LAN Question - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

milkman0214 · 10-13-2004, 07:19 PM

I have a fairly large LAN at home, with five computers (both mac and pc) running off an airport extreme wireless router. I just picked up another computer, and want to add that to my network. I'd like to have it hardwired to one of my existing computers with a router and ethernet cables to allow for faster file transfers between the two computers (both running XP Home SP1). The problem I'm having is that my old computer has to be set to "This computer connects to the internet via another computer or a residential gateway" in order to connect through my airport, but it has to be set to "This computer connects directly to the internet. The other computers on the network connect through this computer" in order for my new computer to recognize and interact with it over the wired router. Anyone know if I can tweak the settings to allow my old computer to connect via a gateway, but still act as a sort of gateway for my new computer?

DJMala · 10-13-2004, 11:05 PM

I've never actually used it, so I can't guarantee it'll work, but I think you can set up a network bridge.

On the PC that connects to your AirPort router, open <B>Control Panel | Network Connections</B>. Select the two connections that you want to bridge (should be the computer's wired ethernet port and its wireless ethernet port) and select <B>Advanced | Bridge Connections</B>. It'll take a minute to bridge the connections, then you'll see a new item called "Network Bridge". Then, just connect your other PC to the wired port. I *think* that's all you have to do, but like I said, I've never actually tried it, so I'm not sure.

One thing, to connect the two PCs, make sure you either use a hub/switch, or get a crossover ethernet cable and connect the two machines directly. If you're actually using a router as you say, just use the "computer" ports, don't connect anything to the WAN port.

10-13-2004, 07:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
milkman0214 Upright	LAN Question I have a fairly large LAN at home, with five computers (both mac and pc) running off an airport extreme wireless router. I just picked up another computer, and want to add that to my network. I'd like to have it hardwired to one of my existing computers with a router and ethernet cables to allow for faster file transfers between the two computers (both running XP Home SP1). The problem I'm having is that my old computer has to be set to "This computer connects to the internet via another computer or a residential gateway" in order to connect through my airport, but it has to be set to "This computer connects directly to the internet. The other computers on the network connect through this computer" in order for my new computer to recognize and interact with it over the wired router. Anyone know if I can tweak the settings to allow my old computer to connect via a gateway, but still act as a sort of gateway for my new computer?

10-13-2004, 11:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
DJMala Crazy Location: MA	I've never actually used it, so I can't guarantee it'll work, but I think you can set up a network bridge. On the PC that connects to your AirPort router, open <B>Control Panel \| Network Connections</B>. Select the two connections that you want to bridge (should be the computer's wired ethernet port and its wireless ethernet port) and select <B>Advanced \| Bridge Connections</B>. It'll take a minute to bridge the connections, then you'll see a new item called "Network Bridge". Then, just connect your other PC to the wired port. I think that's all you have to do, but like I said, I've never actually tried it, so I'm not sure. One thing, to connect the two PCs, make sure you either use a hub/switch, or get a crossover ethernet cable and connect the two machines directly. If you're actually using a router as you say, just use the "computer" ports, don't connect anything to the WAN port.