Wireless & Ethernet.....

Alrighty then folks! Here's a question for ya.

I connect to the internet via a cable modem. I have 2 desktops, so I purchased a router. (This allows both computers to connect to the internet while using only one WAN IP)

My housemate got another desktop AND a laptop. Rather than drill holes in the walls, we decided to go wireless for his desktop and laptop. (Bloody cool to sit on your porch and do email with no wires!)

Anyhow -- All computers connect to the internet just fine (2 systems run XP, one runs XP Pro, and the laptop runs Win98).

Also -- The computers on the Ethernet network can 'see' each other and do file shares, etc. (By the same token, all computers on the wireless network can see each other and fileshare, etc.)

The wireless network "Access Point" is connected to the router. The access point also assigns IPs to each computer connected to the wireless network.

My problem is this: I can't file share or see computers between the two networks, yet I can get on the internet no problem.. How do I get the two networks to connect, so I can fileshare and use other printers?

(If you need more specifics, I can give 'em to ya)

Thanks in advance!

 

Do all computers have the same workgroup name?
What are the IP addresses and subnet masks on each machine?
For the 98 machine click Start/Run/ and type winipcfg
For the XP machines click Start/Programs/Accesories/cmd prompt
At the C:\ Type---> IPCONFIG

 

Yep - All the computers have the same workgroup name.

I think I know what causes the problem: The router assigns IPs to each computer connected to it.. And also assigns an IP to the AirPort. The AirPort itself assigns IPs to each wireless connection. So essentially I have two DHCP servers going, (am I right in this?)

According to the documentation, the AirPort HAS to assign IPs in order for it to network correctly...

Arrrg... I once considered myself VERY knowledgeable with computers, since I've been using them (and building 'em) since 1983.. Now that I'm trying to do the whole networking thing, I think I'll step off my pedestal!!!

 

That's why I wanted to know what the IP's were for each machine. Maybe you can supernet the 2 networks.
I was thinking you can Play with the subnet mask to open it up but we need to know what the IP address scheme is on each network to know where to go from here.

 

Okay -- The AirPort IP's are 10.0.1.x (depending on machine) the actual airport (within its own network is 10.0.1.1) Subnet mask is 255.255.255.0

The router's addy is 192.168.1.1 -- All computers connected to it are 192.168.1.100 ~ 103. Subnet is again 255.255.255.0

 

With NetBIOS over TCP/IP enabled are you able to connect to shares on the other subnet using start > run... \\IP address?

 

I am able to access the "wired" network from the wireless network if I do a "Find Computer" and type in the IP. But they don't show up in "Network Neighborhood" or "My Network Places ".

 

AFAIK, since the machines are on different subnets they wouldn't show up in Network Neighborhood without a Domain Master Browser (Samba or NT/2000) to merge the browse lists from each subnet.

 

Can I do this with WinXP Pro? Or do I HAVE to go to NT/2000 ?

 

No, you need a domain but with so few machines, just create shortcuts to the machines in NN.

 

Is there any way to change the IP schemes on either one of the networks?
like make one 192.168.1.100 and the other 192.168.2.100
with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 ?
I don't know if that will work I'm just throwing things out here.

 

Let's not try to let this fish get too big....domain controller at home for 5 PCs? YIKES!!!!!!!

First there's the routing issue...does the router connected to the cablemodem know that there is a 10.x.x.x network behind the airport? Probably not...you'll have to add static routes to the internet gateway that points all traffic destined for 10.x.x.x/8 to the ip address of the wireless gateway (192.168.1.x). Try pinging from the 192.168.1.100 to one of the 10.x.x.x addresses.....you can't go any further until this is working! You won't have to worry about adding static routes to the wireless gateway, as it has one interface in the 192.168.1.x network

As far as the file/print sharing....probably the easiest solution here would be editing the hosts file on each of the clients to do the NETBIOS name translation to IP addresses. I can't remember the exact location on 98, but on XP it's in the %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\drivers\etc directory. Just open the current one that's there with notepad and add to it the other hosts...probably wouldn't hurt to add one for the gateways, too.

Let me know how it goes!!

 

For clarification HOSTS under win 98 is in c:\windows

Under a NETBIOS network you'll need the names in LMHOSTS anyway which is in the same place as HOSTS (c:\windows in 98 and c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc for an NT based machine)

The trick with LMHOSTS is to add #pre to each line so that it pre-caches the info and makes browsing quicker

 

Good point, AndyO!!!

Donniesito, how are things going with this one?