Possible? PC as gateway to Internet for USB access point/wifi card
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Posted by CraiginNJ on August 18, 2008, 3:54 pm
Please log in for more thread options Is it possible for a Windows XP PC's LAN connection to be used by a few other PC's via wifi to a USB wifi card like the D-Link DWA-160? Here's the connectivity map: One constraint is that I want to do this without "installing" software, but I can run an .exe or java software that I carry with me on a USB memory stick. There's no need to leave anything permanent, as I'd only need this wifi access for other people in the room temporarily during meetings. The reason I can't just directly connect a wifi access point directly to the LAN is that a user must log into the PC to access the LAN and Internet. Direct connections to the Internet are prohibited. But after logging onto the PC that PC can access the Internet via the LAN, so in theory any laptops that use that PC as a gateway could have Internet access though it, too. I seem to recall doing something like that a decade ago, just using a very short and simple java program to receive IP packets and forward them on, & vice versa, but we were using a pair of LAN cards in a PC. I was hoping that there might now might be a turnkey wifi USB solution on the market to do all this. Is there? | |||||||||||||
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Posted by Bill Kearney on August 18, 2008, 10:41 pm
Please log in for more thread options > Direct connections to the Internet are prohibited. But
> after logging onto the PC that PC can access the Internet via the LAN, > so in theory any laptops that use that PC as a gateway could have > Internet access though it, too. In theory this is a great way to get your ass fired. They have the network set up that way for a reason. You're talking about completely circumventing that. Good luck with your job search. | |||||||||||||
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Posted by CraiginNJ on August 19, 2008, 8:10 am
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Bill, please take the time to ask the facts about a situation before you start throwing unwarranted insults like that. By using using the PC as a gateway, this would be in full compliance with their guidelines of enabling internet access to visitor PC's with the existing network protections (password-restricted login, antivirus/ antispyware, firewall, etc.) at no incremental cost or effort on their part, with their knowledge and approval. If you have any constructive ideas instead, I'd welcome them. > =A0> Direct connections to the Internet are prohibited. =A0 But
> > > after logging onto the PC that PC can access the Internet via the LAN,
> > so in theory any laptops that use that PC as a gateway could have > > Internet access though it, too. >
> In theory this is a great way to get your ass fired. =A0They have the > network set up that way for a reason. =A0You're talking about completely > circumventing that. =A0Good luck with your job search. | |||||||||||||
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Posted by Bill Kearney on August 19, 2008, 3:29 pm
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> Bill, please take the time to ask the facts about a situation before
> you start throwing unwarranted insults like that. Leave out the facts in the first place and speculation is all you encourage. > By using using the PC as a gateway, this would be in full compliance
> with their guidelines of enabling internet access to visitor PC's with > the existing network protections (password-restricted login, antivirus/ > antispyware, firewall, etc.) at no incremental cost or effort on their > part, with their knowledge and approval. And you have ASKED THEM THIS? Or you're just thinking "they'd be ok with it"? Having designed, set up and run quite a lot of networks I'd be hard pressed to even begin to trust letting users set up what you're suggesting. What would be the point of having the existing login requirements only to allow something like what you're suggesting? > If you have any constructive ideas instead, I'd welcome them.
And I made a constructive one, ASK before doing something like this. If you have, and they've agreed but haven't offered an approved solution then one could question whether they know what they're doing. As for insults, puh-leeze, get a thicker skin. If you think that's being insulting then you're in for trouble trying to ask questions online. | |||||||||||||
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Posted by Harry331 on August 20, 2008, 1:23 am
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CraiginNJ wrote... >
>Is it possible for a Windows XP PC's LAN connection to be used by a >few other PC's via wifi to a USB wifi card like the D-Link DWA-160? >Here's the connectivity map: > > multiple PC's <---> wifi <---> USB wifi card acting as an >access point <---> Windows XP PC running some kind of .exe or java >packet forwarding software <---> hardwired LAN <---> Internet Would a WiFi hotspot serve your purpose for a login? >One constraint is that I want to do this without "installing"
>software, but I can run an .exe or java software that I carry with me >on a USB memory stick. There's no need to leave anything permanent, >as I'd only need this wifi access for other people in the room >temporarily during meetings. > >The reason I can't just directly connect a wifi access point directly >to the LAN is that a user must log into the PC to access the LAN and >Internet. Login PC ? via what protocol ? via Remote Desktop ? via http ? via telnet ? via ssh ? Login is a client/server process. And you think you can login a PC without installing software ? And you are talking a vanilla PC with Windoz? Incredible!!! >Direct connections to the Internet are prohibited. But
>after logging onto the PC that PC can access the Internet via the LAN, >so in theory any laptops that use that PC as a gateway could have >Internet access though it, too. Maybe you can run a proxy server on your PC. And your guests can setup their browsers to point to your PC as the proxy server. But again you need to install a proxy server on your PC. >I seem to recall doing something like that a decade ago, just using a
>very short and simple java program to receive IP packets and forward >them on, & vice versa, but we were using a pair of LAN cards in a PC. >I was hoping that there might now might be a turnkey wifi USB solution >on the market to do all this. Is there? Then you are the expert. You already have had a solution yourself. | |||||||||||||
access point <---> Windows XP PC running some kind of .exe or java
packet forwarding software <---> hardwired LAN <---> Internet