Auto IP address detection failing

[Robert W. King]

Hi folks!

I have an IBM ThinkPad A21m that can use with either a wired or a wireless
connection by swapping out the PC Cards. The wired connection is a D-Link
DFE-690TXD CardBus card. The wireless connection is a D-Link
DWL-G650. My wireless access point is a D-Link DWL-2100AP which is
daisy-chained to a D-Link DSS-5+. The latter also acts as the port for the
wired connection. I'm running Windows XP Pro on both machines.

My desktop machine dial-up modem connection is shared, so the ThinkPad IP
address should be 192.168.0.xxx. If I have the ThinkPad to obtain an IP
address automatically, when using the wired connection, it properly
configures itself, and the ThinkPad can share files with the desktop and
access the Internet. However, if I use the wireless connection and attempt
to obtain an address automatically, the ThinkPad comes up with
169.254.xxx.xxx. Obviously, that won't work. If I force the issue by
specifying an IP address of 192.168.0.xxx, I'm able to copy files back and
forth between the machines. However, I am NOT able to access the Internet
from the ThinkPad via the shared modem on the desktop.

I hasten to add that originally everything was working whether I was working
in wired or wireless mode. So I have to presume that I've mis-configured
something. But for the life of me, after a week of fooling with the thing I
can't figure out what I need to do to correct the situation.

Can any of you kind folks point out my foolishness and tell me how to fix
it?

--
Robert W. King
I'm an ingenieur, NOT a bloody locomotive driver!
SnailNet: 19023 TV Tower Rd, Winslow, Arkansas 72959
BellNet: 479-634-2086
InterNet: (e-mail address removed)
Web site: http://www.wildweasel.net

 

[Chuck]

Hi folks!

I have an IBM ThinkPad A21m that can use with either a wired or a wireless
connection by swapping out the PC Cards. The wired connection is a D-Link
DFE-690TXD CardBus card. The wireless connection is a D-Link
DWL-G650. My wireless access point is a D-Link DWL-2100AP which is
daisy-chained to a D-Link DSS-5+. The latter also acts as the port for the
wired connection. I'm running Windows XP Pro on both machines.

My desktop machine dial-up modem connection is shared, so the ThinkPad IP
address should be 192.168.0.xxx. If I have the ThinkPad to obtain an IP
address automatically, when using the wired connection, it properly
configures itself, and the ThinkPad can share files with the desktop and
access the Internet. However, if I use the wireless connection and attempt
to obtain an address automatically, the ThinkPad comes up with
169.254.xxx.xxx. Obviously, that won't work. If I force the issue by
specifying an IP address of 192.168.0.xxx, I'm able to copy files back and
forth between the machines. However, I am NOT able to access the Internet
from the ThinkPad via the shared modem on the desktop.

I hasten to add that originally everything was working whether I was working
in wired or wireless mode. So I have to presume that I've mis-configured
something. But for the life of me, after a week of fooling with the thing I
can't figure out what I need to do to correct the situation.

Can any of you kind folks point out my foolishness and tell me how to fix
it?

Robert,

When you "force the issue" with the wireless connection, are you specifying a
Default Gateway? Run "ipconfig /all" with the computer using the wired
connection (DHCP correctly providing configuration), and using the wireless
connection (fixed settings, as in "forced").

If that works, that means that the only problem is getting DHCP working with the
wireless card. You could do that, or you could use the Alternate Configuration
settings under TCP/IP Properties to specify fixed settings.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/have-laptop-will-travel.html>