Setting up hybrid (?) network

C

CaseyH

New Member
Hi there,

I'm having some trouble setting up a network in my home. Here's the deal, I've got my laptop running VistaHomePr 64 and my Desktop running XP Pro 32. I recently got a wireless netgear router. My notebook connects wirelessly through the router while my desktop connects to the router through an ethernet cable. (The router has both wired ports and wireless transmitter)

Now, before I installed the wirless router, I had the two computers networked (and working properly) through a dynex wired router. Now I'm having trouble getting them to see each other.

I'm not even sure if you can network computers while one is wireless and one is wired. I just figured it could be done since it was all going through one router.

So, first off, is it possible? If so, can I get some suggestions as to how to get them networked?

Thanks much,

Casey
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Centrino Core2 2.00 Ghz
    Memory
    4GB
You need to enable file sharing in the router. File and print sharing on both computers. They need to be in the same subnet. MAC filtering is enabled on the router, both computers need to be in it, Setup the same user account and password on both boxes and give this account NTFS security to all partitions.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
Hi there, thanks for the reply. File/print sharing is enabled on both computers, but I couldn't find it in the router setup. They are on the same subnet. Same user account, same password.

Could you expand a bit on the MAC filtering? What do you mean by "both computers need to be in it"?

Also, how do I give the account NTSF security?

Thanks again,

Casey
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Centrino Core2 2.00 Ghz
    Memory
    4GB
MAC filtering is a security feature on your router. It allows only computers on the list to use the router. If it is enabled, you have to make sure every computer is on the list.

If the user account can see all the files on each computer, NTFS security is setup.

If you click on networking, do the computers show up?

You could add both computers to the hosts. file of both computers.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
Hi again,

I've been looking around in the router settings, and I don't see anything that says "MAC Filtering". Perhaps my router doesn't support it? I did find that the 'Router MAC Address' is set to 'Use default address'.

I also found that both the desktop and the laptop are listed under the "Attached Devices" section, along with their respective IP addresses (both different) and MAC addresses (Also both different).

Under the "Lan Setup" section, there is a list of "Address Reservation" that also includes both PC's.

Under the UPnP Portmap Table, though, neither of the PC's shows up.

In Network Places on the PC, only my shared folders show up. In Network Places on the laptop, the laptop itself shows up, but not the desktop.

not sure how to add both computers to the hosts. file of both computers.

Computers still will not see each other though.

I hope I haven't made it too complicated. Thanks for the help.

Casey
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Centrino Core2 2.00 Ghz
    Memory
    4GB
hosts. file is in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc. Could be winnt instead of windows. You put in IP address and computer name. It has to be done from administrator account.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
I found the list. Are you saying I should add the IP address and computer name of both computers to each of my host. files, or just only add the Laptop info to the desktop host. file and vica versa?

Also, how will this help to fix my problem?

Thanks,

Casey
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Centrino Core2 2.00 Ghz
    Memory
    4GB
The hosts file is a local DNS-type lookup. Your computers will know all the other computers IP addresses and netbios name.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
Since the client machines can both access the internet, their IP and MAC-level settings are obviously fine. The problem will come down to either "isolation" mode on the router, or configuration on one or both clients which is preventing communication between them.

ROUTER: check whether it has "isolation" capabilities and whether they're enabled. In isolation mode, each client is permitted to access the internet via the router, but inter-client communication is prohibited (by the router). Some routers come with isolation mode enabled by default, which causes much grief to their owners.

Once you've ruled that out...

CLIENTS: Temporarily disable all firewalls on both client machines. Then, on a CMD prompt, try to PING the IP address of the other machine and check the outcome. If you can ping-by-IP, check what happens when you ping-by-name. If that works too, try using UNC to connect to the other machine: start, run, \\OtherMachineName . Depending on what works and what doesn't, someone here should be able to offer more help.
 

My Computer

System One

\\computername\c$ from the other computer to see if you can get into the administrative share. Computername is the computers actual name
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
OK, got some new info:

In the CMD, pinging the IP of each computer replied successfully from the opposite computer, with both the firewalls on and off.

However, Pinging the desktopname from the laptop returned the error message: "Ping request could not find host computername. Please check the name and try again". pinging desktopname from desktop replied successfully. likewise for the laptop. This happened with the firewalls on and off.

Running \\desktopname\c$ from laptop returned the error message "Network path could not be found". running \\desktopname\c$ from desktop did bring me to the c drive. Likewise for the laptop.

Any ideas? Thanks everyone for the help.

Casey
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Centrino Core2 2.00 Ghz
    Memory
    4GB
verify file and printer services are enabled on your laptop. Make sure its enabled on your router.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
Does using the IP of the desktop in your UNC connection attempt help? In other words, if the IP of the desktop is say 192.168.0.2, try connecting to \\192.168.0.2 as a test.

Basic hardware connectivity obviously works since ping-by-IP is successful. The router and cables are not at fault. The fact that you can't connect to XP by name is surprising.

Does connecting by name work in reverse, from XP to Vista?
 

My Computer

System One

Forgot to say that I couldn't find anything in the router settings about isolation, so I assume it's not the problem.

File and printer sharing are enabled on both PC's, but I can't find anything about File/Printer sharing in the router setup, so I assumed it's not the problem either.
BTW it's a Netgear Wirless-G Router WGR614 if that helps any.

running \\desktopIP from the desktop does pull up the desktop's shared files/printers. running \\laptopIP from the desktop gives 'network path not found error'.
running \\laptopIP from laptop does bring up laptop's shared files
*running \\desktopIP from laptop does bring up desktop's shared files/printers

that last one is nice to know. at least I can now access my desktop's files from my laptop, though not as easily as I should be able to.

Connecting by name does not work from XP to Vista, nor does it work from Vista to XP.

I'm sure there is an indication of where the problem is somewhere in this new info, but I'm not sure what it is.

BTW, the desktop is XP 32 and the laptop is Vista 64, in case there was confusion.

Any new thoughts?

Thanks, and cheers,

Casey
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Centrino Core2 2.00 Ghz
    Memory
    4GB
\\desktopIP\c$ open the administrative shares. You could create your own shares from the root of each drive

computer1_c would be the share of drive c: on computer 1.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
Thanks Guru,

I will use that method to transfer files from desktop to laptop for the time being. I'd still like to get the computers to see each other properly, though. I can't share my printer until then and I can't transfer from laptop to desktop now. Also I'd like for the computers to show up in the network places folder so I don't have to run a command every time I want to transfer something.

I'm baffled as to why the network isn't working properly.

Casey
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Centrino Core2 2.00 Ghz
    Memory
    4GB
Did you configure the printer for sharing? Create a new share for each drive and assign your defaultuser to full share.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
Just a thought,

Could the problem have to do with the WPA-2 security? The router is set for WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES], and I know my laptop supports WPA2. I'm not sure if my desktop supports WPA or WPA2 though. Or does that even matter since the desktop is connected to the router by an ethernet cable and not wirelessly? How would I find out what my computer does support, if that's a relevent concern.

Casey
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Centrino Core2 2.00 Ghz
    Memory
    4GB
Yes, the printer is fully shared. The laptop even sees it when I run \\desktopIP from the laptop. But when I try to use it or update the drivers, it says it can't communicate with the printer.

Casey
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Centrino Core2 2.00 Ghz
    Memory
    4GB
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