Wireless network - ICS yes, Print/File Share no

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave
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Dave

Hello all -

I have a Linksys wireless LAN with 2 WinXP machines and 2 Win98SE
machines. One of the XP machines is set up as the ICS host. The
Internet connection works correctly on all machines; however, I can't
seem to get the network configured. One of the 98SE machines can see
the network, but the only computer it can see is itself; the ICS host
machine can't browse the network and can't ping even itself.

Since ICS is working, obviously the router and network cards are ok. I
have reconfigured the client machines numerous times both manually and
using netsetup.exe, but to no avail. I have eliminated redundant
protocols, verified TCP/IP settings, Workgroup/network name, router
settings, etc. repeatedly and can find no discrepancies or errors
there.

Can anybody suggest a troubleshooting approach?

Thanks
Dave
 
Hello all -

I have a Linksys wireless LAN with 2 WinXP machines and 2 Win98SE
machines. One of the XP machines is set up as the ICS host. The
Internet connection works correctly on all machines; however, I can't
seem to get the network configured. One of the 98SE machines can see
the network, but the only computer it can see is itself; the ICS host
machine can't browse the network and can't ping even itself.

Since ICS is working, obviously the router and network cards are ok. I
have reconfigured the client machines numerous times both manually and
using netsetup.exe, but to no avail. I have eliminated redundant
protocols, verified TCP/IP settings, Workgroup/network name, router
settings, etc. repeatedly and can find no discrepancies or errors
there.

Can anybody suggest a troubleshooting approach?

Thanks
Dave
Click to expand...

When a computer can't ping itself, the problem is almost certainly a
misconfigured firewall program. Un-install (don't just disable) all
firewall programs on the ICS host while troubleshooting. Permanently
disable XP's built-in Internet Connection Firewall on the host's LAN
connection. It's OK to enable the ICF on the host's Internet
connection. Details here:

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/ic_firewall.htm

Here are a couple of other things to check

1. Use only one protocol for File and Printer Sharing. If the network
needs more than one protocol, unbind File and Printer Sharing from all
but one of them. Details here:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

2. Make sure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all computers.
Details here:

Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (NetBT)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
Dave said:
Hello all -

I have a Linksys wireless LAN with 2 WinXP machines and 2 Win98SE
machines. One of the XP machines is set up as the ICS host. The
Internet connection works correctly on all machines; however, I can't
seem to get the network configured. One of the 98SE machines can see
the network, but the only computer it can see is itself; the ICS host
machine can't browse the network and can't ping even itself.

Since ICS is working, obviously the router and network cards are ok. I
have reconfigured the client machines numerous times both manually and
using netsetup.exe, but to no avail. I have eliminated redundant
protocols, verified TCP/IP settings, Workgroup/network name, router
settings, etc. repeatedly and can find no discrepancies or errors
there.

Can anybody suggest a troubleshooting approach?

Thanks
Dave
Click to expand...

From your description, I assume that your ICS host has a NIC wirelessly
connected to a Linksys router, and that the uplink port on the router
is *not* used, and that DHCP serving has been disabled on the router.
And, I assume that your ICS host gets to the web via a dial-up modem
or a NIC connected to a cable or DSL modem. If you have a differrent
configuration, just ignore the suggestions which follow, and explain
your configuration.

1. Remove (uninstall) all firewall and antivirus software, at least
while debugging this problem.
2. Make sure all PCs are in the same IP subnet: for IP=a.b.c.d, all
PCs should have the same a.b.c and unique d's, and each PC should
have a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. {Other values will work, but
those are the normal values that will work.}
3. Make sure F&P sharing is enabled, and for W9x PCs, bound to TCP/IP.
Make sure each PC has a shared folder, with a short simple sharename;
and, for W9x PCs, a short simple password. To avoid some problems
with XP, don't start by sharing the root (C$:); use a subfolder.
4. Don't mess with printer sharing until folder sharing works; printer
sharing has some additional pitfalls.
5. For debugging, use the simplest (default) settings for the wireless
router; in particular, turn off WEP. {After it all works, turn WEP
back on for the sake of security.}
 
[[See reply below]]
From your description, I assume that your ICS host has a NIC wirelessly
connected to a Linksys router, and that the uplink port on the router
is *not* used, and that DHCP serving has been disabled on the router.
And, I assume that your ICS host gets to the web via a dial-up modem
or a NIC connected to a cable or DSL modem. If you have a differrent
configuration, just ignore the suggestions which follow, and explain
your configuration.

1. Remove (uninstall) all firewall and antivirus software, at least
while debugging this problem.
2. Make sure all PCs are in the same IP subnet: for IP=a.b.c.d, all
PCs should have the same a.b.c and unique d's, and each PC should
have a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. {Other values will work, but
those are the normal values that will work.}
3. Make sure F&P sharing is enabled, and for W9x PCs, bound to TCP/IP.
Make sure each PC has a shared folder, with a short simple sharename;
and, for W9x PCs, a short simple password. To avoid some problems
with XP, don't start by sharing the root (C$:); use a subfolder.
4. Don't mess with printer sharing until folder sharing works; printer
sharing has some additional pitfalls.
5. For debugging, use the simplest (default) settings for the wireless
router; in particular, turn off WEP. {After it all works, turn WEP
back on for the sake of security.}
Click to expand...

Bob -

Thanks for the reply. My configuration is not quite as you describe.
My DSL modem is connected to the router's WAN port, and the router is
connected to the host PC's ethernet adapter. The other computers have
wireless NICs. Can you tell me how this changes my troubleshooting
approach?

Thanks
Dave
 
Dave said:
[[See reply below]]

From your description, I assume that your ICS host has a NIC wirelessly
connected to a Linksys router, and that the uplink port on the router
is *not* used, and that DHCP serving has been disabled on the router.
And, I assume that your ICS host gets to the web via a dial-up modem
or a NIC connected to a cable or DSL modem. If you have a differrent
configuration, just ignore the suggestions which follow, and explain
your configuration.

1. Remove (uninstall) all firewall and antivirus software, at least
while debugging this problem.
2. Make sure all PCs are in the same IP subnet: for IP=a.b.c.d, all
PCs should have the same a.b.c and unique d's, and each PC should
have a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. {Other values will work, but
those are the normal values that will work.}
3. Make sure F&P sharing is enabled, and for W9x PCs, bound to TCP/IP.
Make sure each PC has a shared folder, with a short simple sharename;
and, for W9x PCs, a short simple password. To avoid some problems
with XP, don't start by sharing the root (C$:); use a subfolder.
4. Don't mess with printer sharing until folder sharing works; printer
sharing has some additional pitfalls.
5. For debugging, use the simplest (default) settings for the wireless
router; in particular, turn off WEP. {After it all works, turn WEP
back on for the sake of security.}
Click to expand...


Bob -

Thanks for the reply. My configuration is not quite as you describe.
My DSL modem is connected to the router's WAN port, and the router is
connected to the host PC's ethernet adapter. The other computers have
wireless NICs. Can you tell me how this changes my troubleshooting
approach?

Thanks
Dave
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have two entities allocating IP addresses: the ICS
host and the router.

I suggest that you turn off ICS (its software routing is kind of
a poor man's routing) and use the Linksys router (presumably a
BEFW11S4 or equivalent) -- turn on the router's DHCP server, and set
up each (wired and wireless) PC to use DHCP client protocol to get
IP addresses. That way, each PC will be in the same subnet, which
takes care of item #2 on my previous list; heed the other four items.
 
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