Complicated network setup - losing any hope!

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not with a router

by CG IT · 15 years ago In reply to Complicated network setup ...

if they have to share a keyboard and mouse get a KVM switch.

If you want one WiFi and another wired , and both to share resources [files and printers] use an access point not a router.

The simple way is to have both computers on the same subnet for file and printer sharing.

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how?

by main.dir · 15 years ago In reply to not with a router

GG IT, please elaborate. I'll get an access point instead of a router. How do I do "both computers on the same subnet for file and printer sharing"?

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Access point?

by main.dir · 15 years ago In reply to not with a router

I only see wireless access points available everywhere. Thats not what I need do I?

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geez

by CG IT · 15 years ago In reply to Access point?

a router creates networks [it subnets] most consumer level routers are also firewalls.

so if you already have a wired router, and you connect it to another router, you've just created 2 networks. comps behind one can not access comps behind the other by virtue of the firewall. To gain access you would have to setup a VPN or open ports on the wireless router and port forward whatever ports whatever program your going to use. Not worth the trouble.

So, if you want wireless comps behind the wired router to get access to wirer comps to share files and folders, get an Access Point. An Access point is not a router. Just a wireless access on the same network.

again, if you have to share keyboards and mice get a KVM switch.

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KVM Switch and sharing

by Toivo Talikka · 15 years ago In reply to Complicated network setup ...

As already suggested, if all you want is to share one keyboard and mouse between the two PCs, you need a KVM (Keyboard Video Mouse) switch which is a small box containing the receptacles for your screen, keyboard and mouse, and two sets of connectors and cables which connect to the keyboard, video and mouse ports in both PCs.

Does the PC with a WiFi USB adapter connect to the internet connection which uses the cable modem? If that is the case, you need a wireless router which has a WAN port to which the cable modem is connected through a network cable. The PC which you have now connected through USB to the cable modem will have a flylead connecting it to one of the LAN ports in the router.

You need to set up the wireless function in the router with settings that you then enter into the other PC, like SSID and WAP encryption key, so that it can connect to the access point provided by the wireless router.

If the router acts as the DHCP server, it assigns and internal IP address like 192.168.1.x where x is determined by the range of the DHCP addresses, to each of the PCs and they will be on the same subnet. If the PCs are also in the same workgroup (right click My Computer and select Properties, then Computer Name), you can add File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks to the Properties of the Local Area Connection or Wireless Connection in both computers and you can start sharing folders and printers.

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humm

by CG IT · 15 years ago In reply to KVM Switch and sharing

guess I didn't fully understand the posters question. I assumed he already has a router in place .

Toivo is right if you have a cable internet connection and that connection goes directly into a computer for internet access [not recommended]. Then as Toivo said, you'll need a router so that you can share the internet connection. You CAN get a wireless router which has a built in 4 port wired switch. With that, you can have both wired and wireless and both wired and wireless comps can access shared resources.

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