Networking query with windows xp pro

nonstop301

I would like to ask whether windows xp pro sp2 allows users to connect two computers directly with an ethernet cable and maintain internet connection on one of them through a second ethernet port.

I have a desktop with 2 ethernet ports (one native and one on a usb-ethernet adapter). I use the usb-ethernet adapter to receive the internet connection from a router and then that leaves me with an open ethernet port which I use to connect a laptop by a direct ethernet connection. When I connect the laptop however, I notice that the desktop loses it's internet connection if I use the remote desktop application from the laptop to access the desktop. The internet connection in that sense is still enabled and the system tray icon shows all is well and a connection to the router is established, but the browser will not show any pages.

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong and the internet connection stops working. The IP addresses I have assigned to each desktop ethernet port and to the laptop are all router IPs with 10.0.0.xx values.

Is there a different way perhaps to do this succesfully so that the internet connection on the desktop isn't affected when I remotely connect to it with the laptop in this way ?

Thanks for your help and your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Pterocarpous

Hi nonstop301

Any reason you're not using the router for both computers?

Are you trying to isolate your LAN from the WAN (Internet) - and limit your laptop to the LAN w/ no WAN connectivity?

Not sure why you're using a USB cable to connect to your router???



I may just not understand what your intentions are. Please, tell us what the method is in your madness so's we understand what you want to do better.

QCH

Yes... The PC with two NIC's can act as a "bridge" or ROUTER between the other PC and the internet.

It's called internet sharing...



Right click on "My Network" and select "Properties".

Right click on the network device and select "Properties".

Select the "Advanced" tab and check the "Allow other computers users to connect through this computer's Internet connection".

Try that....


{EDIT} - Changed Picture to be... less offending.

nonstop301

Hi again Pterocarpous

The laptop would have to be connected to the router wirelessly (not reliable for my purposes) but I have a gigabit ethernet port on the desktop so I want to use that instead to connect to the laptop for faster connection between them.

The gigabit port is way too good for a dsl connection and I'm not benefiting any gigabit network connectivity from it that way

You are correct about the LAN/WAN scenario. It isn't necessary for the laptop to have internet access as long as the internet access of the desktop is maintained when the laptop is connected to it.

I just noticed your post as well QCH2002 and I'll give that a try and see how it works out

Pterocarpous

QCH2002 wrote:

...It's called internet sharing...

Exactly. I don't think that's what nonstop301 wants to do though. I think nonstop301 wants I'net on just one of the two computers.

Pterocarpous

nonstop301 wrote:

Hi again Pterocarpous

Hi ya nonstop301!

nonstop301 wrote:

...The laptop would have to be connected to the router wirelessly (not reliable for my purposes) but I have a gigabit ethernet port on the desktop so I want to use that instead to connect to the laptop for faster connection between them...

Ahhhh! Now I get it! The gigabit's advantages are lost on your I'net connection but you take advantage of its speed on your LAN. Clever!

nonstop301 wrote:

...You are correct about the LAN/WAN scenario. It isn't necessary for the laptop to have internet access as long as the internet access of the desktop is maintained when the laptop is connected to it....

Keeps your laptop locked down, too for security (to some degree - as long as your security is good on your desktop)

QCH

Pterocarpous, I was in the process of creating that "artwork" when you posted. I was defining what he seemed to be asking.

I would hookup a wireless router and lock that down and have the PC's hook up to the wireless router... less hassle. IMHO

Pterocarpous

QCH2002 wrote:

Pterocarpous, I was in the process of creating that "artwork" when you posted. I was defining what he seemed to be asking.
I would hookup a wireless router and lock that down and have the PC's hook up to the wireless router... less hassle. IMHO

Good idea. Nowadays you can configure a router to lock a computer out of I'net access by MAC address, limit times of day, etc. However, nonstop301 wants to take advantage of that gigabit NIC on the LAN.... (and s/he doesn't want to use the wireless cnxn to the router either...)

Sounds like you have a good handle on networking. Any ideas?

nonstop301

QCH2002 wrote:

I would hookup a wireless router and lock that down and have the PC's hook up to the wireless router... less hassle. IMHO

I believe I would need a gigabit wireless router to achieve the gigabit connectivity I'm after though QCH2002 The one I have is standard 10/100 so the only option for gigabit connectivity for me at the moment is what you showed me on that nice diagram you made

Thanks a lot for your help and it works very well too You have to try gigabit LAN if you have a desktop with a gigabit ethernet port. It's very frisky I would say

nonstop301

I have noticed that the usb ethernet adpater will lose the internet connection after a period of time when I keep the laptop connected to the desktop via the gigabit port. This also happens if I reboot the desktop. In order to recover the internet connection for the desktop I have to reconfigure the DNS server for the network adapter back to what it orginally was because for some reason it goes blank so I have to re-enter the value and disable and then re-enable the adapter. The settings for the gigbabit adapter remain constant throughout and I'm able to connect the laptop to the dekstop all the times without any problems.

Does this happen because the gigabit adapter and the usb ethernet adapter share the same DNS server address and after a certain period of time the usb ethernet connection will be dropped in preference to the gigabit port ?

Thanks again for all your feedback and the helpful advice you provide.

Pterocarpous

Can you replace the USB NIC w/ a more stable PCI NIC? (Still keeping the gigabit NIC for LAN communication w/ your laptop) Do you have a slot available for it?

QCH

Pterocarpous wrote:

Can you replace the USB NIC w/ a more stable PCI NIC? (Still keeping the gigabit NIC for LAN communication w/ your laptop) Do you have a slot available for it?

Yeah... that is probably a good idea. :thumbup

Another idea based off the Wireless Router... Does the laptop have a Gigabit NIC? If it doesn't, the connection between the laptop and desktop will default to 100Mb. If it does have Gb NIC, you could buy a a cheap Gb Switch (NEWEGG). That would put your two PC's behind the wireless router and allow you to connect other PC's without trouble.;)

Shorty

Q... you are a top guy but my god.. my eyes are burning from the pink background to your technical master diagram

nonstop301

Thank you for your suggestions once again Pterocarpous and QCH2002

I have empty PCI slots on the desktop so I could try and find a PCI card with ethernet ports on it and use that instead of the usb adpater.

As for the laptop I have a PCMCIA card on it which carries a gigbabit ethernet port. The laptop itself has a native 10/100 port but I don't use that That's why I have a nice gigabit speed between the two computers. I have looked for gigabit switches as well and I'm considering that option. What I'm not entirely sure about, is whether the wireless router would be necessary and if it is then would it have to be a gigabit version too in order to maintain the gigabit connection between the two.

Pterocarpous

QCH2002 wrote:

...Another idea based off the Wireless Router... Does the laptop have a Gigabit NIC? If it doesn't, the connection between the laptop and desktop will default to 100Mb.

Ahhhh..., that's right! Forgot about that. The communication will drop to the lowest common denominator (between the laptop and desktop).

QCH2002 wrote:

...If it does have Gb NIC, you could buy a a cheap Gb Switch NEWEGG). That would put your two PC's behind the wireless router and allow you to connect other PC's without trouble.;)

Ooooooooo! Good idea! In that case, no longer needing two NICS on the desktop, yes?

QCH

I forgot to color correct my monitor with Photoshop... It wasn't that color when I created it...





I swear!!!

Pterocarpous

Shorty wrote:

Q... you are a top guy but my god.. my eyes are burning from the pink background to your technical master diagram

I think it's purty.....

nonstop301

That's a great price on that switch by the way QCH2002 Here in the UK the cheapest ones are about $60 to $80

I have 4 computers here but only the 2 have gigabit ports so I'll have to get gigabit adapters for the other 2 as well in order to put them altogether on a gigabit switch.

I would still like to hope that the internet connection on the desktop that is online through the router will not be interrupted when the switch is there connecting everything else to an internet-less gigabit LAN.

QCH

nonstop301 wrote:

What I'm not entirely sure about, is whether the wireless router would be necessary and if it is then would it have to be a gigabit version too in order to maintain the gigabit connection between the two.

Since the speed you will be getting from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will be FAR below 100Mbs (Probably no greater than 10Mbs), the wireless router provides sufficient speed. The Wireless router will provide you with security (Firewall/ NAT) and DHCP service. It will connect to the Gigabit switch at 100Mbs. Since the internet connection is less than 10Mbs, even though it connects at 100Mbs, it will rarely offer much beyond the maximum of the internet connection.

The gigabit switch will allow fast file transfers between devices that have gigabit NICs that are connected to the switch. Any uploads/ downloads to the internet will always be limited by the ISP not the maximum bandwidth of the Gigabit switch or the gigabit NICs. See below (Much better diagram)

Pterocarpous

Wow! Nice illustration QCH2002. It really spells it out clearly. Now I'm wanting to go out and buy gigabit NICs and a gigabit switch.

I have a question for you QCH2002. Would using a switch enhance security in any measure? Particularly w/ respect to WAN/LAN security.

QCH

Pterocarpous wrote:

Wow! Nice illustration QCH2002. It really spells it out clearly.

Thanks. I guess Network Design class I just finished helped somewhat...

Pterocarpous wrote:

Would using a switch enhance security in any measure? Particularly w/ respect to WAN/LAN security.

For most switches... there are no real security advantages.

Some high end switches (sometimes called smart switches) can do virtual LAN's (VLAN) which can allow multiple subnets to exist on the same switch, access the internet, but not be viewable between each other. This would allow one smart switch but have two networks. 192.168.5.xx and 192.168.1.xx would not see each other but use the same switch and access to the internet. Good for small business that want to keep areas off limits to general users (payroll, human resources, accounting, etc...).

nonstop301

QCH2002 that's a fabulous diagram

The switch provides no additional security Pterocarpous It just regulates traffic on the LAN so that data going from one computer to the other doesn't get mixed up

QCH

Thanks... :o

FYI... updated the first picture to remove the pink.

Pterocarpous

QCH2002 wrote:

Thanks. I guess Network Design class I just finished helped somewhat...
For most switches... there are no real security advantages.

Some high end switches (sometimes called smart switches) can do virtual LAN's (VLAN) which can allow multiple subnets to exist on the same switch, access the internet, but not be viewable between each other. This would allow one smart switch but have two networks. 192.168.5.xx and 192.168.1.xx would not see each other but use the same switch and access to the internet. Good for small business that want to keep areas off limits to general users (payroll, human resources, accounting, etc...).

Thanx ya'll. That's what I thought. Unfortunately my experience is limited to the consumer (home & small business) markets. I don't get a lot of exposure to more sophisticated networking, data management, etc. It's nice to be able to learn about it here.

Pterocarpous

QCH2002 wrote:

...FYI... updated the first picture to remove the pink.

But I l-i-i-i-k-e-d the pink! Waaaaaaa!!! :bawling:

nonstop301

Just another thought QCH2002 with respect to the network you have outlined in the diagram.

Would both the laptop and the desktop have a working dsl speed internet connection in addition to the gigabit connectivity or would it be just one of the 2 that receives the internet connection ?

My intention is to only have the desktop with dsl internet and gigabit LAN capability and then anything else connected to it just remaining part of an internet-less gigabit environment with remote access to the internet connection the desktop has

That is what I have with the 2 computers I'm using at the moment after following the good advice you provided early on in the thread with respect to internet connection sharing

Would this scenario I quickly sketched, provide the sort of thing I'm after ?

nonstop301

In other words, would a gigabit switch work if it's connected to the gigabit port of the desktop instead of one of the router ports ?

QCH

nonstop301 wrote:

Just another thought QCH2002 with respect to the network you have outlined in the diagram.

Would both the laptop and the desktop have a working dsl speed internet connection in addition to the gigabit connectivity or would it be just one of the 2 that receives the internet connection ?

My intention is to only have the desktop with dsl internet and gigabit LAN capability and then anything else connected to it just remaining part of an internet-less gigabit environment with remote access to the internet connection the desktop has

That is what I have with the 2 computers I'm using at the moment after following the good advice you provided early on in the thread with respect to internet connection sharing

Would this scenario I quickly sketched, provide the sort of thing I'm after ?

With my diagram, all PC's would have internet. Your sketch would work, as far as I know. The desktop would internet and the laptop (any any other PC connected to the switch) would NOT have internet access.