Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Sharing Internet Connection via Wireless

Jun 11, 2005 8:03PM PDT

My PC is connected through a wireless modem to internet. It is also connected to a switch and I shared its internet connection (using WinXP home and small office network wizard). So by now all computers connected to the switch can access the internet, also my laptop.

My issue is how to share the laptop's internet connection. My dad's laptop is connected to my laptop through a wireless connection. I want to share the laptop internet LAN connection for the wireless network, so then my dad would be able to connect to the internet through my laptop. But when I check "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection" under LAN connection of my laptop, I recieve an error saying "Internet connection sharing cannot be enabled. A LAN connection is already configured with the IP address that is required for automatic IP addressing".

Homam

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
The message is correct....
Jun 11, 2005 9:51PM PDT

your PC is already doling out the IP addresses for the LAN. For a wireless laptop to connect you would need either a wireless router to take the place of the ICS set up on your PC, or a WAP to be connected to the switch.

- Collapse -
More description
Jun 12, 2005 2:20AM PDT

But I think there must be a way for sharing the connection through my laptop.

I think I have everything and really dont want to buy something else. My laptop is connected to the internet through a shared (wired lan) connection, and I want to connect another laptop to the internet using my laptop wireless network.

- Collapse -
(NT) (NT) Plug a WAP into the switch. Done.
Jun 11, 2005 9:52PM PDT
- Collapse -
Explain this device....
Jun 12, 2005 2:41AM PDT

''My PC is connected through a wireless modem to internet''


I've yet to see a wireless modem which does not have routing capabilities built in.

Name the make and model.

- Collapse -
Re: Explain this device....
Jun 12, 2005 2:57PM PDT

I don't know. The modem is connected to my pc's LAN card using a CAT5 cable. This is the only way for commuicating between the modem and a computer. The pc is shared its internet connection using its second LAN card which is connected to a ethernet switch.

My laptop is connected to the switch using a CAT5 cable and I want to share the internet connection of my laptop.

Homam

- Collapse -
The make and model of the modem....
Jun 12, 2005 6:39PM PDT

is usually labeled on the unit. Copy that down and enter it in your next post.

Once again the easiest solution would be to add a wireless router or a WAP.

- Collapse -
What a strange setup..........
Jun 15, 2005 11:13PM PDT

Here's how it should work:

Modem Connected to switch
Desktop and laptop connected to switch.
You probably could then connect laptop 2 to laptop 1 wirelessly. However, laptop 1 would have to be running as a proxy server, with laptop 2 connecting via it. This is quite complicated to do and software would be required. The best bet is to get a wireless acces point and plug it inot the switch (or a wireless router with built in hub to repla ce the switch) oth laptops would then connect to the internet independently.