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Trying to connect wireless computers to network
I have a network with a PDC and twenty-five computers all hard wired. There is no wireless connection to the network, but now it is needed. A Netgear router was purchased to allow users to wireless users to connect to the network, but it is not happening. The users can access the internet, but because the router is creating it's own IP addresses, it will not allow them to connect to the network and network printers. Is there any way to get the wireless users to the network using this router?
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You need to turn off DHCP on the router and allow your wireless devices to get their IP addresses from the existing DHCP server.
Configure the network router as a switch. The default setting will be as a router. Give the router an IP Address in the range supplied by the PDC (reserve an address for it). Connect the Netgear device through one of it's switch ports to your network, not the 'internet' port of the device. Configure the Netgear device using WPS or WPA2 security.
Also in addition to the above, and important: Connect a LAN port on the Netgear to the network. Then (as above) give it a static IP address and turn DHCP OFF.
I do this routinely.
I do this routinely.
Don't use the Router's WAN port. Only use the LAN port and connect that to the rest of the LAN. As mentioned already, disable it's DHCP server, and on your normal DHCP server reserve an IP for the router's MAC address, so you can connect to it's configuration page.
Also check the router's settings, some of them have a "Private" mode or something similar. You'd need to disable that to get it to allow LAN connections for it's clients.
Also check the router's settings, some of them have a "Private" mode or something similar. You'd need to disable that to get it to allow LAN connections for it's clients.
I think I am doing the wrong thing. I am trying to have a public wireless on the "Guest" network on the Netgear, needing the DHCP from the router, and also trying to connect the "Main" network on the Netgear but using the DC for DHCP. I thinkk I need a wireless acess point for the main network, then use the Netgear as I am now for the Public wireless. Am I correct?
You need to get DHCP from the Server network.
Connect the machine by Ethernet and see if there is an issue. There may not be.
Connect a wireless access point this way:
1. Connect a LAN port on the wireless access point to the network.
2. Give the Access Point a static IP on the network.
3. Turn DHCP OFF on the Access Point.
Now the machine will get a proper network DHCP address and should retain its folder mappings. I do this routinely.
Connect the machine by Ethernet and see if there is an issue. There may not be.
Connect a wireless access point this way:
1. Connect a LAN port on the wireless access point to the network.
2. Give the Access Point a static IP on the network.
3. Turn DHCP OFF on the Access Point.
Now the machine will get a proper network DHCP address and should retain its folder mappings. I do this routinely.
How do you want to create a public wireless network with this setup? You cannot use your Netgear to serve both. How are you now using the Netgear for Public wireless? How did you connect it?
Gerwin. I had the Cable company set a DMZ in the firewall and the router is providing it's own DHCP.
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