Question : Alternate IP configuration on Vista laptop

Hi,

Few clarifications regarding IP configuration on roaming laptops.



Scenario:

My boss has a wireless laptop that roams around three networks. I would like to get connection configurations to establish problem free connectivity across all networks.


Networks:

1.      Office: Internal network
-      some machines obtain IP address from the internal router/DHCP server while others are statically configured.
-      D-link wireless router set up as wireless access point. Statically configured IP address....NOT acting   as DHCP server.
-      Laptop in concern connects to the domain using this wireless access point.

2.      Home Network:
         - D-Link wireless router acting as DHCP server. Connection from Comcast DSL cable modem.
 
3.      Travel Network:
-      wireless access points
-      wired Ethernet ports in Hotels.


Maybe your suggestions will clarify these:

1.      If the wireless router is not enabled as a DHCP server AND if the laptop is NOT manually assigned an IP in the wireless connection properties, will it borrow the IP from the wired LAN connection?

2.      My boss was having trouble getting connected using the LAN port while traveling and I noticed that it was the static IP settings (belonging to office network) on the LAN connection. I changed that to automatically obtain.

      When she comes to office tomorrow, will she have a problem connecting to the internal wireless network since the wireless router is not a DHCP server?

3.   I have noticed that when she tries to connect to the office wireless, it is like a hit and go onnection&is it because the wireless connection has       not been assigned a static address and the wireless router is not a       DHCP server?


Thanks

Answer : Alternate IP configuration on Vista laptop

Yes, absolutely. If not familiar with how to configure, have a look at the following from an earlier post of mine. The DHCP server can be a router as below or a Windows server runing the DHCP service.

If you wish to share resources between the wired and wireless LAN consider putting them on the same subnet. To do so you need to make the wireless router an access point, rather than a gateway. To do so:
-no changes required to the wired router
-reset the wireless WAN connection to default, i.e un-configured
-assign the wireless LAN side an IP address in the same subnet as the wired router.  Make sure it does not conflict with the wired router's DHCP range, or any statically assigned devices
-disable DHCP on the wireless
-wireless connections should be configured in the normal manor
-connect a cable from one of the LAN ports of the wired router to one of the LAN (not WAN) ports of the wireless. If the lights do not light up indicating a connection you may need a cross-over cable (usually only necessary on older units)
-now all devices should have Internet access and be able to easily connect to one another to share resources. Don't forget to refresh and DHCP addresses on the wireless clients