Using a wireless router on a SmartEnforcer network?

metomeyametomeya New
edited October 2005 in Science & Tech
I'm on my university's campus. We have a security program called smartenforcer that makes sure you are up to date with anti-viruses, and windows update, and you also have to log in with your username and password.

I've been trying to setup a wireless router for my laptop. I put in the wireless router no problem, data gets through and all, but when I try to connect it says SmartEnforcer server is not found on network. So the campus won't let me get on any websites besides the one that forces you to install smartenforcer.

I'm guessing cause it sees the router as a network and isn't seeing the campus network.

There is anyway I can have my d-link (802.11g/2.4 ghz DI-524) bypass its own network and have my computer think its on my campus network instead of my router's?

THANKS!

Comments

  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited October 2005
    Try simply plugging the CAT5 into one of the switch ports instead of the WAN/Internet port on the wireless router. Let us know if that works :thumbsup:

    Edit:

    Also, disable DHCP on the router.
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited October 2005
    Park_7677 wrote:
    Try simply plugging the CAT5 into one of the switch ports instead of the WAN/Internet port on the wireless router. Let us know if that works :thumbsup:

    Edit:

    Also, disable DHCP on the router.

    Is that a joke? :thumbsup:
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited October 2005
    Sorry, didn't mean to come off as a jerk on the last point.

    Would pluging in one of the switch points set it up as a acces point, is what your suggestioning (i would test it, but i'm away from the dorms probably till tomorrow)?
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited October 2005
    metomeya wrote:
    Would pluging in one of the switch points set it up as a acces point, is what your suggestioning?
    Yes. Plugging the CAT5 from your dorm's network to a switch port on the router will only use the switch/wireless part of the router. That makes it an extension to the campus' network, just like adding a normal switch would (except you're also adding wireless ;)). The wireless network will still follow the same IP scheme as any other computer would, so it will find your SmartEnforcer Server.

    Be sure to turn off DHCP on the router so you don't cause problems with the campus DHCP server. Any other help you need or if you can't get it working post back.
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited October 2005
    Can I still add wep or some type of key so anyone in the dorm can't just get on?
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited October 2005
    Yes. What I would do myself is set up the router first. Plug it in only to your desktop computer (no dorm/internet access), go to the web interface (192.168.1.1 or the like) and set up your wireless SSID and WEP/WPA. Connect up wirelessly and make sure everything is working smooth.

    Once the wireless is working with encryption of your choosing, connect back to the web interface and disable DHCP still if needed. Then plug the CAT5 into a switch port and refresh the IP on the wireless connection. That should work perfectly.
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited October 2005
    Thanks its works, in fact I'm on it right now, but.....

    when I disable DHCP I can't connect to my website configure page for my router (192.168.0.1 for me).

    Is this cause the router isn't assigned a IP address with the DHCP disabled? If so how do I configure my router with my DHCP off?

    thanks!
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited October 2005
    Glad you got it working :)

    The reason you can't configure the router as it is now is because of this:

    Your router is on the 192.168.0.0 network and you're campus is on another (10.x.x.x I imagine). It's the same reason you couldn't find the SmartEnforcer server in the beginning! Most routers have the ability to change from the default (192.168.0.1) to a manually defined one. However, for 2 reasons it's a good idea not to in your situation. Number 1: Since you're not an administrator on the campus network you can't know for sure which IP you could use (might be already taken or taken in the future by DHCP). Number 2 is security. Since you can't connect to the web interface, neither can anyone else on the campus network ;)

    The up-side is that you don't need to configure the router that often. When you do, simple manually set the IP to 192.168.0.x & subnet mask 255.255.255.0. You'll be able to connect then and apply any changes. Then switch your wireless card back to DHCP and you'll have the internet again :thumbsup:
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited October 2005
    I hate ask for every little step but, where would I manually set the IP to 192.168.0.x & subnet mask 255.255.255.0 to connect to my router?

    Last time I had to hit the reset button on the back of my d-link and set everything back up the right way (got it to work the first time, but no wep key!)
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited October 2005
    You can re-setup the router like you did before to get the internet if you've reset the router to default settings. Once you've disabled DHCP again and you can reach the internet, use these settings to configure the router:

    Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network Connections > Your Wireless (Right Click) > Properties > TCP/IP (from list) > Properties (button).

    Set the IP, subnet mask, & gateway like in the picture. Connect to the web interface of the router and config. Once complete, go back into where you enter the IP of the wireless card and choose "Obtain an IP address automatically" & "Obtain DNS server address automatically". :thumbsup:

    Warning: don't enable DHCP on the router while you've got the campus CAT5 plugged in.
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited October 2005
    You are the man! :thumbsup:

    Park_7677 wrote:
    Warning: don't enable DHCP on the router while you've got the campus CAT5 plugged in.


    So, if I do that.....would it screw up the campus network or something?
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited October 2005
    metomeya wrote:
    You are the man! :thumbsup:

    So, if I do that.....would it screw up the campus network or something?
    Glad it's all working :thumbsup:

    Leaving DHCP on would be a bad thing. Since "discovering" a DHCP server on a network is simply asking everyone, your router and the campus DHCP server would both respond. If your router DHCP is chosen they would get a 192.168.0.x IP and no internet ;D Most likely the campus network admins would see whats happening and come find you. Wouldn't want them taking away your toys :eek:
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