to do that.

When you look at the workgroup on the receiving computer it only shows one Host
name for the laptop even though the Laptop has 2 adaptors with two different
suffixes. I now see the the Automatic Metric takes care of which adaptor it is
connecting through the router gateway.