Wireless LAN Problems

[Byatt]

I'm currently running a network along my corridor at uni with a wireless access point. There's no internet involved ANYWHERE.

My computer is connected via cable to a switch, which is connected via cable to the access point.

I've set a static LAN IP for my computer, and for another next door - both computers can see each other, and I've set up a guest account in order to allow file transfer - which has worked consistently.

However, a laptop at the end of the corridor with a wNIC card doesn't seem to be able to interface with the other two - it detects the network, and appears to be connected to it successfully, but whenever I try to access either of the other PCs (from Run \\192.168...) it says it cannot find the specified network path.

All the PCs are running XP, except mine, which is on 2k Pro.

Any ideas where it might be going wrong?

[Jiff Lemon]

Hows the access point configured? You got DHCP service switched on?

Just sounds like the laptop is sat with an APIA address.

[Byatt]

Access point is configured with the DHCP on...

...what's an APIA address?

[nichomach]

Access point is configured with the DHCP on...

...what's an APIA address?

APIPA - Automatic Private IP Addressing. Where a NIC in windows 98SE or later is set to automatically acquire an IP address and no DHCP server is available it will pick an IP address from a private range and use that; if another PC is using that address it will pick a different one etc.

Sounds like the box w/wireless NIC is not seeing the DHCP server, or is stuck using the APIPA automatic address. If it's connecting wirelessly, and the DHCP server on the access point is functional, open a command prompt and try ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew?

[Jiff Lemon]

^^ as the man says ^^

You could also make sure the range of IP's the Access point is giving out is the same as your statics. Or simply put everything on a static IP eg:

Your PC: 192.168.0.1
Mates PC: 192.168.0.2
Laptop: 192.168.0.3
Access point: 192.168.0.100

You might also want to check that the wireless card is set to look for access points rather than peer to peer networks, and that your access point is denying access based on MAC address.

[nichomach]

You might also want to check that the wireless card is set to look for access points rather than peer to peer networks, and that your access point is denying access based on MAC address.

Both very good points - dumb question, can you ping the access point from the wired side? I assume it's been assigned a static IP also (good idea if you want it to be a DHCP server).

[Byatt]

right, bit of an update, think I may have been a bit of a monkey describing this.

The access point has a dhcp *client* service - i can't find where where I can make it a dhcp server in it's configuration, even though it is supposed to work as one - will look into this further.

I've given the laptop with the problems a static IP address, just like the other two computers, and the access point.

I *can* ping the access point from the wired connection

The laptop is configured for infrastructure, as opposed to computer-to-computer

The Access Point is not blocking connection by MAC Address whatsoever.

Think that's everything.

[nichomach]

right, bit of an update, think I may have been a bit of a monkey describing this.

The access point has a dhcp *client* service - i can't find where where I can make it a dhcp server in it's configuration, even though it is supposed to work as one - will look into this further.

I've given the laptop with the problems a static IP address, just like the other two computers, and the access point.

I *can* ping the access point from the wired connection

The laptop is configured for infrastructure, as opposed to computer-to-computer

The Access Point is not blocking connection by MAC Address whatsoever.

Think that's everything.

OK, if everything's static that's a good start. Can I ask what brands/models the wireless kit is? You haven't got the AP in wireless bridge mode as opposed to access point mode or summat daft like that?

[Byatt]

right, the one bit of wireless kit that's working is whatever wireless kit comes with the centrino laptop thing...the other one is the 802.11b Netgear laptop card.

access point is netgear too, the wg602 (not sure if it's version 2 or not, would guess that it isn't)

[nichomach]

OK, so we know the AP is working and in AP mode, otherwise the Centrino laptop couldn't talk to it and connect to other machines via it (didn't realise there was more than one laptop talking wirelessly, sorry!).

On the wonky machine, I've sometimes found that the order in which you plug in the card and install the software can be important - usually, it's a case of run the install disk first, then plug in the card; I've seen a Linksys card have similar grief for that reason. Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the card/driver, feeding it the CD first?

[scottyman]

also, depending on the unit, if there's an intenal antenna (like my g/f's tosh) you have to turn on the antenna with a switch, then turn on an antenna broadcast software switch. where the card was showing as fully functional, and connected - but not allowing packet transmission.

[Byatt]

ok, update - managed to get the card working in an ad-hoc network the other day, but it still won't connect to the AP - haven't tried the reinstall yet, haven't had time.

[Byatt]

AND THE NIGHTMARE CONTINUES!

Found several viruses on the troubled computer, which then connected, no problems, could download stuff from my PC + connect to a HL server...now the other machine's stopped connecting, giving the same error message.

WTF?