can't file share files wirelessly over WRT54G router

I have a plain NETBIOS/NETBEUI file sharing network of 3 computers.
The 2 desktops are wired. One runs OS/2 Warp, the other Win XP Pro.
they are connected via a Linksys WRT54G version 2 router with the
latest (Aug 05) firmware. Both desktops can access the internet via
tcp/ip and share files with NETBIOS. I have not used netbios over
tcpip because I like the security of having my file sharing not being
routable.

I also have a Dell Inspiron 5650 with both wired and wireless
adapters, set up with tcpip for internet access and NETBIOS for file
sharing.

The problem is that while the Dell can access the internet wirelessly
without problem, it cannot share files over the wireless connection.
It cannot see or access the other computers, nor can the desktops see
or access it. When I plug in via wired ethernet, file sharing works
without problem.

I got the linksys configured for wep security, with a 26 digit
password. I have tried changing the dell settings from shared to open
and back, but nothing works. I've even tried to disable wireless
security entirely to no avail.

I've had file sharing work wirelessly in the past with this router so
I'm wondering what has changed. I may not have tried to share files
since I did the firmware upgrade, so I"m wondering if something
changed in firmware that would prevent me from sharing files.

Anyone have any suggestions for settings to try in the router and/or
laptop to fix this?
TIA
--

On 2/20/2006 7:45 AM, Mark Klebanoff wrote:
> I have a plain NETBIOS/NETBEUI file sharing network of 3 computers.
> The 2 desktops are wired. One runs OS/2 Warp, the other Win XP Pro.
> they are connected via a Linksys WRT54G version 2 router with the
> latest (Aug 05) firmware. Both desktops can access the internet via
> tcp/ip and share files with NETBIOS. I have not used netbios over
> tcpip because I like the security of having my file sharing not being
> routable.
>
> I also have a Dell Inspiron 5650 with both wired and wireless
> adapters, set up with tcpip for internet access and NETBIOS for file
> sharing.
>
> The problem is that while the Dell can access the internet wirelessly
> without problem, it cannot share files over the wireless connection.
> It cannot see or access the other computers, nor can the desktops see
> or access it. When I plug in via wired ethernet, file sharing works
> without problem.
>
> I got the linksys configured for wep security, with a 26 digit
> password. I have tried changing the dell settings from shared to open
> and back, but nothing works. I've even tried to disable wireless
> security entirely to no avail.
>
> I've had file sharing work wirelessly in the past with this router so
> I'm wondering what has changed. I may not have tried to share files
> since I did the firmware upgrade, so I"m wondering if something
> changed in firmware that would prevent me from sharing files.
>
> Anyone have any suggestions for settings to try in the router and/or
> laptop to fix this?
> TIA

Maybe pure NetBios is not supported over the wireless. I don't know if
you are gaining any security since an attacker could take over on the
clients and then use it. You probably need to use the Netbios over TCP/IP.

Dan

"Mark Klebanoff" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>The problem is that while the Dell can access the internet wirelessly
>without problem, it cannot share files over the wireless connection.
>It cannot see or access the other computers, nor can the desktops see
>or access it. When I plug in via wired ethernet, file sharing works
>without problem.

In theory, wireless is Layer 3 protocol neutral. Wireless is bridging
and doesn't know anything about TCP/IP. The file sharing can be done
with NETBEUI, IPX/SPX, or some other protocol, and it should still
work. Note that for Windoze file sharing to function, NETBIOS must be
running on top of some protocol. It's usually TCP/IP but can be
NETBEUI. Make sure NETBIOS is enabled over NETBEUI.

>they are connected via a Linksys WRT54G version 2 router with the
>latest (Aug 05) firmware

The current version from Linksys is 4.20.7 dated 8/25/2005. I don't
see anything in the release history that would affect this problem.

The question boils down to:
1. What is different between the direct ethernet connection and
wireless with respect to file sharing?
2. What might be preventing NETBEUI file sharing on a specific
interface?

Try:

1. Do you have a working connection via wireless? There's no handy
ping utility for NETBEUI, so you'll need ot rely on the supplied
diagnostics. I can't find any useful way to test NETBEUI other than
higher level sharing diagnostics such as:
NET VIEW
NETSTAT -an
NBTSTAT -n
If you see the rest of the network with these diagnostics, it's sorta
working.

2. Is NETBEUI properly installed on the DELL 5650? See:
http://www.ezlan.net/netbeui.html
Quite simple methinks.

3. Do you have a working wireless connection? Not being able to
share via NETBEUI might be indicative of no connectivity. The most
common problem is WEP key failure. Use a Hex key, not an ASCII key,
or temporarily test it with encryption disabled. If possible, you
might try a different computer going through the wireless part of the
puzzle. That will identify if the problem is with the Dell or the
WRT54G.

4. Try disabling the Windoze filewall on the Dell 5650. I don't
think it will have any effect but it's worth a try.

5. Did you properly enable/disable TCP/IP and NETBEUI in the adapter
settings? This might account for the diffrence between wireless and
wired.
Control Panel -> Network
Pull down the "Advanced" thingy on the menu bar at the top of the
window. Check if the correct protocols are installed and bound to the
adapter.
http://www.ezlan.net/network/XP_Net_advance.jpg
Also make sure that Client for Microsloth Networks is installed and
set to Windoze Locator for RPC/DNS services.

6. It is possible that the WRT54G v2 is blocking broadcasts via the
wireless interface. Try connecting directly to a remote share with:
Start -> Run -> \\share_name
You should get a directory listing even though Computers Near Me and
NET VIEW show nothing.

7. I'll assume that your Dell 5650 has SP2 and subsequent updates
installed. There were a large number of network related bug fixes in
SP2.

8. Got any MAC filters enabled in the WRT54G? For that matter, got
any IP filters that might be blocking TCP/IP traffic and taking other
protocols with it? It's a stretch, but possible.

I sure wish there were a ping like utility that worked with NETBEUI.
If all else fails, there's always sniffing the wireless connection and
analyzing the capture file with Ethereal:
http://www.ethereal.com
Methinks that's far too much work for this problem.

Incidentally, I've run NETBEUI file sharing through various routers
including a WRT54G v1.1 in the past without difficulties. It should
work (famous last words).



--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:38:32 UTC, Dan <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> > I've had file sharing work wirelessly in the past with this router so
> > I'm wondering what has changed. I may not have tried to share files
> > since I did the firmware upgrade, so I"m wondering if something
> > changed in firmware that would prevent me from sharing files.
> >
> > Anyone have any suggestions for settings to try in the router and/or
> > laptop to fix this?
> > TIA
>
> Maybe pure NetBios is not supported over the wireless. I don't know if
> you are gaining any security since an attacker could take over on the
> clients and then use it. You probably need to use the Netbios over TCP/IP.
>
> Dan

Well, it's worked in the past with this setup, so I'm trying to figure
out what's changed. I already know how I can't do it, or how else to
do it, but I want to know how I CAN do it.
--

>
> The question boils down to:
> 1. What is different between the direct ethernet connection and
> wireless with respect to file sharing?
> 2. What might be preventing NETBEUI file sharing on a specific
> interface?
>
> Try:
>
> 1. Do you have a working connection via wireless? Yes, via tcpip, and I can ping the other computers hooked up to the linksys by pinging their ip addresses (assigned by the dhcp server on the router).

There's no handy
> ping utility for NETBEUI, so you'll need ot rely on the supplied
> diagnostics. I can't find any useful way to test NETBEUI other than
> higher level sharing diagnostics such as:
> NET VIEW
> NETSTAT -an
> NBTSTAT -n
> If you see the rest of the network with these diagnostics, it's sorta
> working.
>

When I type net view from one of the desktops it sees the laptop, but
net view from the laptop finds nothing. nbtstat -n says no names in
cache. I have no idea how to interpret netstat -an but I get a lot of
tcp and ip sites
> 2. Is NETBEUI properly installed on the DELL 5650? See:
> http://www.ezlan.net/netbeui.html
I think so since it seems to work in wired mode

> Quite simple methinks.
>
> 3. Do you have a working wireless connection? Not being able to
> share via NETBEUI might be indicative of no connectivity.

No, I can access the internet wirelessly and can ping the other local
computers

The most
> common problem is WEP key failure. Use a Hex key, not an ASCII key,
> or temporarily test it with encryption disabled. If possible, you
> might try a different computer going through the wireless part of the
> puzzle. That will identify if the problem is with the Dell or the
> WRT54G.

I don't have another wireless, unfortunately. I'll try turning off
encryptataion.
>
> 4. Try disabling the Windoze filewall on the Dell 5650. I don't
> think it will have any effect but it's worth a try.

The firewall has always been disabled. I use Zonealarm, but disabling
that does not help
>
> 5. Did you properly enable/disable TCP/IP and NETBEUI in the adapter
> settings? This might account for the diffrence between wireless and
> wired.
> Control Panel -> Network
> Pull down the "Advanced" thingy on the menu bar at the top of the
> window. Check if the correct protocols are installed and bound to the
> adapter.

I think so.
> http://www.ezlan.net/network/XP_Net_advance.jpg
> Also make sure that Client for Microsloth Networks is installed and
> set to Windoze Locator for RPC/DNS services.
>
Yes, it is.

> 6. It is possible that the WRT54G v2 is blocking broadcasts via the
> wireless interface. Try connecting directly to a remote share with:
> Start -> Run -> \\share_name
> You should get a directory listing even though Computers Near Me and
> NET VIEW show nothing.

I got "an unexpected network error occurred
>
> 7. I'll assume that your Dell 5650 has SP2 and subsequent updates
> installed. There were a large number of network related bug fixes in
> SP2.
>

Yes, it does. You don't suppose Bill Gates "fixed" NETBIOS, do you?
He's done a lot worse to stifle competition.

> 8. Got any MAC filters enabled in the WRT54G? For that matter, got
> any IP filters that might be blocking TCP/IP traffic and taking other
> protocols with it? It's a stretch, but possible.

I don't think so but I'll check

> I sure wish there were a ping like utility that worked with NETBEUI.
> If all else fails, there's always sniffing the wireless connection and
> analyzing the capture file with Ethereal:
> http://www.ethereal.com
> Methinks that's far too much work for this problem.
>
> Incidentally, I've run NETBEUI file sharing through various routers
> including a WRT54G v1.1 in the past without difficulties. It should
> work (famous last words).
>
>
>
I agree, it has worked for me in the past.

--

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:57:03 UTC, Jeff Liebermann
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> In theory, wireless is Layer 3 protocol neutral. Wireless is bridging
> and doesn't know anything about TCP/IP. The file sharing can be done
> with NETBEUI, IPX/SPX, or some other protocol, and it should still
> work. Note that for Windoze file sharing to function, NETBIOS must be
> running on top of some protocol. It's usually TCP/IP but can be
> NETBEUI. Make sure NETBIOS is enabled over NETBEUI.
>

Now when I click on 'entire network" and then on the workgroup I see
the laptop but I cannot access anything from it. Still not sure
what's happening. I've confirmed that sharing's enabled

Mark Klebanoff wrote:
>
> Well, it's worked in the past with this setup, so I'm trying to figure
> out what's changed. I already know how I can't do it, or how else to
> do it, but I want to know how I CAN do it.

Check your firwall settings... A common problem is that when an autoupdate
is applied it changes settings...

"Mark Klebanoff" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>When I type net view from one of the desktops it sees the laptop, but
>net view from the laptop finds nothing.
(...)
>The firewall has always been disabled. I use Zonealarm, but disabling
>that does not help

Smells like a firewall problem, acts like a firewall problem, and
probably is a firewall problem. If it only works in one direction,
it's very likely a firewall problem (somewhere). I've had problems
with Zonealarm that eventually required a total removal and reinstall
to fix. I'm not sure this is one of those.

If nothing else appears as a better solution, try removing ZoneAlarm
and rebooting. It seems a little drastic, but I don't have anything
better to suggest.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> "Mark Klebanoff" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:
>
> >When I type net view from one of the desktops it sees the laptop, but
> >net view from the laptop finds nothing.
> (...)
> >The firewall has always been disabled. I use Zonealarm, but disabling
> >that does not help
>
> Smells like a firewall problem, acts like a firewall problem, and
> probably is a firewall problem. If it only works in one direction,
> it's very likely a firewall problem (somewhere). I've had problems
> with Zonealarm that eventually required a total removal and reinstall
> to fix. I'm not sure this is one of those.
>
> If nothing else appears as a better solution, try removing ZoneAlarm
> and rebooting. It seems a little drastic, but I don't have anything
> better to suggest.
>

I removed zonealarm but to no avail.

(E-Mail Removed) hath wroth:

>Jeff Liebermann wrote:
>> "Mark Klebanoff" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:
>>
>> >When I type net view from one of the desktops it sees the laptop, but
>> >net view from the laptop finds nothing.
>> (...)
>> >The firewall has always been disabled. I use Zonealarm, but disabling
>> >that does not help
>>
>> Smells like a firewall problem, acts like a firewall problem, and
>> probably is a firewall problem. If it only works in one direction,
>> it's very likely a firewall problem (somewhere). I've had problems
>> with Zonealarm that eventually required a total removal and reinstall
>> to fix. I'm not sure this is one of those.
>>
>> If nothing else appears as a better solution, try removing ZoneAlarm
>> and rebooting. It seems a little drastic, but I don't have anything
>> better to suggest.

>I removed zonealarm but to no avail.

Do you check that the Windows firewall didn't magically turn itself
back on?
Control Panel -> Windows Firewall

Well, that leaves few options.
1. It might be the WRT54G. Temporarily replace with something else?
2. Borrow a wireless laptop and try again?
3. Sniff with Ethereal and see what's happening?

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558