XP Machine invisible on network unless explicitly called

A

Avi Jacobson

I am running a peer-to-peer network with five XP Home machines and one
Windows Me machine. One of the XP machines is the ICS host, sharing
the DSL connection with the others, which I shall call ICS clients.
The broadband connection is shared between the ICS host (running XP)
and three of the ICS client machines (2 on XP, one on ME) using an old
HPNA (phoneline) network (the machines have Phoneline cards and are
connected over the telephone wiring in the house). One of those ICS
client machines is also connected via Ethernet card to an Ethernet
switch which in turn is connected to a wireless AP. This enables the
remaining two ICS client machines in the house to access the AP using
wireless adapters.

All of the machines can access each other's shared folders and shared
printers. All can ping each other fine. All can see each other's
desktops using VNC. All can access the shared Internet connection.

BUT -- remember, there are two machines that have wireless adapters
and are not connected to the Phoneline network. WELL, ONE of them
cannot be seen on the network (neither via NET VIEW nor by browsing
the workgroup), and the other one can. Let's call them the "invisible"
wireless machine and the "visible" wireless machine.

The invisible machine cannot even see ITSELF when it performs a NET
VIEW or browses the workgroup. BUT, all of the machines can see it in
Explorer if they specify its name (but not if they browse the
workgroup or run a NET VIEW).

As far as I can see, the settings on the two wireless machines are
exactly the same: same protocols, same firewall settings (disabled).
The invisible wireless machine is running a Microsoft USB adapter and
the visible machine is an Acer Travelmate 290 with built-in wifi
adapter.

How do I make the invisible wireless machine visible?

Thanks!

PS I have a hunch this has nothing to do with networking settings,
because in any case, the "invisible" machine should be able to see
itself on a NET VIEW but it cannot. Ideas?
 
C

Chuck

I am running a peer-to-peer network with five XP Home machines and one
Windows Me machine. One of the XP machines is the ICS host, sharing
the DSL connection with the others, which I shall call ICS clients.
The broadband connection is shared between the ICS host (running XP)
and three of the ICS client machines (2 on XP, one on ME) using an old
HPNA (phoneline) network (the machines have Phoneline cards and are
connected over the telephone wiring in the house). One of those ICS
client machines is also connected via Ethernet card to an Ethernet
switch which in turn is connected to a wireless AP. This enables the
remaining two ICS client machines in the house to access the AP using
wireless adapters.

All of the machines can access each other's shared folders and shared
printers. All can ping each other fine. All can see each other's
desktops using VNC. All can access the shared Internet connection.

BUT -- remember, there are two machines that have wireless adapters
and are not connected to the Phoneline network. WELL, ONE of them
cannot be seen on the network (neither via NET VIEW nor by browsing
the workgroup), and the other one can. Let's call them the "invisible"
wireless machine and the "visible" wireless machine.

The invisible machine cannot even see ITSELF when it performs a NET
VIEW or browses the workgroup. BUT, all of the machines can see it in
Explorer if they specify its name (but not if they browse the
workgroup or run a NET VIEW).

As far as I can see, the settings on the two wireless machines are
exactly the same: same protocols, same firewall settings (disabled).
The invisible wireless machine is running a Microsoft USB adapter and
the visible machine is an Acer Travelmate 290 with built-in wifi
adapter.

How do I make the invisible wireless machine visible?

Thanks!

PS I have a hunch this has nothing to do with networking settings,
because in any case, the "invisible" machine should be able to see
itself on a NET VIEW but it cannot. Ideas?
Click to expand...

Avi,

Do you have any software firewalls (ICF or third party) on any computer? Ever?
Unbalanced access / visibility is frequently caused by misconfigured firewalls.

Please provide ipconfig and static route for three computers: the Phoneline to
Ethernet bridge computer, the invisible wireless computer, and the invisible
wireless computer.

Please provide ipconfig information.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.

Please provide static route tables.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "route print >c:\route.txt" into the command window -
Open c:\route.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.

From the two wireless computers, check connectivity:
1) Ping the other by name.
2) Ping the other by ip address.
3) Ping itself by name.
4) Ping itself by ip address.
5) Ping 127.0.0.1.
6) Ping the Phoneline to Ethernet bridge computer.
Report success / failure of each of 12 pings.

And Avi, please don't contribute to the spread of email address mining viruses.
Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep yourself a bit safer when
posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest of the internet - never
post your address unmunged.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
 
A

Avi Jacobson

Thanks for this response, Chuck. I have complete access and visibility to
the "invisible" wireless computer if I specify its name. In other words,
from any computer on the network, I can type \\[Invisble_Computer_Name_Here]
in Windows Explorer, and see all the shares on the "invisible" computer. If
I click on Workgroup, though, I won't see it. If I do a NET VIEW from any
computer (even from itself), I won't see it. If I do NET VIEW
[Invisible_Computer_Name_Here], I will see the shares.

Avi,

Do you have any software firewalls (ICF or third party) on any computer? Ever?
Unbalanced access / visibility is frequently caused by misconfigured
Click to expand...
firewalls.

All have the standard XP firewall, of course, but the wireless and phoneline
connections are not firewalled; only the DSL host computer has the Internet
connection firewalled.
Please provide ipconfig and static route for three computers: the Phoneline to
Ethernet bridge computer, the invisible wireless computer, and the invisible
wireless computer.
Click to expand...

Ok, here goes.

INVISIBLE WIRELESS COMPUTER:



Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : [Computer Name Deleted for
Privacy]

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:



Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810X Family PCI
Fast Ethernet NIC

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-40-2B-76-8C-B5



Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mshome.net

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Broadband Networking
Wireless USB Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0D-3A-23-BE-34

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.156

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 14, 2004
9:25:11 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 21, 2004
9:25:11 PM

---Route Begins Here---

===========================================================================
Interface List
0x1 ........................... MS TCP Loopback interface
0x2 ...00 40 2b 76 8c b5 ...... Realtek RTL8139/810X Family PCI Fast
Ethernet NIC - Packet Scheduler Miniport
0x10004 ...00 0d 3a 23 be 34 ...... Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless
USB Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport
===========================================================================
===========================================================================
Active Routes:
Network Destination Netmask Gateway Interface Metric
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.0.1 192.168.0.156 40
127.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 1
192.168.0.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.156 192.168.0.156 40
192.168.0.156 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 40
192.168.0.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.156 192.168.0.156 40
224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 192.168.0.156 192.168.0.156 40
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.156 2 1
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.156 192.168.0.156 1
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1
===========================================================================
Persistent Routes:
None

VISIBLE WIRELESS COMPUTER:



Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : AVI_LAPTOP

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:



Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys HomeLink Phoneline +
10/100 Network PC Card (PCM100H1)

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-04-5A-94-7F-8D



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:



Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast
Ethernet NIC

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-3F-BB-B7-85



Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mshome.net

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN 2100
3B Mini PCI Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-04-23-6F-C3-C0

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.122

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 14, 2004
9:25:11 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 21, 2004
9:25:11 PM

---Route starts here---

===========================================================================
Interface List
0x1 ........................... MS TCP Loopback interface
0x2 ...00 04 5a 94 7f 8d ...... Linksys HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network
PC Card (PCM100H1) - Packet Scheduler Miniport
0x3 ...00 02 3f bb b7 85 ...... Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet
NIC - Packet Scheduler Miniport
0x10005 ...00 04 23 6f c3 c0 ...... Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini
PCI Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport
===========================================================================
===========================================================================
Active Routes:
Network Destination Netmask Gateway Interface Metric
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.0.1 192.168.0.122 30
127.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 1
192.168.0.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.122 192.168.0.122 30
192.168.0.122 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 30
192.168.0.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.122 192.168.0.122 30
224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 192.168.0.122 192.168.0.122 30
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.122 192.168.0.122 1
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.122 3 1
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.122 2 1
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1
===========================================================================
Persistent Routes:
None

PHONELINE+WIRELESS AP BRIDGED MACHINE:



Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : [Machine name deleted for
privacy]

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Network Bridge:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mshome.net

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : MAC Bridge Miniport

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-09-5B-60-B4-D4

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.213

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 14, 2004
10:28:08 AM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 21, 2004
10:28:08 AM


---Route starts here---

===========================================================================
Interface List
0x1 ........................... MS TCP Loopback interface
0x2 ...02 09 5b 60 b4 d4 ...... MAC Bridge Miniport - Packet Scheduler
Miniport
===========================================================================
===========================================================================
Active Routes:
Network Destination Netmask Gateway Interface Metric
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.0.1 192.168.0.213 20
127.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 1
192.168.0.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.213 192.168.0.213 20
192.168.0.213 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 20
192.168.0.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.213 192.168.0.213 20
224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 192.168.0.213 192.168.0.213 20
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.213 192.168.0.213 1
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1
===========================================================================
Persistent Routes:
None


From the two wireless computers, check connectivity:
1) Ping the other by name.
2) Ping the other by ip address.
3) Ping itself by name.
4) Ping itself by ip address.
5) Ping 127.0.0.1.
6) Ping the Phoneline to Ethernet bridge computer.
Click to expand...

Everything works. And I pinged the bridge computer both by name and by IP
address, from both wireless machines, successfully. So that makes 14
successful pings.
And Avi, please don't contribute to the spread of email address mining viruses.
Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep yourself a bit safer when
posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest of the internet - never
post your address unmunged.
Click to expand...

It's a hopeless case from this e-mail address. I've munged now, but the
horse has already bolted from the stable -- there's not a mined list in the
world that doesn't contain my address. I get hundreds of pieces of spam a
day. My bayesian spam filter cuts out about 99% of it, though, so I'm not
suffering -- and McAfee catches the viruses.
 
L

loanhead

Joined
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There may be a simpler solution. If the computer name or description has been changed, ensure that there is no single quote (apostrophe) in the computer description. The window actually shows, as an example, "Mary's Computer". It's a case of 'Help' being very unhelpful
 

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