Configure laptop for both office network and home wireless net?

I hope this isn't too ignorant a question: I have a laptop already
configured to use a wired network in the office, and I want to set it up to
use a wireless net at home. I presume I should be on my guard for conflicts
(very keen not to disrupt the office connection by configuring the home
net). I'd be glad of any advice/pointers!

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## PH, London ##
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"Philip Herlihy" ... wrote ..
> ... I have a laptop already
> configured to use a wired network in the office, and I want to set it
> up to use a wireless net at home....>

With WinXP Prof you can set up alternate net connections (sorry, I don't
know the details ... but I'm sure a lot of people in this NG can help you).
Or you can install a "netswitcher program" (eg the freeware Netswitch
http://www.adtec.it/nwdownload-en.htm) to store the office network setup,
say under the name "work"; then you setup your home network and store its
parameters, say under the name "home", and use the program to load either
network configuration. Maybe using dhcp you can do it automatically ... but
I'm non very familiar with it because I'm used to set network configuration
manually.

MB

Philip Herlihy wrote:
> I hope this isn't too ignorant a question: I have a laptop already
> configured to use a wired network in the office, and I want to set it up to
> use a wireless net at home. I presume I should be on my guard for conflicts
> (very keen not to disrupt the office connection by configuring the home
> net). I'd be glad of any advice/pointers!
>
> --
> ######################
> ## PH, London ##
> ######################
>
>
Each connection is configured separately. When you configure your
wireless connection, that should have no effect on your wired connection.

Hi Philip,

There's a "Network" icon on your desktop. Right-click on the "Properties"
option and you'll see a "Create new connection" or something like that. So,
create a new network configuration with your wireless home connection.
From there, you can create two icons (shorcuts) on your desktop : one for
your office (or "default") config and one for your home configuration. To
switch, just deactivate one and active the other...
I have W2K in french, so I can't give you the exact name of the icons and
options but I hope you get the idea...
Christian.
Québec


"Philip Herlihy" <(E-Mail Removed)> a écrit dans le message de
news:bqhq06$cfr$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I hope this isn't too ignorant a question: I have a laptop already
> configured to use a wired network in the office, and I want to set it up
to
> use a wireless net at home. I presume I should be on my guard for
conflicts
> (very keen not to disrupt the office connection by configuring the home
> net). I'd be glad of any advice/pointers!
>
> --
> ######################
> ## PH, London ##
> ######################
>
>

Both connections are configureed separately.
If you disconnect the Ethernet cable and plug your wifi card, you will
automatically use the wifi connection.
If you unplug the wifi card and plug the Ethernet cable you will
automatically use the wired connection.

Could not be more simple ;-)

Regards
Cédric


"Philip Herlihy" <(E-Mail Removed)> a écrit dans le message de
news: bqhq06$cfr$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I hope this isn't too ignorant a question: I have a laptop already
> configured to use a wired network in the office, and I want to set it up
to
> use a wireless net at home. I presume I should be on my guard for
conflicts
> (very keen not to disrupt the office connection by configuring the home
> net). I'd be glad of any advice/pointers!
>
> --
> ######################
> ## PH, London ##
> ######################
>
>

Thank you for these helpful responses!

--
######################
## PH, London ##
######################


MB wrote:
> "Philip Herlihy" ... wrote ..
>> ... I have a laptop already
>> configured to use a wired network in the office, and I want to set it
>> up to use a wireless net at home....>
>
> With WinXP Prof you can set up alternate net connections (sorry, I
> don't know the details ... but I'm sure a lot of people in this NG
> can help you). Or you can install a "netswitcher program" (eg the
> freeware Netswitch http://www.adtec.it/nwdownload-en.htm) to store
> the office network setup, say under the name "work"; then you setup
> your home network and store its parameters, say under the name
> "home", and use the program to load either network configuration.
> Maybe using dhcp you can do it automatically ... but I'm non very
> familiar with it because I'm used to set network configuration
> manually.
>
> MB

"Cedric Le Meur" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote$
> Both connections are configureed separately.
> If you disconnect the Ethernet cable and plug your wifi card, you will
> automatically use the wifi connection.
> If you unplug the wifi card and plug the Ethernet cable you will
> automatically use the wired connection.

> Could not be more simple ;-)

Only confused a tiny bit if you plug into a wired connection at home
while your wireless is connected. It works, but probably uses only one or
the other, or maybe both connections... hard to say.

My Win2000 laptop is wired in the office, wireless at several locations,
and seems at peace with the setup. I didn't do anything special,
and don't disable or enable anything when moving from one network to
the other.

The worst problem is a bit of a delay before a Linksys wireless router
gives me an IP address... maybe a minute or two.

I don't suppose there is a potential issue with login credentials? The
laptop concerned will have to log on to a Win2K network at the office, but
in order to use the printer at home it will have to be authenticated by the
XP Pro machine to which the printer is attached. I've done this
successfully with a W98 laptop, but W98 login has a lot less to it!

--
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## PH, London ##
######################

Philip Herlihy <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I don't suppose there is a potential issue with login credentials? The
> laptop concerned will have to log on to a Win2K network at the office, but
> in order to use the printer at home it will have to be authenticated by the
> XP Pro machine to which the printer is attached. I've done this
> successfully with a W98 laptop, but W98 login has a lot less to it!

You don't say what OS is on the laptop. XP remembers logon credentials per
site (Control Panel-User Accounts-Advanced) by either node name or IP
address. After you log in once, it should be happy with either network.
You just have to remember to select the proper printer, and not click on
the print icon in most programs, which go to the default, wherever that
might be.


--
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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5

Thanks - it's a Win2K laptop. Sounds like I've been a bit too paranoid over
this; I'll just hook it all up and see what happens. I take your point over
printers - I'm sure I'm not the only one to wonder where my printout went
while others were wondering where it had come from!

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## PH, London ##
######################


(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> Philip Herlihy <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> I don't suppose there is a potential issue with login credentials?
>> The laptop concerned will have to log on to a Win2K network at the
>> office, but in order to use the printer at home it will have to be
>> authenticated by the XP Pro machine to which the printer is
>> attached. I've done this successfully with a W98 laptop, but W98
>> login has a lot less to it!
>
> You don't say what OS is on the laptop. XP remembers logon
> credentials per site (Control Panel-User Accounts-Advanced) by either
> node name or IP address. After you log in once, it should be happy
> with either network. You just have to remember to select the proper
> printer, and not click on the print icon in most programs, which go
> to the default, wherever that might be.