Sharing DSL connection via WiFi

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Carl

The Network Connection Wizard in XP (SP 1) leads me to
believe that I can turn my XP-using computer (ThinkPad R40)
into an Internet connection sharing-host computer over a
WiFi connection. In other words, I plug the DSL modem into
the laptop, I put in my WiFi card (Asante AeroLAN
AL5410-G), I run the Wizard, and voila, the laptop becomes,
more or less, a wireless router for the Internet connection
through which I can surf the Net from my other computer (a
Powerbook, but the Mac-Windows thing isn't an issue at the
point where I'm stuck).

Well, I've run the Wizard a gazillion times and this
doesn't happen. The documentation is not at all clear as
to exactly what the Wizard is supposed to be doing when it
operates--keeping everything under the hood means that I
have no idea what *exactly* is going on under that hood so
that I can troubleshoot. I get the sense that, among other
settings changes, the Wizard is trying to bridge the WiFi
adapter to the NIC adapter--is this the case? (It never
happens.) What other settings EXACTLY is the Wizard
attempting to change anyway?

I know the WiFi card works just fine. I plug the DSL modem
into the PowerBook and turned it into an AirPort base
station using the Mac's Software Base Station software with
no problems; the ThinkPad finds that network quite readily
and, voila, I surf my connection from both computers. The
reverse, however, cannot be said. I can't get Windows XP
to turn my ThinkPad into a "Software Base Station," so to
speak, no matter how many times I tweak or try. How is
this supposed to work? EXACTLY what changes to what
settings is the Network Connection Wizard trying to make to
turn my computer into an Internet host computer? Is there
a compatibility issue with the Asante card? Should I have
a WiFi network up and running between the ThinkPad and
PowerBook FIRST before I try to run Internet Connection
Sharing?

TIA.
 
Please see answers in-line.
The Network Connection Wizard in XP (SP 1) leads me to
believe that I can turn my XP-using computer (ThinkPad R40)
into an Internet connection sharing-host computer over a
WiFi connection.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's right.
In other words, I plug the DSL modem into
the laptop, I put in my WiFi card (Asante AeroLAN
AL5410-G), I run the Wizard, and voila, the laptop becomes,
more or less, a wireless router for the Internet connection
through which I can surf the Net from my other computer (a
Powerbook, but the Mac-Windows thing isn't an issue at the
point where I'm stuck).
Click to expand...

Yes, that's right. provided that you give the right answers to the
Wizard's questions.
Well, I've run the Wizard a gazillion times and this
doesn't happen. The documentation is not at all clear as
to exactly what the Wizard is supposed to be doing when it
operates--keeping everything under the hood means that I
have no idea what *exactly* is going on under that hood so
that I can troubleshoot. I get the sense that, among other
settings changes, the Wizard is trying to bridge the WiFi
adapter to the NIC adapter--is this the case? (It never
happens.) What other settings EXACTLY is the Wizard
attempting to change anyway?
Click to expand...

ICS might not work if you let the Wizard bridge the WiFi adapter to
the NIC adapter. When the Wizard runs:

1. Select "This computer connects directly to the Internet. The other
computers on my network connect to the Internet through this
computer".

2. Don't let it select your Internet connection automatically. Tell
it that you'll select the connection, and un-check everything except
the DSL modem connection.

3. If it asks what to use for the home network, tell it to use the
WiFi connection.
I know the WiFi card works just fine. I plug the DSL modem
into the PowerBook and turned it into an AirPort base
station using the Mac's Software Base Station software with
no problems; the ThinkPad finds that network quite readily
and, voila, I surf my connection from both computers. The
reverse, however, cannot be said. I can't get Windows XP
to turn my ThinkPad into a "Software Base Station," so to
speak, no matter how many times I tweak or try. How is
this supposed to work? EXACTLY what changes to what
settings is the Network Connection Wizard trying to make to
turn my computer into an Internet host computer? Is there
a compatibility issue with the Asante card? Should I have
a WiFi network up and running between the ThinkPad and
PowerBook FIRST before I try to run Internet Connection
Sharing?

TIA.
Click to expand...

It might make troubleshooting easier if you have the WiFi network
working before setting up ICS.

ICS will automatically set the ThinkPad's WiFi connection to IP
address 192.168.0.1 and enable a DHCP server. You can configure the
PowerBook to obtain an IP address automatically.
--
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
 
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