Using two network connections - by application

[Guest]

This is not a question about network speed or load balancing, but I want to
route my internet traffic via application. What software can I use that does
this ? Or how can I do this at all, does anybody know please ?

Essentially, I have a broadband connection that is charged by the hour,
whereas my neighbour has a broadband connection that is always on. He's
happy for me to connect to his connection by wifi access for Skype, so that
my phone is always on, but all other apps that I use to connect to the
internet should connect via my own connection (my own connection is not
always on as it's charged by the hour - it's the difference between my
neighbour subscribing to broadband TV with a free add-on of an always on
connection, and me not being such a TV subscriber)

Any ideas gratefully received. Many thanks.

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Unless each program you want to use can be directed to a specific network
connection or IP address I don't know of any way that you can do this.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Guest]

For the benefit of others, this is how to do what I originally asked for.
Still have another question (below) if anyone is up to speed on this and can
help.

No additional software needed, Windows can route traffic by application /
network adapter combination already.

All apps access the internet using specific ports - this assumes (which will
largely be true) that each app has its own specific ports for internet access.

Exclude your apps from the windows firewall exceptions (keep firewall on
though).
Then go to Windows Firewall settings Advanced tab, click settings on Network
Connection Settings for each spefic network adapter that accesses the
internet.
For each network adapter, you will need to add each application (using port
numbers) as an additional service specific to that adapter.

It's a real pain doing this, of course, so the queston I have is - is there
anything out there that makes this easier to configure and switch apps
between adapters ?

Thanks

Unless each program you want to use can be directed to a specific network
connection or IP address I don't know of any way that you can do this.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

This is not a question about network speed or load balancing, but I want
to
route my internet traffic via application. What software can I use that
does
this ? Or how can I do this at all, does anybody know please ?

Essentially, I have a broadband connection that is charged by the hour,
whereas my neighbour has a broadband connection that is always on. He's
happy for me to connect to his connection by wifi access for Skype, so
that
my phone is always on, but all other apps that I use to connect to the
internet should connect via my own connection (my own connection is not
always on as it's charged by the hour - it's the difference between my
neighbour subscribing to broadband TV with a free add-on of an always on
connection, and me not being such a TV subscriber)

Any ideas gratefully received. Many thanks.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

For the benefit of others, this is how to do what I originally asked for.
Still have another question (below) if anyone is up to speed on this and can
help.

No additional software needed, Windows can route traffic by application /
network adapter combination already.

All apps access the internet using specific ports - this assumes (which will
largely be true) that each app has its own specific ports for internet access.

Exclude your apps from the windows firewall exceptions (keep firewall on
though).
Then go to Windows Firewall settings Advanced tab, click settings on Network
Connection Settings for each spefic network adapter that accesses the
internet.
For each network adapter, you will need to add each application (using port
numbers) as an additional service specific to that adapter.

It's a real pain doing this, of course, so the queston I have is - is there
anything out there that makes this easier to configure and switch apps
between adapters ?

Thanks

This is an interesting setup, but I don't think that it can do what
you want. What applications are you trying to control? Have you
tested it by watching the traffic on each network adapter for each
application?

The Windows Firewall is an incoming-only firewall. All it can do is
allow or disallow unsolicited incoming connection requests from the
Internet to your computer.

In typical applications (web browsing, sending and receiving E-mail,
reading news groups, etc) there are no unsolicited incoming connection
requests from the Internet to your computer, so the Windows Firewall
has no effect.

Unsolicited incoming connection requests typically only occur if
you're running servers (web, FTP, etc) on your computer. If an
incoming connection request isn't allowed on the network connection
that received it, there's no way to redirect the request to another
network connection.

All outgoing connection requests from your computer to the Internet
use the default gateway. There can only be one active default
gateway, regardless of how many network connections there are. All of
your outgoing connection requests will use the same network
connection. The Windows Firewall has no effect on outgoing network
connections.
--
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]

Sounds like you would benefit from what is referred to as "naked DSL" from
someone like DSL Extreme. All you get is the boradbnad connection wihtout
being tied to a phone contract. You could then use SKype (don't know why)
Vonage is clearly a better alternative, or some other VOIP service.
With the DSL service you would always have an "always on" connection and
this issue would go away.

 

[t]

ViaTalk gets even better reviews and costs less.

Thanks,

Thomas
http://www.betterphone.org