Can two computers on wifi lan take a shortcut peer to peer?

klonk · 07-23-2006, 09:18 PM

Hi All,

My first post so hoping for beginners luck!

I have two computers (one XP and one Server 2k3) connected wirelessly to a router for internet.

Now, my issue is that I would like to connect the XP directly by ethernet to the Server machine's share (they are in the same room) to get higher speed than the wireless can provide.

I have the wireless NICs set up for DHCP to the router and then entered fixed ip adresses on each computer's network adapter. After removing the firewall the XP could see the share. I can ping the server as well.

Now, my question is how do I know which route the share takes? If I have two computers on the same lan, and they are also connected peer to peer, would communication between them take the shortest route? I want to make sure the share goes via the wire, but it feels to slow for that.

Can anyone shred some light into this?

Best,
Jimbo

mgmcc · 07-24-2006, 12:45 AM

You could disable "File & Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" in the Wireless Adapter settings so that the file sharing only works over the direct ethernet link.

Presumably, the router isn't suitably located to connect to it by ethernet cable instead of "wirelessly"?

klonk · 07-24-2006, 09:35 AM

Hi mgmcc, and thanks for your response.

I've done that now and to be sure I switched off the router (which is on another floor to far away for a cable), and still have a connection. It actually said that the connection to my share had been restored, so I guess that's when it re-routed internally.

One thing that worries me now is that I've switched off the firewall on the server. Can I switch on and off the firewall settings on a card by card basis, or is the Windows firewall a global setting?

mgmcc · 07-24-2006, 11:58 AM

Depending on the firewall software you are using, you should be able to configure it to allow access to the networked computers in its "trusted" area, while still blocking unwanted traffic from the internet.

Another option might be to disable TCP/IP protocol in your direct ethernet connection and run it instead over IPX/SPX protocol. This isn't affected by firewalls and doesn't need configuring like TCP/IP. Because IPX/SPX isn't compatible with the internet, which requires TCP/IP, computers will only be accessible from within your own network.

**johnwill** · 07-24-2006, 04:05 PM

With Windows server, can't you configure the routing table to do what you're trying to do?

07-23-2006, 09:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
klonk Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP	Can two computers on wifi lan take a shortcut peer to peer? Hi All, My first post so hoping for beginners luck! I have two computers (one XP and one Server 2k3) connected wirelessly to a router for internet. Now, my issue is that I would like to connect the XP directly by ethernet to the Server machine's share (they are in the same room) to get higher speed than the wireless can provide. I have the wireless NICs set up for DHCP to the router and then entered fixed ip adresses on each computer's network adapter. After removing the firewall the XP could see the share. I can ping the server as well. Now, my question is how do I know which route the share takes? If I have two computers on the same lan, and they are also connected peer to peer, would communication between them take the shortest route? I want to make sure the share goes via the wire, but it feels to slow for that. Can anyone shred some light into this? Best, Jimbo

07-24-2006, 12:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
mgmcc Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dundee, Scotland Posts: 244 OS: XP, Vista, Mac OS X	You could disable "File & Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" in the Wireless Adapter settings so that the file sharing only works over the direct ethernet link. Presumably, the router isn't suitably located to connect to it by ethernet cable instead of "wirelessly"? Last edited by mgmcc; 07-24-2006 at 12:48 AM.

07-24-2006, 04:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,983 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	With Windows server, can't you configure the routing table to do what you're trying to do? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-24-2006, 09:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
klonk Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP	Hi mgmcc, and thanks for your response. I've done that now and to be sure I switched off the router (which is on another floor to far away for a cable), and still have a connection. It actually said that the connection to my share had been restored, so I guess that's when it re-routed internally. One thing that worries me now is that I've switched off the firewall on the server. Can I switch on and off the firewall settings on a card by card basis, or is the Windows firewall a global setting?

07-24-2006, 11:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
mgmcc Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dundee, Scotland Posts: 244 OS: XP, Vista, Mac OS X	Depending on the firewall software you are using, you should be able to configure it to allow access to the networked computers in its "trusted" area, while still blocking unwanted traffic from the internet. Another option might be to disable TCP/IP protocol in your direct ethernet connection and run it instead over IPX/SPX protocol. This isn't affected by firewalls and doesn't need configuring like TCP/IP. Because IPX/SPX isn't compatible with the internet, which requires TCP/IP, computers will only be accessible from within your own network.