connect to 2 networks at the same time?

I'm wondering if it's possible to set up my computer (it has two
ethernet connectors) to connect to 2 different networks at the same
time? (this would be both "wired" networks, but if wireless is easier
I have wireless USB adapters I can utilize as both of my network
routers are wired & wireless).

On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:23:54 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir
<> wrote:

>I'm wondering if it's possible to set up my computer (it has two
>ethernet connectors) to connect to 2 different networks at the same
>time? (this would be both "wired" networks, but if wireless is easier
>I have wireless USB adapters I can utilize as both of my network
>routers are wired & wireless).

You can connect to multiple networks (any combination of wired and
wireless) at the same time. Each network must use a different TCP/IP
subnet (e.g. one on 192.168.0.x and one on 192.168.1.x).

However, by default, the computer will only use one of the networks
for Internet access.

What do you want to accomplish with two connections?
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Desktop Experience)

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:19:08 -0600, "Steve Winograd [MS-MVP]"
<> wrote:

>On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:23:54 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir
><> wrote:
>
>>I'm wondering if it's possible to set up my computer (it has two
>>ethernet connectors) to connect to 2 different networks at the same
>>time? (this would be both "wired" networks, but if wireless is easier
>>I have wireless USB adapters I can utilize as both of my network
>>routers are wired & wireless).
>
>You can connect to multiple networks (any combination of wired and
>wireless) at the same time. Each network must use a different TCP/IP
>subnet (e.g. one on 192.168.0.x and one on 192.168.1.x).
>
>However, by default, the computer will only use one of the networks
>for Internet access.
>
>What do you want to accomplish with two connections?

thanks for the information....

I'm not certain that I want or need to do this. My "reasons" are as
follows... (rather long story....)

I have Hughesnet with an HN 7000s modem that acts as the router on my
LAN (that is, it gives out the addresses to computers that I connect
to the network). Accordingly, I can't figure out how to set up
security... (I have a WRT54G set up as an AP for wireless access for
my laptop). So basically I simply disconnect the WRT54G whenever I'm
not using the laptop, or rather when the laptop doesn't need access to
the LAN. I also have a 7-port switch connected to the HN modem/router,
so basically I have a wired LAN except for occasional use of a
wireless LAN for the Laptop.

Now, I've ordered a "netbook" computer, which I'd really like to have
wireless connectivity to both the internet and my other computers. But
since I haven't been able to secure the wireless LAN, I'm considering
setting up a separate wireless LAN, not connected to the internet, so
that at the least I'd have wireless connectivity with my other
computer(s). (I have another router that I formerly used with my
DirecTivos for transferring recorded content from room to room, back
when all the DVR were hacked SD units. I'm no longer using that router
since I've gone to HD DVRs.)

........and, I may not need any of this if on 9/1 a site check
determines I can connect to a new WISP in the area. (presuming that
with their equipment I can secure the wireless LAN).




So, does any of this make sense, and if so, would it work?

On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:25:18 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir
<> wrote:

>[snip]
>I have Hughesnet with an HN 7000s modem that acts as the router on my
>LAN (that is, it gives out the addresses to computers that I connect
>to the network). Accordingly, I can't figure out how to set up
>security... (I have a WRT54G set up as an AP for wireless access for
>my laptop). So basically I simply disconnect the WRT54G whenever I'm
>not using the laptop, or rather when the laptop doesn't need access to
>the LAN. I also have a 7-port switch connected to the HN modem/router,
>so basically I have a wired LAN except for occasional use of a
>wireless LAN for the Laptop.
>
>Now, I've ordered a "netbook" computer, which I'd really like to have
>wireless connectivity to both the internet and my other computers. But
>since I haven't been able to secure the wireless LAN, I'm considering
>setting up a separate wireless LAN, not connected to the internet, so
>that at the least I'd have wireless connectivity with my other
>computer(s). (I have another router that I formerly used with my
>DirecTivos for transferring recorded content from room to room, back
>when all the DVR were hacked SD units. I'm no longer using that router
>since I've gone to HD DVRs.)
>
>.......and, I may not need any of this if on 9/1 a site check
>determines I can connect to a new WISP in the area. (presuming that
>with their equipment I can secure the wireless LAN).
>
>So, does any of this make sense, and if so, would it work?

If I understand your setup, you're using the WRT54G as an access
point, not as a router, and you just need to set up wireless security
on the WRT54G. Are you having trouble with that?
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Desktop Experience)

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:53:33 -0600, "Steve Winograd [MS-MVP]"
<> wrote:

<snip>
>If I understand your setup, you're using the WRT54G as an access
>point, not as a router, and you just need to set up wireless security
>on the WRT54G. Are you having trouble with that?

Actually, that sums it up perfectly. If I could do that, nothing else
is needed.

On Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:22:14 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir
<> wrote:

>On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:53:33 -0600, "Steve Winograd [MS-MVP]"
><> wrote:
>
><snip>
>>If I understand your setup, you're using the WRT54G as an access
>>point, not as a router, and you just need to set up wireless security
>>on the WRT54G. Are you having trouble with that?
>
>Actually, that sums it up perfectly. If I could do that, nothing else
>is needed.

Here are some web sites that describe how to set up wireless security
on the WRT54G:

http://www.columbia.edu/acis/network...sys/index.html
http://vectrosecurity.com/content/view/48/26/

Use WPA2 security if available, otherwise use WPA. The older WEP
security is much less secure.

If you have problems or questions, please post a message with details,
and someone can help.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Desktop Experience)

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

On Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:23:00 -0600, "Steve Winograd [MS-MVP]"
<> wrote:

>On Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:22:14 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir
><> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:53:33 -0600, "Steve Winograd [MS-MVP]"
>><> wrote:
>>
>><snip>
>>>If I understand your setup, you're using the WRT54G as an access
>>>point, not as a router, and you just need to set up wireless security
>>>on the WRT54G. Are you having trouble with that?
>>
>>Actually, that sums it up perfectly. If I could do that, nothing else
>>is needed.
>
>Here are some web sites that describe how to set up wireless security
>on the WRT54G:
>
>http://www.columbia.edu/acis/network...sys/index.html
>http://vectrosecurity.com/content/view/48/26/
>
>Use WPA2 security if available, otherwise use WPA. The older WEP
>security is much less secure.
>
>If you have problems or questions, please post a message with details,
>and someone can help.

Steve,

Thanks for the information. I checked out the sites, and they both
seem easy to follow, however they both refer to use of the WRT54G as a
router. I'll have some time tomorrow to experiment, so I'll set up the
router (as a router) attached to my primary computer, following the
instructions on the web site, then reconnect is as an AP and see if I
still have WAP security.

On Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:29:23 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir
<> wrote:

>>Here are some web sites that describe how to set up wireless security
>>on the WRT54G:
>>
>>http://www.columbia.edu/acis/network...sys/index.html
>>http://vectrosecurity.com/content/view/48/26/
>>
>>Use WPA2 security if available, otherwise use WPA. The older WEP
>>security is much less secure.
>>
>>If you have problems or questions, please post a message with details,
>>and someone can help.
>
>Steve,
>
>Thanks for the information. I checked out the sites, and they both
>seem easy to follow, however they both refer to use of the WRT54G as a
>router. I'll have some time tomorrow to experiment, so I'll set up the
>router (as a router) attached to my primary computer, following the
>instructions on the web site, then reconnect is as an AP and see if I
>still have WAP security.

You're welcome, Charlie. The security setup is the same whether it's
being used as a router or an access point. Look for WPA2 or WPA
security.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Desktop Experience)

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

On Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:21:26 -0600, "Steve Winograd [MS-MVP]"
<> wrote:

>On Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:29:23 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir
><> wrote:
>
>>>Here are some web sites that describe how to set up wireless security
>>>on the WRT54G:
>>>
>>>http://www.columbia.edu/acis/network...sys/index.html
>>>http://vectrosecurity.com/content/view/48/26/
>>>
>>>Use WPA2 security if available, otherwise use WPA. The older WEP
>>>security is much less secure.
>>>
>>>If you have problems or questions, please post a message with details,
>>>and someone can help.
>>
>>Steve,
>>
>>Thanks for the information. I checked out the sites, and they both
>>seem easy to follow, however they both refer to use of the WRT54G as a
>>router. I'll have some time tomorrow to experiment, so I'll set up the
>>router (as a router) attached to my primary computer, following the
>>instructions on the web site, then reconnect is as an AP and see if I
>>still have WAP security.
>
>You're welcome, Charlie. The security setup is the same whether it's
>being used as a router or an access point. Look for WPA2 or WPA
>security.

Update....

well, I had "some" success, but am not there yet. My first attempt was
a disaster, I had to reset the WRT54G and start completely over. On
the second attempt I used the "Other" site instructions
http://vectrosecurity.com/content/view/48/26/
and got farther along. I thought I had enabled WPA (and my notebook
sees it as WPA, (but a later check using network stumbler tells me
it's WEP).... the only option was to enter a key, and I chose a long
one. No matter, it still doesn't really work. When I try to access the
network from my laptop, it locates the wireless network OK and tells
me there is good signal strength, and asks me for the password, which
I enter. but instead of accessing it, it connects every time to my
neighbors unsecure network, or if that signal is too weak (which it
usually is) it connects to nothing at all.

Now it's worse.. I went back and tried to access the WRT54G again and
I get a message "Connection Interrupted. The connection to the server
was reset while the page was loading. The network link was
interrupted while negotiating a connection." It repeats this if I try
again.

This is the same state I reached when trying the instructions on the
first site. Perhaps there is something wrong with my router.... it's
pretty old, one of the earliest models I think (ver 2).

..... several minutes elapse while I reset the router and set
everything up again.... this time I used a much shorter key, and
Voila! if seems to be working.

I shut down the laptop, and restarted it to see if it would connect
again.

well, pleasant surprise! It connected automatically without me having
to enter the "key" again. I suppose that means everything is working
OK!

On Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:15:54 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir
<> wrote:

>[snip]
>well, I had "some" success, but am not there yet. My first attempt was
>a disaster, I had to reset the WRT54G and start completely over. On
>the second attempt I used the "Other" site instructions
>http://vectrosecurity.com/content/view/48/26/
>and got farther along. I thought I had enabled WPA (and my notebook
>sees it as WPA, (but a later check using network stumbler tells me
>it's WEP).... the only option was to enter a key, and I chose a long
>one. No matter, it still doesn't really work. When I try to access the
>network from my laptop, it locates the wireless network OK and tells
>me there is good signal strength, and asks me for the password, which
>I enter. but instead of accessing it, it connects every time to my
>neighbors unsecure network, or if that signal is too weak (which it
>usually is) it connects to nothing at all.
>
>Now it's worse.. I went back and tried to access the WRT54G again and
>I get a message "Connection Interrupted. The connection to the server
>was reset while the page was loading. The network link was
>interrupted while negotiating a connection." It repeats this if I try
>again.
>
>This is the same state I reached when trying the instructions on the
>first site. Perhaps there is something wrong with my router.... it's
>pretty old, one of the earliest models I think (ver 2).
>
>.... several minutes elapse while I reset the router and set
>everything up again.... this time I used a much shorter key, and
>Voila! if seems to be working.
>
>I shut down the laptop, and restarted it to see if it would connect
>again.
>
>well, pleasant surprise! It connected automatically without me having
>to enter the "key" again. I suppose that means everything is working
>OK!

I hope so. Nice going!
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Desktop Experience)

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com