Connect Linux to XP wireless for Network
 

i am having trouble with my wireless USB device. I was wondering if I can connect my PC that is running Ubuntu 7.04 to a PC running XP MC or to a Mac running Tiger 10.4 and run off of either of those two wireless connections (by using an ethernet cable from the Linux PC to either of the other computers). I don't know how to do this. I need help!

To start of you need a straight cat5 cable, i.e. it doesn't have a twisted pair of cables used to connect router etc. You should not need to configure your linux box, it should work fine the way it is. After having conected the machines you go to controll panel in windows and go into the network section. There is the info panel to the left saying something like set up a home network or the likes. Click it. Follow the on screen options and when asked on connection method select " the computer connects to a gateway or another computer on the lan." Follow the other prompts. When asked to create a network setup disk, just click none needed and reboot. This should work and if you have samba should also allow you to share files. The IP would automatically be assigned. If the machines do not connect then run "ifdown eth0" on your linux box and bring the hardware up again with "ifup eth0". If it doesn't work, reboot both machines. Making sure windows is up and running before attempting to try the connection again. If this still fails check your cable.

Best of luck.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean; does "straight" refer to a straight though i.e. normal cable & "twisted" to a cross-over cable? If so, I think you've got it backward.

Raw CAT 5 cabling, by definition, consists of 4, color-coded, twisted pairs in a common sheath. Each end has an RJ-45 connector. There are 2 patterns, "A" & "B", for terminating the wires into the connectors. A straight thorough cable has both ends terminated the same way, usually "B". A cross-over cable has the ends terminated differently, i.e. 1 "A" & 1 "B".

The ports (outlets) that the cables plug into are also generally "regular"/unmarked/"LAN" or "uplink"/"WAN". Switches, cable/DSL modems, & NIC's are wired in a logical way so that usually only regular, i.e. straight thorough, cables are needed.

Unless one of the NIC's in the machines you are connecting is auto-sensing, you will need a cross-over cable to connect the two.

I suggest a quick check of the physical connection before proceeding: At least one, probably both, of the NIC's will have some kind of ready light on when they are hooked up (assuming the power is on). If the computers are on & the NIC's are cabled together, but neither one shows any sign of a light, then the physical connection needs troubleshooting & repair.


Yes, but see below.


Can't comment, Winders-free since May 2005. Besides I always connect through a router+switch.


I take a more direct approach -- as root try, in this order: You should have one & only one of these installed, so when one works you're set. Their purpose is to get an IP address. You can check that by running ifconfig.


A bit drastic, but sometimes it's the only way.


I would have already done that.


Seconded.

Appologies for my post above.archtoad6 has corrected my post, I completely messed up the wiring sequence. Sorry about that... Not sure what I was thinking whilst typing.

Hope I wasn't too harsh -- on a bad day it's a constant struggle for me to be tactful. Apparently, it was either a good day or I succeeded :).

I did something similar when I used my wireless laptop to route internet traffic for my desktop. The laptop was running SuSE Linux, so that was different than your situation. You need to enable Internet Connection Sharing in the windows machine. Then use the IP address of the windows NIC as the default gateway address. You can connect the two computers via a switch or a cross over cable.