Help Connecting Computers.

[Monty Python]

I do computer repair out of my home. I share a wireless router with 3 other Users.

I have been trying to connect to the router by using a plug-in USB Network Adapter and have been experiencing problems with that. I think it may have to do with the router's configuration settings not allowing more than a certain number of connection "records". When I browse to the (2Wire) router's configuration page, I can see a record of all of the computers I have connected to the wireless. Only my computer can connect to the router, none of my client's computers can, and they used to be able to so.

First, I would like some help in learning how to set-up a Bridge Connection, as it would be easier to simply connect the Client's computer to mine via Cat5 and connect to the internet that way. But I have never done this before.

But I also have a couple of laptops with wireless NICs, and they need to be able to connect so that I can run malware scans, etc...

[johnwill]

Who configured the router? It sounds like you may have MAC filtering enabled.

[Monty Python]

Found out today the connection issues were because I was using the wrong password/encryption code. (Whatever the correct term is.)

Once I had that right, everything connected just fine.

However I am still wondering about how to simulate a LAN (not wireless) connection via a wirelessly connected "host" computer. The last computer I had was brought in because malware had disabled it's ability to connect at the customer's house. I removed the malware, rebuilt the Winsock files, etc... but still needed to confirm that it would connect via Cat5 when the system was taken back home.

My first thought would be to build a crossover cable and do a straight "LAN" connection, but I want to replicate the customer's conditions to the greatest extent possible, to reduce the possiblity that they will havea problem after they get the system home. (And after they have paid me, lol...)

Is a LAN connection (with a crossover cable) functionally equivalent to connecting to a modem or router ? Can you connect to the internet via a computer-to-computer LAN connection ?

If so, what is a bridge, and how is that different ?

Please correct any words that have been used inaccurately, & thanks in advance.

[johnwill]

Simulate a LAN? Why not just connect to your router with a cable?

[Monty Python]

Simulate a LAN? Why not just connect to your router with a cable?

I share a house with others; the router is in another room. I connect wirelessly, so the client's computer will need to connect via my wireless connection, or it's own wireless connection.

I have a cheap, 2wire USB LAN that I can plug in, but it requires the bulky 2wire software in order to connect. Another "sub-component" of this question/situation is to find out what other hardware is available that can reliably connect a wide-variety of computers (desktops & laptops) wirelessly using O/S native drivers, etc... I'm hoping to do away with the 2wire USB LAN, and use something less time consuming and tedious to use.

I'd prefer to have all options open, so that I can return the repaired computer with a reasonable degree of confidence that it will connect to their modem/router/etc... when they take it home.

However a "wired" connection takes place is less important than the fact that I've got one.

Does a LAN (cross-over cable) connection utilize the same "functions" (circuits, software, drivers, etc...) that would be used when the system is connected directly to a router or modem ?

[johnwill]

Use a wireless bridge to extend the wireless, then you can connect multiple computers in your area with a wired connection.

Yes, if you can use a crossover cable, you should be able to declare the NIC working. You could always configure ICS on your machine and "share" the wired connection, this will allow the other computer to be configured with DHCP like it normally would and connect.

Take a look at this Microsoft ICS (Internet Connection Sharing tutorial.