Wireless Question??

[Fred_Flintstone]

Hi gang.. :D

What I need to know is.. can I connect 2 pc's without a router / switch?
I have 2 "wireless lan" 802.11g cards, would it be possible to connect with just a card in each pc and "configure" them somehow to talk to each other??

I know absolutely zilch about wireless so please keep any answers at the idiot / novice level.. :D :D

Regards
Fred

[Variable]

Yes, it is called an Ad Hoc network. Look here,
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_02april08.mspx

V

[Fred_Flintstone]

Great, thanks for the link.
Got the network showing on both pc's now, but cant get internet access on the client?

Using AOL broadband... got icon showing:

"Wireless connection (Peer to Peer)
"Speed: 11Mbps"
"Signal Strengh: Excellent"
"Status: Connected"

This shows on both computers.. Broadband works ok on the host pc (this is where it was originally so no change there).
Any ideas as to what I need to do to configure it on the client pc??

Regards,
Fred :p

[Fred_Flintstone]

As an "aside"..

I have a Cisco Aironet 340 11Mbps Access Point??..would this be any use to me on a wireless network??

Problem is.. I don't have the software disc for it as it was given to me with some other "junk".. :p .. and when I connect it lights come on..it flashes a while etc....but it doesn't show up in windows etc..

Just a thought...any ideas?? :confused:

[Whyzman]

Rudimentary question...Do you have AOL software installed on the PC you are designating as the Server?

[Fred_Flintstone]

Hi,
Yes I have aol broadband on both pc's.
As a complete newbie to networking I am not aware of how to connect without it.. :o

[classicsoftware]

You can do what you are attempting to do, but the question is why. Go out and buy a wireless router and be done with this. It's worth it for the security alone.

If no broadband was involved and you wanted to connect 2 PCs together, the ad-hoc way is fine. If you are trying to share a broadband connection, you are truly wasting your time.

Take a look at this (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=628108&Sku=L48-2230&SRCCODE=CNETCIRNET&CMP=OTC-CNETFEED)

It is, in my opinion, foolish and dangerous to be on a broadband connection without a router. Also, one PC will have to act as a gateway and be on all of the time to allow the second PC to connect to the web. This is clearly a job for a router.

[Fred_Flintstone]

Ok,
Thanks for the input.. off to see if there is a computer shop open on Sundays here!.. :D :D

Will update later..

Incidentally, what's the difference between a "Router" and a "Wireless access point"??
As stated, I have a cisco aironet access point which looks very similar to the router in your link, not sure if it would be possible to use it as I don't have the disc for it...but not sure what the diff is between the 2??

[Whyzman]

Incidentally, what's the difference between a "Router" and a "Wireless access point"??Excellent question! I just spent nearly one hour following up on my Google search into the subject and find my head spinning... :confused:

I didn't find any from a noob perspective, they all seemed to be techs talking to techs.

I found things even more confusing when devices with multiple capabilities entered the picture...such as, "Wireless Access Points" combined with "Routers."

I'm going to suggest that one of our knowlegeable wireless experts here on the Guide provide us with a "sticky" (that a noob would understand) and be able to apply to their situation... Possible??

[classicsoftware]

A wireless router usually serves two purposes:

It acts as a DHCP server and a switch.

A wireless access point usually cannot do DHCP and must have a wired router to connect to.

[Whyzman]

Q: What's the difference between a Wireless Access Point and a Wireless Broadband Router?
A: A Wireless Access Point connects to another hub, switch, or router for wireless access, while a Wireless Broadband Router has access point capabilities for wireless access and routing features to share the broadband connection.

Q: Can I use a wireless access point to connect multiple computers to my cable/DSL modem for shared Internet access?
A: No, to share Internet access, you need a router. Linksys makes several Wireless Broadband Router models that contain both access point and router capabilities in one device.

models that contain both access point and router capabilities in one device. Is the point of interest here, that it is a Router (first) with Access Point...rather than, an Access point with Router? The later not actually existing...

Why would somebody with a single home computer have an modem and Access Point? :confused:

[classicsoftware]

Why would somebody with a single home computer have an modem and Access Point? :confused:

What do you mean by this question.

The modem is usually, though not always a separate device.


ISP-->MODEM--->ROUTER--->PC

or

ISP-->MODEM--->ROUTER--->HUB/SWITCH--->Single or multiple PC's

or

ISP-->MODEM--->ROUTER---------------->HUB/SWITCH---------->Single or multiple PC's
|
|
.................................WAP----> Wireless notebooks

This is the traditional pre-wireless days. The purpose of the router is to act as hardware firewall in the case of the first example or as hardware firewall and DHCP server as in example two.

The plot thickens when the router manufacturers start to combine functions. Now must routers have the switch/hub built in so it is a 4 port router/switch combination.

The next level of complications was with adding wireless devices. First out were the WAP's.

Again the hardware manufacturers now combine all three functions into one device.

The key thing you need is to have a router that will act as a DHCP server and sit between the modem and the PC's.

To now further complicate things, the ISP's are now contracting with Linksys to OEM a combination, MODEM/ROUTER/SWITCH/WAP in a single device.....

[Whyzman]

What do you mean by this question.After my "cursory" reading up on the Wireless Router vs. Wireless Access Point, I was asking myself why Fred would be in possession of a Cisco Wireless Access Point? Who and why would someone have sold him on this device/concept, when it appears that the Wireless Access Points are designed to connect groups of hardwired interconnected computers (say, a few computers in one office to another group down the hall)...???

I understand some of the rudimentary basics of connecting computers (i.e., Modem vs. Router) but as soon as you say DHCP, I'm running to Google... :D:)

[Variable]

Access points were/are popular if you already have a wired router, in this case the Wireless Access Point is exactly what it's name implies, it provides wireless access to your existing router. Wireless routers provide the abilities of the AP and the wired router together. You buy what you need. Most home users don't understand issues with double NAT or two devices doing the same thing on one home network. With an already existing wired home router set up and functioning, adding wireless capability with an Access Point is plug and play; simple to set up with the lowest level of consumer configuration/intervention.

Building on what Classic said, the new network devices are becoming all in one devices. They are quickly making standard network device definitions irrelevant. Consumers don't care about the TCP/IP model and what device works on what level. A lot of the confusion comes from schools teaching things that are not used much or at all anymore like: the OSI model, bridges, and class based subnetting.

Consumers are more concerned with "does it work for what they want it to do and is it simple to set up?"

V

[Fred_Flintstone]

WOW..started something here haven't I.. :D :D :D

The Cisco access point is just something in my "junk" box, it was given to me not bought. When it was suggested by classicsoftware that I get a router, I looked at the link supplied and it just looked very similar to the Cisco one..arials and all.
Was just curious what the difference is thats all..didn't mean to start a war honest!!.. :D :D :D

Anyway, got my router and online with it as we "speak"..couldn't find the one suggested in the link above but got a :

Netgear DGB111G 54Mbps Wireless ADSL Modem Router.

Just got the main PC connected, got to sort the other one onto the network now.

Fred

[Fred_Flintstone]

Ahaa.. the penny drops! :o

We have used this sort of thing where I work:
There is a hardwired LAN in the Service Centre with about 20 pc's connected.
When we wanted to use hand held pc's for scanning barcodes on freight we had one of these babies (Access Points) on top of the office roof and wired into a hub or something.. so the Hand helds connected wirelessly to the access point and thus were able to "access" the hard wired LAN, and of course on to the company's WAN intranet.

Is this about right??

[Variable]

Yep, that's the simplest way to do it. If you already have a router up and working you only need an Access Point for wireless connectivity.

V

[Fred_Flintstone]

Right guys...got the router running ok, internet access from both PC's.

Dilemma...I need to restrict access to certain users when logged in.
I have children who use these computers and I don't allow them to use the internet unsupervised, but they use the computers for their homework etc

The problem seems to be that the router gives block access to the pc regardless of who is logged on... just open a browser and there you go!

Is there a way I can configure this so certain users (children) can logon without the automatic internet connection??

Regards,
Fred :D :D

[mjc]

I think you may need to arrange the logons at the OS level by giving the kids their own user acconts.

I have all my kids set up with their own user accounts under Slackware and that works really well. They also have a shared 98 box that doesn't have web access.

[Fred_Flintstone]

Thanks for the reply, will try it out tomorrow..(or is it later today) :confused:

:D :D

[Whyzman]

War? What War? LOL :D

What I was not understanding is why the Wireless Access Point when you didn't have a router to connect it to...I kept thinking "cart before the horse." :) And of course, who sold this person on this gear that isn't going to work...

Glad things worked out and you're up and running...