mikeabc27
asked on
Using two network cards in XP
Hi - I've got a scenario of five XP Pro workgroup PCs one acting as a server. Broadband router acts as DHCP and DNS server.
We keep losing broadband and the ISP are still trying to resolve, but in the meantime I've added wifi USB sticks (108Mbps) and cards (54Mbps) to the 5 PCs to piggyback onto nextdoor office's router.
Wifi is on 192.168.1.x and struggles along at 1 to 2Mb speed but good enough for emails. Wired network is on 192.168.8.x In order to get the internet I have to disable the wired NIC and in order to get a good LAN speed I have to disable the wifi NIC.
How can I get them working well together?
Thanks
We keep losing broadband and the ISP are still trying to resolve, but in the meantime I've added wifi USB sticks (108Mbps) and cards (54Mbps) to the 5 PCs to piggyback onto nextdoor office's router.
Wifi is on 192.168.1.x and struggles along at 1 to 2Mb speed but good enough for emails. Wired network is on 192.168.8.x In order to get the internet I have to disable the wired NIC and in order to get a good LAN speed I have to disable the wifi NIC.
How can I get them working well together?
Thanks
What you can try is run the add new network wizard on all the computers and configure them with the new configuration ,use lan card to access network and WIFI for internet.
The wifi speed depends on the signal strenth and how fast the host computers internet is.
ASKER
qurutc - I've already tried switching the metrics around from auto to 1 and 2, but no difference.
I was thinking not the default gateway, but the primary interface, you know?
Hope I'm helping.
- gurutc
Hope I'm helping.
- gurutc
ASKER
f-king - where is add new network wizard?
ASKER
Sorry gurutc, I misread. How can I point NIC A when I wnat the LAN and NIC B when I want the Internet?
It's in My Netwok Places (in control Panel or on the Start menu) ,on the left pane you will see an option to create a new network.
ASKER
You mean View Network Connections > Create a new connection??
ASKER
f-king - tried that but no luck, still doesn't open web pages.
gurutc - current order was wifi then LAN card, but with both enabled web pages don't open.
gurutc - current order was wifi then LAN card, but with both enabled web pages don't open.
hmm, try swapping the order?
hmm
- gurutc
hmm
- gurutc
Does WIFI have to use fixed ip? ,is the router next door configured that way?
Have you entered the WIFI password if it has one?
Try setting your routers DHCP and DNS setting to Auto and see what happens.
Have you entered the WIFI password if it has one?
Try setting your routers DHCP and DNS setting to Auto and see what happens.
ASKER
I will try it, but I'm relaying the information and the lines are busy at the moment, but wouldn't giving priority to the LAN card make an Internet connection less likely?
ASKER
OK, both cards on each machine uses DHCP and get their settings from the two broadband routers, one of which doesn't have any broadband at the moment.
Broadband on the wired router has been iffy for 15 months, hence, using the second one as back up. Both use the different routers as their gateway and DNS server. Would I be better off putting in fixed DNS server addresses in the wifi card settings like 2.2.2.2 and 4.4.4.4?
Broadband on the wired router has been iffy for 15 months, hence, using the second one as back up. Both use the different routers as their gateway and DNS server. Would I be better off putting in fixed DNS server addresses in the wifi card settings like 2.2.2.2 and 4.4.4.4?
ASKER
f-king - both cards on all 5 PCs are set to auto, hence, my last post.
You would definitely be better off using one of the root DNS servers. If either router has an issue, then it could kill your DNS resolution. Better to get that part of things off the routers.
- gurutc
- gurutc
And...
There's no reason not to try fixing your adaptor IP settings instead of using DHCP, you know?
Good Luck,
- gurutc
There's no reason not to try fixing your adaptor IP settings instead of using DHCP, you know?
Good Luck,
- gurutc
Okay,
So the only real way you are going to get this to work is to use the WIFI connection for internet always, and the wired connection for LAN access always. First thing you will need to do is make sure no default gateway is configured on the wired connection, only ONE NIC should have a default gateway, make it your wireless connection. Pull up a command prompt and use the route command to add all LAN subnets that the wired connection will need access to. IE: route add 192.168.X.X Mask 255.255.X.X 192.168.8.1(this is the wired router gatway) -p (-p makes it so the settings are saved afetr a reboot)
This will make it so the workstations will know to use the wired connection for the local subnets you added, and use the wireless connection for everything else.
This is the best setup your going to get I think, their is no real way to setup a failover strategy for your broadband connection through your workstations(IE have them using wired connection until ISP gives out, then switch to wireless).
So the only real way you are going to get this to work is to use the WIFI connection for internet always, and the wired connection for LAN access always. First thing you will need to do is make sure no default gateway is configured on the wired connection, only ONE NIC should have a default gateway, make it your wireless connection. Pull up a command prompt and use the route command to add all LAN subnets that the wired connection will need access to. IE: route add 192.168.X.X Mask 255.255.X.X 192.168.8.1(this is the wired router gatway) -p (-p makes it so the settings are saved afetr a reboot)
This will make it so the workstations will know to use the wired connection for the local subnets you added, and use the wireless connection for everything else.
This is the best setup your going to get I think, their is no real way to setup a failover strategy for your broadband connection through your workstations(IE have them using wired connection until ISP gives out, then switch to wireless).
Hi,
You can also install server on the box 'acting as a server.' Then you can use the built-in routing and remote access that's part of Windows Server to do a load-balance/fault-toleran
Good Luck,
- gurutc
You can also install server on the box 'acting as a server.' Then you can use the built-in routing and remote access that's part of Windows Server to do a load-balance/fault-toleran
Good Luck,
- gurutc
ASKER
So the only real way you are going to get this to work is to use the WIFI connection for internet always, and the wired connection for LAN access always.
Is there a setting for this?
First thing you will need to do is make sure no default gateway is configured on the wired connection, only ONE NIC should have a default gateway, make it your wireless connection.
Yes I did think there could only be one gateway.
Pull up a command prompt and use the route command to add all LAN subnets that the wired connection will need access to. IE: route add 192.168.X.X Mask 255.255.X.X 192.168.8.1(this is the wired router gatway) -p (-p makes it so the settings are saved afetr a reboot)
I'll set all cards (wifi and LAN) to fixed IPs.
Wifi settings on a PC - IP Address: 192.168.1.x, S/M : 255.255.255.0, d/g: 192.168.1.254 (wifi router IP), DNS servers: 2.2.2.2 and 4.4.4.4
LAN settings on a PC - IP Address: 192.168.8.x, S/M : 255.255.255.0, d/g: blank, DNS servers: 192.168.8.1 (LAN router IP)
Add the DOS command: ROUTE ADD 192.168.8.0 MASK 255.255.255.0 192.168.8.1 -P
Is this correct?
This will make it so the workstations will know to use the wired connection for the local subnets you added, and use the wireless connection for everything else.
This is the best setup your going to get I think, their is no real way to setup a failover strategy for your broadband connection through your workstations(IE have them using wired connection until ISP gives out, then switch to wireless).
Thanks for confirming. I would have preferred the wireless only came into play when the Internet on the wired failed, but if it can't work in a peer-to-peer network, then that's it.
Is there a setting for this?
First thing you will need to do is make sure no default gateway is configured on the wired connection, only ONE NIC should have a default gateway, make it your wireless connection.
Yes I did think there could only be one gateway.
Pull up a command prompt and use the route command to add all LAN subnets that the wired connection will need access to. IE: route add 192.168.X.X Mask 255.255.X.X 192.168.8.1(this is the wired router gatway) -p (-p makes it so the settings are saved afetr a reboot)
I'll set all cards (wifi and LAN) to fixed IPs.
Wifi settings on a PC - IP Address: 192.168.1.x, S/M : 255.255.255.0, d/g: 192.168.1.254 (wifi router IP), DNS servers: 2.2.2.2 and 4.4.4.4
LAN settings on a PC - IP Address: 192.168.8.x, S/M : 255.255.255.0, d/g: blank, DNS servers: 192.168.8.1 (LAN router IP)
Add the DOS command: ROUTE ADD 192.168.8.0 MASK 255.255.255.0 192.168.8.1 -P
Is this correct?
This will make it so the workstations will know to use the wired connection for the local subnets you added, and use the wireless connection for everything else.
This is the best setup your going to get I think, their is no real way to setup a failover strategy for your broadband connection through your workstations(IE have them using wired connection until ISP gives out, then switch to wireless).
Thanks for confirming. I would have preferred the wireless only came into play when the Internet on the wired failed, but if it can't work in a peer-to-peer network, then that's it.
What could be causing the problem could be your router as wired nics think the internet is coming from there but since the ISP is trying to reslove it replacing it with a switch could resolve it.
The Wireless would get the net from the wireless router.
The Wireless would get the net from the wireless router.
ASKER
Yeah, I was thinking about putting the wired router to one side and just use a switch with fixed IPs, but my perfect scenario was getting a fast internet connection on the fixed and only use wifi for fallover, retaining the wired for LAN.
Any luck on getting it to work?
ASKER
I somewhere else today and will out tomorrow. Thanks.
ASKER
I somewhere else today and will CHECK out tomorrow. I should read before clicking SUBMIT
ASKER
I'M somewhere else today and will CHECK out tomorrow. I should read fully before clicking SUBMIT
Don't enter the spelling bee contest ok lol
ASKER
no way!
In the Network Connections folder, right click and Enable the connection that you want to use for web access. Right click and disable the one that you don't want to use.
If you need to use both connections at once (one for Internet, one for LAN for example ), assign a metric to each connection, giving a lower number to the one that you want to use for Internet access. To assign a metric to a network connection:
1. Open the Network Connections folder.
2. Right click the desired connection.
3. Click Properties | Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
4. Click Properties | Advanced.
5. Un-check "Automatic metric".
6. Enter a number between 1 and 9999 for the "Interface metric".
ASKER
We have been doing enabling/disabling cards whether on internet or LAN but this is quite cumbersome.
Tried the metric with Wifi on 1 and LAN on 2, and the other way around but this didn't work.
It appears that with both cards enabled LAN works ok, but LAN card needs to be disabled to use wifi.
Tried the metric with Wifi on 1 and LAN on 2, and the other way around but this didn't work.
It appears that with both cards enabled LAN works ok, but LAN card needs to be disabled to use wifi.
Not sure if you have tried this :
http://forums.speedguide.net/showthread.php?t=215506
and anoter solution :
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/159168/en-us
http://forums.speedguide.net/showthread.php?t=215506
and anoter solution :
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/159168/en-us
ASKER
When a dead gateway is detected by TCP, it can direct IP to switch default gateways to the next gateway in the backup list. (from the MS attachment frm f-king)
This looks about right -I'll check it out to see if it works tomorrow afternoon. Thanks
This looks about right -I'll check it out to see if it works tomorrow afternoon. Thanks
ASKER
Hi, I thought this was the answer, but I see Enable Dead Gateway Detection is set to on by default.
The Internet on the wired connection has been stable for several days now and when it is working it is much faster than the wifi, so we would prefer the wired Internet connection by default and only have the wifi come into play when the wired gateway dies. So I do need to have the two gateways.
Current gateway metric settings on NIC cards is LAN = 1, Wifi =2
Card Priority - LAN, Wifi, Remote Access connections.
I'm sure the wired broadband connection will be fixed eventually, but I'm not going to hold my breath in the meantime.
The Internet on the wired connection has been stable for several days now and when it is working it is much faster than the wifi, so we would prefer the wired Internet connection by default and only have the wifi come into play when the wired gateway dies. So I do need to have the two gateways.
Current gateway metric settings on NIC cards is LAN = 1, Wifi =2
Card Priority - LAN, Wifi, Remote Access connections.
I'm sure the wired broadband connection will be fixed eventually, but I'm not going to hold my breath in the meantime.
Try Enable Dead Gateway to off ,Apply and then to on again ,maybe it will reset it.
Have you tried making a network bridge in Windows?
one for wireless network and one for wired.
one for wireless network and one for wired.
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ASKER
Many thanks for your ideas, esp. f-king
One of those times when we couldnt help :(
you can't win them all.
you can't win them all.
In network connections at the top click Advanced Settings. A window pops up where you can change the order in which your system uses the network connections, giving any adaptor you want the main priority.
Good Luck,
- gurutc