Hello Guys,
I use a Thinkpad600 with Mandriva 10.1 and a PC with WinXP sp2 where I have internet connection on Sierra Wireless Aircard 555 modem as a PCMCIA card. I use the linuxbox to learn linux.

An ideal solution would be to:
have a Wireless lan prefrebly on USB. 2 small usb devices in each box.
Which make it possible to access and use the wireless card on the xpbox as a Wi Fi solution from the linux box. Secondly an convenient ability to transfer files between the 2 boxes.

Secondly since I am a newbie extremely ease setup and simple use.

Does this exist or is it a dream. It would be nice in order for me to learn linux.

Can anybody support me on this. Tell me it is a dream or tell me this exist and how to achieve it???????

Thanks I appreciate every reply on this.

but learning every day

ArneKasper

Have the XP box share its Internet connection. It will reassign the second network card in the XP box to 192.168.1.1 if I remember correctly. Verify that your laptop is using that IP address as its default gateway (command is route. Make sure that the IP address of the Thinkpad's network card is on the 192.168.1.0/24 network. All should be good. Samba will allow you to do file sharing, and CUPS can share a printer if one exists.



XP box
Network card 1 = 192.168.1.1   255.255.255.0

Laptop
network card = 192.168.1.4   255.255.255.0
default gateway = 192.168.1.1

musicman_ace,
Thank's for reply. Everything sounds so simple for people who know what they are doing.

How do I get there? I don't have any network card yet, I don't know what or where to buy, where can I get card with drivers for linux and xp.

I don't have a friend who can tech me how to do. 3 months ago I started with linux. I know how to get a winmodem and sound chip working on my old Thinkpad. I have more than 20 years experience with window, now XP sp2.

BUT I WANT IT. Can you help me?

Ok, let me get a couple things straight.

Your on dialup I think
The windows box has a modem in it.
The linux laptop does not have a network card
you want to network the laptop and desktop to share your modem connection.



Is this all true?

musicman_ace,
It's all true except that the modem on the XP box is a PCMCIA Sierrra Wireless AirCard 555 is a CDMA 1xRTT Data/Fax/Voice cellular modem.

It looks you are willing to help. I am gratefull for that.

Well, it should be possible though it won't be very useful.

Go out and buy the following:
1 network card for windows
1 network card for the laptop
1 crossover cable. It should be label as a crossover patch cable.

1. Install the windows network card. Load the drivers and go to the "Network Connection" dialog box. Right click on it and choose to share it.
Once that is done, proceed to the next phase.

2. Install the Linux network card. You may have to compile the module for the network card. Connect the two with the crossover cable. I imagine mandriva has a control panel to allow you to configure the network card settings I listed previously.


If you are going to ask which network card to buy, look at the website of your local electronic store to see which brands they sell, and then look on the HCL here on LQ. The link is on the right. That will tell you which cards are supported.

Thank's Adam,
Just to clarify:
When you say network card for Windows You mean PCMCIA card or.....?
Ditto for linux or.......?
You propose a wired connection. Is that simpler to get working compared to a wireless lan by USB?
I am aware of the wired lan is faster but the wireless is more convenient. Can move the notebook around the house as an example.

Sorry, I forgot you were going wireless. I've been answering two posts that are very similar (1 wired, and this wireless one.)

Ok, buys two wireless cards. Any pci wireless card will work with windows, then check the HCL here for a wireless card with decent linux support. Once you have both of them, you can either buy a wireless router, or use the adhoc features to communicate without a router. For simplicity, I'd suggest you use a router.

Adam,
I am reading a lot collected and written on wireless lan by Jean Tourrilhes Hewlett Packard. His message is:
If you want speed go wired LAN
If you want simple installation go wired LAN
The last one you know is important for me. The first one is connected with my wireless modem where the speed varies a lot from 1 to 2 kbs uptil 150kbs on ftp downloads. On a bad day, any slow down due to wireless delays can make a horrible connection even worse. Unfortunately I don't have access to broadband or even a god phoneline in my house.
I don't know the slowdown factor on the wireless solution or how much simpler it is to get the lan to work.

Further more I am retired and have a nice office home with Air-Con (I live in Thailand where it's hot). In other words it would nice to take the notebook out in the garden but speed is precious for me.

Do you have an opinion/advice you can share with me on this issue????

I agree with his statements as using 1 connection for multiple PCs will slow it down. Since the PC with the modem has to translate the information for the other PCs in the house and broadcast it to them, it adds more complexity to the connection. I generally don't recommend sharing dial up, but it can be done.

Adam,
Taken into account my limited knowledge on linux and the fact that I have never setup a LAN in windows I have decided to go for a wired LAN.

I can try a wireless one later if a want and hopefully have a better phone line and maybe Adsl.

If I understand your earlier reply I should get:
1. one PCI ethernet card for XP box
2. one PCMCIA ethernet card for linux
3. 1 crossover cable. label as a crossover patch cable.

What is the function of a router in this setup? Should my wireless Sierra Card be connected to the router?. To avoid the slowdown due to the PC have to translate to the linux box as wrote in your last reply:

"Since the PC with the modem has to translate the information for the other PCs in the house and broadcast it to them, it adds more complexity to the connection. I generally don't recommend sharing dial up..."
This is happening in wired LAN also??????

I need to surf the net to look for the router function, maybe you have some advise on the issue ?, then I will follow your step by step. My nearest IT shop is in the next city and they hardly speak English so it will take some time.

On LAN adapter in the compatibility list I can see that BROADCOM, INTEL, Marwell and REALTEK is certified. Whats your preference ?

I will post back to you ASAP. I will appreciate if you stay tuned.

Thank you.

No router is needed when using a crossover cable

My computers have RealTek or 3com network cards. I've always had luck with those chipsets.

Hello Adam,
The shopping is done and I got the following:
For the XP box: 3Com 10/100 3CSOHO100B-TX
For the linux box: INTELLINET PCMCIA 10/100
3m crossover cable (link enhanced 350MHZ P/N US 9015........)

The PCMCIA was not easy. The shops are full of wireless devices but little to choose from on wired stuff. The one I got has a linux driver/setup, but it's not on the compatible list. So none of the 3com,realtek or broadcom was available.

I enclose the installation text for your kind evaluation:
AX88190 LINUX DRIVER INSTALL
Note: this driver for linux 2.2.x

1. copy driver to /asix
# mcopy a:/* /asix

2. download pcmcia-cs-3.1.8.tar.gz from hyper. stanford.edu
read PCMCIA-HOWTO file & install it

# mcopy pcmcia-cs-3.1.8.tar.gz /usr/src/linux
# tar zxvf pcmcia-cs-3.1.8.tar.gz
# cd /usr/src/linux/pcmcia-cs-3.1.8
# make config
# make all; make install

3. add the following lines into /etc/pcmcia/config
card "ASIX AX88190 Based Fast Ethernet PCMCIA Card"
version "ASIX", "AX88190"
bind "pcnet_cs"

* ASIX: Manufacture ID in CIS
* AX88190: Product ID in CIS

4. you can copy pcnet_cs.c from /usr/src/pcmcia-cs-3.1.8/clients/ to /

5. please check pcnet_cs.c has the following lines:
static hw_info_t hw_info[]={
.
.
{ /* ASIX AX88190 */ 0x0400, 0x88, 0x19, 0x00, 0 },
.
.
}

PS.0x0400 : The Node Address location
0x88, 0x19, 0x00 : Node Address

6.# cd /asix
# chmod +x gen1 gen2

7.# gen1
# gen2

8.# reboot

For linux 2.2.x. Can I use it mandriva 10.1 which I believe have kernel 2.4x?????

Ad 1. Mailed the manufacturer since the CD is full of files and asked which files to copy to /asix

AD. 2. The latest file is PCMCIA-cs-3.2.8.tar.gz from Souceforge. I think it safe to follow the instruction and use PCMCIA-cs-2.1.8.tar.gz.
Your comment ???

Ad. 3. Added to /etc/pcmcia/config

Ad. 4. I don't understand this. only copy from not to where.

I try to be careful to avoid problem.

When reading the 3Com installation it seems it is plug-and-play, but they say implicit the cable should be plugged in before boot. I think I will ignore that and plug the cable after.

As soon as I get answer from the manufacturer I will start. In the mean time I read PCMCIA HOWTO by Hind.

Please help

I haven't found anything to suggests that pcmcia card is supported, and it looks like you are using proprietary drivers from a manufacturer. The only help I can suggest is to see if the manufacturer has a support forum.

Adam,
God news. The instruction in my last mail is for 16 Bit card. Mine is 32 Bit and uses the REALTEK 8139 chip. This chip is on mandriva 10.1 compatible Certified list. I find this on the manufacturer FAQ list.

There 2 versions of this card available: a 16 Bit and a 32 Bit version. The 16 Bit version uses the "AX88190" chipset while the 32 Bit cardbus version is based on RTL8139 chipset. Please check your model and get the latest LINUX drivers here on our web site".

The card support:
Standards: IEEE 802.3 10BaseT and 802.3u 100BaseTX
Connectors: RJ45 x 1
Bus Width: 32 Bit Cardbus
Media Coupler Interface: 15 Pin Flat Connector
LED: 10 / 100Mbps, Activity
Power: 3.3V / 450mA Max.
Driver Support: ODI - Novell NetWare 3.x, 4.x ,NDIS, Microsoft Windows 9x/2000/Me/XP & Windows NT 4.0
Certification: FCC Class A, CE Mark

No mention of linux for this card. I will approach them asking for a revised installation instruction.

Any comment?????