Windows Vista Home Networking

[Helboy]

Hello

I am a reasonably experienced Windows networking user (I have been
networking Windows PCs together since Win 3.1) and also a network engineer.

Vista has thrown an interesting issue up.

I have a Juniper SSG 20 router with an ADSL, wifi and Lan interface on it.
The way the Juniper works is it forces the wifi connection to be on a
different subnet than the wired network. So, I have a wired network of
192.168.1.X and 192.168.2.X for wifi.

If my PCs are on the same subnet (both on wired or both on wifi), no
problems. I can share and make network shares available.

If my PCs are on the different networks they cannot see each other and
network shares fail.

I can ping between the PCs when they are on different subnets, so net
connectivity is there.
I believe that the Juniper is set up correctly (I have set up a
bi-directional trust - any any between the two networks).

Has Vista introduced a new level of security preventing browsing between
subnets?

 

[Sachin]

Hi,

I would check the firewall rules. I don't know much about the Juniper
device, but it sounds like you have done the correct thing there, but
double check it.

Also, check the firewall rules on the clients. The rules may allow file
sharing traffic only on the same subnet.

Sachin

 

[Helboy]

OK, I'll double check the Firewall.

However, the client is less than straight forward for checking.

Any tips on that area?

 

[Sachin]

Well firstly I should have asked if you have any third party firewall.

By default, the windows firewall, once it is allowing file and printer
sharing, will allow for all scope, that is all IP addresses. However,
you can set a scope, but i don't think that that may be the problem, but
check anyway.

To check, open the windows firewall settings. You can get that from the
network sharing center page at the bottom of the left hand pane. See if
it is on - if it's not then it will not matter, if it is on, then check
the exceptions list. Look for file and printer sharing and see if any
scope is set for any of the ports, then adjust to suite.

My guess will be that you have a third party firewall like McAfee or
Symantec. That's a little trickier for me, you will have to read your
manual on that one. Usually you will be prompted to allow the connection.

Don't know if this helps.

Sachin

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

Hello

I am a reasonably experienced Windows networking user (I have been
networking Windows PCs together since Win 3.1) and also a network engineer.

Vista has thrown an interesting issue up.

I have a Juniper SSG 20 router with an ADSL, wifi and Lan interface on it.
The way the Juniper works is it forces the wifi connection to be on a
different subnet than the wired network. So, I have a wired network of
192.168.1.X and 192.168.2.X for wifi.

If my PCs are on the same subnet (both on wired or both on wifi), no
problems. I can share and make network shares available.

If my PCs are on the different networks they cannot see each other and
network shares fail.

I can ping between the PCs when they are on different subnets, so net
connectivity is there.
I believe that the Juniper is set up correctly (I have set up a
bi-directional trust - any any between the two networks).

Has Vista introduced a new level of security preventing browsing between
subnets?

Browsing between subnets generally requires a domain infrastructure, and a
domain master browser on each subnet. Browser SMBs don't generally traverse
subnets.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/browsing-across-subnets.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/browsing-across-subnets.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[Sachin]

Ahh, that is right. I should have asked if you tried browsing via IP,
that is, \\<ip_address>.

Sachin

 

[Helboy]

Yes, I have tried with IP address access.

In fact, I usually default to that in all home cases anyway.

 

[sganpat]

Hmmm, then did you check all the firewall settings?

Also, are the clients all Vista clients? And what versions?