Wireless network issues.

Hei.

As I can´t seem to find any qualified person in Norway to tell me how to do this, I pray the FiatForum for help.

I´ve got wireless router that is physically connected with a cable modem. 2 computers - one laptop and one good´old computer are both connected to this router. Wireless. The router is of brand CNET, and both wirelss access points are D-Link (USB and PCMCIA-card). Anyway these products works extremely good, and everything works fine regarding Internet / stability etc.

But - how in the name of the lord (read "FiatForum") can I access one computer from another??? I want to use it as a small network, to share files and folders, like I did before with my old coax-network.

Morten.

as you are now using TCP/IP, you will need to set up file sharing and create shared folders within windows. Im assuming you're using XP?

If so, you need to go into good ole explorer, and find a folder you want to share, right click on it, and choose "sharing and security" (name may change as im on XP Pro SP2).

under the sharing tab, click the radio button "share this folder", and give it a name. then click ok (again may be different due to different preferences within explorer security).

The folder should now be mappable to the other machines.


If you are having a problem getting the machines to talk/see each other, thats a different problem altogether. It may be that you need to set up the correct static IP addresses and subnet mask (if you dont have a DHCP server running on your router). If they dont have the same subnet and IP configuration, they wont see each other.

If you have a DCHP server running from your router, make sure its configured ok to give out the right IP addresses to all the machines. im guessing it would, as your internet is fine, but we're dealing with microsoft here

Anyways a little more info and im sure i can help

Thanks Luke.

The router has DHCP enabled, and delivers atomatically IP adresses to the two computers. I have not checked the subnet yet, but propably it is 255.255.255.0 etc. Both computers have XP SP2 installed and shared folders are active. A little different layout of home (laptop) vs pro. (big-pc) versions, but both computers are on the same network name and workgroup. The SSID on the router is also named the same just to simplify everything.

Maybe I have to manually assign IP-adresses within the routers network range? The router is at 192.168.1.254, and if I remember it can connect computers between 192.168.1.100-200.

I´m having a "take 5" at work right now, so can´t access my network settings until I´m home.

Morten.

If DHCP has been enabled on your router and its assigning IPs ok, then it shouldn't be an IP and subnet mask problem i wouldnt have thought. With the 255.255.255.0 configuration ive only used the IP configuration 192.168.0.xxx rather than your 192.168.1.xxx, but again i doubt that would make much of a difference.

Next test would be to go into each computers settings and find out their IP address. Can be done through MS Command Prompt. type "ipconfig" and it will spurt out your IP and subnet. Get that for the computer your trying to talk to, then on the other type "ping IPAddress" on the command prompt. if they can see each other you should get 4 replies, and a little base for statistics. If this is successful, then it should be a quick case of fiddling in XP to get them to share data. If its unsuccessful, then theres a problem with IP's and subnets (or your router doesnt like you )

Hei again. Still problems. After IPconfig'ing both computers i get 192.168.1.100 and 192.168.1.101. But I can only ping the computer I'm actually sitting on. I can't ping the other one (from none of them). Strange? Is there a firewall restriction somewhere?

Morten.

Could be windows firewall try disabling it, and trying again

Hello again.

Maybe it is all coming to a solution now. I use F-Secure for both Internet security and virus problems. It has never failed and never caused any problems whatsoever.

I first shut down Windows' firewall on both computers. This led F-Secure to be the primary firewall. Still no "ping". But when I shut down F-Secure's firewall I managed to ping from both computers. So this firewall is propably the cause. I have now started both firewalls on both computers, but opened for traffic through 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.200 (the router's IP delivery range) on both F-Secure'd machines.

And I can ping from both. So now it is all down to getting in touch with the shared folders and printer. Will post more if everything works out fine. But with Microsoft it usually doesn't.

Morten.

youl need to set up persmissions, i didnt read the whole thread properly (sorry ) but you will need the same log on details on all machines they dont have to log on with that same xp account they just need them setting up, like this...


if 2 PC running XP/2k had different log ons file sharing wont work. they have to have a common logon set up

pc one

username : user
pwd : pass

pc two

username : user2
pwd : password2


to access a share set up on PC 2 you would need to set up PC ones account on PC 2. you can then create a folder and share it out and give that user access to it.

some info here http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...ilesharing.htm

i hope you have XP Pro? have you got 'home' edition? my deepest sympaty! :P (some info on that site about it)


Alfie

Ah, I need to see if I can do this at some stage!

I have a similar setup at home, with my main PC [running XP Pro] wired into a router and my laptop [XP Home] connected via wireless to the router - I haven't try to communicate between them, but want to at some stage....even if just to share a few folders, etc.

Doesn't need to have seperate usernames per computer. For a home network just give access to the 'everybody' group. To access the other comps you just need to type \\pcname\ and it will list all the shared folders and printers available on that resource, although I dont want to be telling you things that you may already know.

All done now. Can even print from the wireless laptop to the wireless big computer.

They do not need to share any login, and it is not neccesary to set up permissions.

The info on the internet is loads of crap - I´ve been searching for a long time. In the end - FiatForum was the place to go!

Using XP Home is as easy as Pro, but with different network / adm. layout. They both communicate wireless with each other. They NEED to be on the same WORKGROUP. Usually Windows suggests WORKGROUP as standard, so that´s ok. Rename the router´s SSID to WORKGROUP as well. Or use a preferred name.

It was F-Secure´s firewall that was blocking the computers from each other. Windows´ firewall let the computers see each other. After opening for the router´s IPs through F-Secure it was fairly easy. I just didn´t get that.

And also thanks for the help with the "ping" and "ipconfig" commands. They meant everything. Thanks LUKE.

Morten.

dont blame me when you get hacked! lol j/k

Hehe, won´t blame you Alfie. I have not opened for anything but local IPs provided by the router itself, for use on my internal network. There are still 3 firewalls on my system: 1. The router itself, 2. F-Secure, 3. Windows. Intrusion from the outside is still (hopefully) impossible. I totally trust F-Secure, because I know it has blocked extremely many attempts to infect and enter my computers.

Cheers.

Morten.