Question

Windows 2000 Laptop on Two Networks

Asked by: tommy_hlfgr

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to configure Windows 2000 to sign into two networks? One netowork uses DHCP the other has static IP addresses. I want the user to be able to log into either one without having yo make changes to TCP/Ip. I thought this was possible with using Hardware Profiles but when I assign an address to the NIC in one profile it changes it in the other one as well. Any information on this would be appreciated.\

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Asked On
2003-04-14 at 14:17:47ID20584995
Tags

two

,

networks

,

laptop

,

static

,

windows

Topics

Miscellaneous Networking

,

TCP/IP

Participating Experts
5
Points
145
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: tmwsiyPosted on 2003-04-14 at 14:48:17ID: 8329636

If you are using the same network card then you will have to reconfigure tcp/ip each time you switch. You could write a vbscript that changes the ip configurations for the user so all they woudl hafta do is run them to change from one environment to the other. Is the static environment hie home? If so you could implement dhcp there as well to make it easy.

 

by: tommy_hlfgrPosted on 2003-04-14 at 15:12:06ID: 8329761

DHCP is our network. The static network is the network at one of our client sites.

 

by: tmwsiyPosted on 2003-04-14 at 15:16:54ID: 8329785

If you have two pcmcia nics to use (one for one site and one for the other) 2k should retain separate configurations for the two.

that or somekind of script is all i can think of
may be a 3rd party tool for this but I dont know of it

 

by: ChabneyPosted on 2003-04-14 at 17:43:12ID: 8330518

Couple of questions...

1) Do you have any control over your DHCP address pool?

2) Do you always know the static IP's that you will be using at the client site, or do they sometimes change?

I think that you have a couple of options, but they depend on how much control you have and how "static" your client's environment is.

I'll keep checking back....

 

by: theMuzzPosted on 2003-04-14 at 20:47:12ID: 8331205

During the college years I set up the following.

Add this to autoexec.bat
@ECHO OFF
IF "%config%"=="HOME" GOTO QUIT
IF "%config%"=="SCHOOL" GOTO HELP

:HOME
echo Welcome to the @home network
GOTO QUIT

:SCHOOL
echo Welcome to Shernet
GOTO QUIT

:QUIT


and this to config.sys
[menu]
menuitem=HOME, Start computer with CD-ROM support.
menuitem=SCHOOL, Start computer without CD-ROM support.
menudefault=SCHOOL,10
menucolor=7,0

[HOME]

[SCHOOL]

[COMMON]
files=10
buffers=10
dos=high,umb
stacks=9,256
lastdrive=z
device=display.sys con=(ega,,1)
country=004,850,country.sys
install=mode.com con cp prepare=((850) ega.cpi)
install=mode.com con cp select=850


***NOTE*** these are direct copies, the [COMMON] part 'might' not be required

Under the :HOME and :SCHOOL portions i'd add a regedit line to load up some settings
IE:
regedit /s c:\homeSettings.reg
or
regedit /s c:\schoolSettings.reg

Wish I could help you more but I'm running XP now and apparently the reg keys are 'slightly' different.
Either way, this code should prompt you with a menu before windows boot that will allow you to select your location/network and then insert/update the required registry keys so that no reboot or settings changes are required.

Hope this helps and hope someone can fill in my blanks.

Best of luck!

 

by: theMuzzPosted on 2003-04-14 at 20:49:45ID: 8331212

myBad. there are a few mistakes in this code
IE:
in autoexec
IF "%config%"=="HOME" GOTO QUIT
IF "%config%"=="SCHOOL" GOTO HELP

should read
IF "%config%"=="HOME" GOTO HOME
IF "%config%"=="SCHOOL" GOTO SCHOOL

minor things really.
My attempt was weak, hope someone can pick up from here and fix my tired'ness ;)

 

by: tnywgPosted on 2003-04-14 at 22:39:58ID: 8331574

theMuzz, he's running win2k which does not run autoexec.bat at startup, right??

 

by: tmwsiyPosted on 2003-04-14 at 23:11:54ID: 8331670

WMI offers a much more robust way to script this.

You could write a vbscript, jscript, or activeperl script that would prompt user at startup where they are currently accessing the network from and adjust settings accordingly. I mentioned this in my first response.

 

by: theMuzzPosted on 2003-04-15 at 06:43:11ID: 8333748

tnywg:
actually it still does run the autoexec on startup.
I've had this running on a 2k machine before.
wish i'd made a complete backup of the script though

 

by: tommy_hlfgrPosted on 2003-04-15 at 06:49:44ID: 8333793

I am aware of the IP that will be used in the static environment. It will always be the same. I have little control over the IP's in the DHCP environment. I think tmwsiy is on the right path but I have no idea how to write that script.

 

by: davidhalliganPosted on 2003-05-29 at 05:39:42ID: 8605342

I have a similar problem.  static ip's at work and dhcp at home.  my home LAN uses a different gateway therefore it requires a reconfigure.  I found a simple fix to the problem:

configure your TCP/IP for one network then run regedit.
find the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\
Within that key is a list of all your network interfaces identified by interface id's (unique to interface/adapter unfortunately)
Select the interface that corrosponds to your LAN.
Right click and export the reg to a file name network1.reg

reconfgure the TCP/IP settings then export the same key again to another file network2.reg

double clicking on either of the reg files will import the reg settings for the appropriate network. I am running windows-xp which does this without requiring a reboot,  I don't know if Windows 2k does.

I know that this is a bit of a dirty hack but it might be quicker than trying to script something using WMI/ADSI.  It might also be possible to run a script on startup which will ask for a choice between networks and import the appropriate setting for you to save you double clicking on the .reg file(s).

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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