LAN connection without internet stops wireless internet connection


  1. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    LAN connection without internet stops wireless internet connection


    Well I've fiddled around and searched to no avail ...

    I have some form of conflict between my main wireless network and a LAN I use for file
    transfer and streaming.

    The attached PDF file illustrates the setup. Basically, the wireless network is fine by
    itself. Music streams from the Asus EeePC to the various Squeezeboxes and internet
    connectivity is enabled on all PCs and the iPad.

    The LAN works well by itself, allowing me to use FreeFileSync to quickly and relaible
    transfer / backup music between the Acer dekstop and Asus netbook server PCs, and to
    stream music from the Asus EeePC (which is the music server running Logitech Media
    Server) to the Squeezebox 2.

    However, the two networks can't co-exist without the Acer and/or Asus losing internet
    connectivity when their respective LAN connections are made to the Buffalo router they
    share with the Squeezebox 2.

    The notification area shows:-

    Currently connected to:

    BuffaloLocalNet
    No internet access

    SqueezeNet
    Internet access

    Wireless Network Connection:

    SqueezeNet Connected

    DD-WRT

    I have attached the ipconfig /all output in the out.txt file and diagram of the network in Network.pdf.

    I suspect this is a simple clash of parameters somewhere, or incompatible IP addresses but I'm not good enough to resolve it.

    Thanks.

    GRC
    LAN connection without internet stops wireless internet connection Attached Files
    Last edited by GRC50; 22 Sep 2013 at 14:16. Reason: Better description of problem + network diagram
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #2

    Welcome to the Seven Forums.

    Check the properties of the wireless network adapter for a feature something like this:

    LAN connection without internet stops wireless internet connection-disabled-upon-wired.png
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    So near and yet so far ...


    That suggestions looked so promising, and those options are available on my Dell laptop, but not on the two problem PCs - the Acer and Asus (as far as I can see).

    I've attached the available Properties for the two adapters (Realtek is on the Acer, Atheros on the Asus).

    Any other suggestions?

    Note that I've improved the problem description and included a network diagram in the original post.

    Many thanks.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails LAN connection without internet stops wireless internet connection-acer_adapter.jpg   LAN connection without internet stops wireless internet connection-asus.png  
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Actually, I'm wondering if what I want is not possible because of the Automatic Metric "feature" I've just read about.

    What I want is for an internet request from the the Acer or Asus PCs to realise that the only route is via the wireless connections (C & D in the Network diagram attachment above), whereas a file transfer request between the Acer and Asus should go via the wired connection (A & B above) because it's clearly faster. Streaming from the Asus server to the Squeezebox 2 only has one route (connection E) so there's no dispute.

    Can't see a way to manually set the metric to achieve the above scenario (I know how to do it but not what values would work); it's either the wired as first choice or the wireless as first choice irrespective of requirement. Clearly wired is the current first choice based on the Automatic Metric algorithms which is why they can't see the internet through the lower router.

    I guess I could make the lower router a wireless bridge linked to the main Alcatel router but that's going to halve my bandwidth which is not good for streaming.

    Guess the answer is to only connect the LAN cables when I want to do a file transfer!

    Sheesh ...

    Have I missed anything? Is there an alternative way of connecting things that would achieve what I want?

    Thanks.

    GRC
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #5

    I do not think that metrics wil do what you want. That setting tells Windows which connection to prefer. The OS normally only uses one connection at a time. I have no idea if the Connectify app works.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,427
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #6

    You are correct, the basic reason this isn't possible is due to metrics. Windows (quite rightly) detects your wired connection is faster and therefore gives it a higher weight.

    However, I believe it should be possible to achieve what you want. Please bear in mind this is all theoretical, but its worth a stab! Honestly I don't think it's going to work.. but this is the only way I can think of getting around it.

    Ok, follow Diana Ds instructions on this link: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...7-d8d385dcbb12 to give the wireless connection a higher metric (and thus make Windows prefer it.)

    Then go to Network and Sharing Centre and change the wireless connection to a Public Network (which should disable sharing). You say sharing works fine wired, so you shouldn't need to change anything else.

    I THINK what will happen, is that when Windows can't make a path using the wireless (as sharing is disabled), it will fall back on the wired connection. See how you get on with that.

    Edit: I've just looked at your network map... is there any reason you have the Squeezebox 2 segregated from your network? The other squeezebox isn't. Also, your ipconfig shows the lan connection as unplugged... would be more useful if we could see it when it's plugged in. (I want to see if your getting your IP addresses correctly.)
    Last edited by severedsolo; 22 Sep 2013 at 07:12. Reason: Cleaned up instructions.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Attachments updated


    Hi SeveredSolo,

    Thanks for the reply. Can't do your suggestion right now as away for a few days. However, have updated the ipconfig out.txt file to show LAN connected. The ip addresses might not agree with the network diagram because that was done a few days ago and everything is dynamic allocation.

    Regarding the Squeezebox 2 being "segregated"; you'll probably know that streaming music (especially high-res / FLAC) is best undertaken over a wired network to obviate buffering issues. The Asus EeePC is configured as my music server running Logitech Media Sever, so the Squeezebox 2 is hard-wired to it for optimum results.

    The location of the other Squeezeboxes does not allow hard-wiring, although you'll note that the Squeezebox Classic (top right) is hard-wired to the wireless repeater bridge, so there's the minimum number of wireless hops en-route.

    Onwards and/or upwards.

    GRC
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,427
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #8

    Well I think your reinventing the wheel a bit here, honestly I can see no technical reason it couldn't be wired in to the network.

    If the PC you were streaming from was also wired (which clearly isn't an issue here, as its already wired) it would be just as fast, whether it was on its own network or not. It's not massively difficult to wire in a new router to an existing network, and use it as a switch. It would also instantly solve all of these problems. I can only assume it's something to do with the physical location.

    Anyway, your IP config looks ok, your machine has been assigned two different IP addresses for each NIC, on different subnets (which is what we are shooting for.) so my idea might just work.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Que?


    Hi again severedsolo,

    Let me preface everything I say by that fact that my wife and I are well into some non-too-shabby Portuguese Douro red wine to wash down our roast pork dinner. I'm just taking a break to fire up a new playlist on the Squeezeboxes.

    I confess that I don't understand your last post. Here's the situation:-

    The Alcatel Y800 4G wireless router has no LAN ports - just a USB for charging and firmware updates. I locate it for best 4G signal (i.e. by a window) commensurate with decent wireless SqueezeNet coverage as reported by inSSIDer. I could USB connect it to something but I'm not sure what this would achieve. It's currently about 6 feet from the Asus EeePC music server.

    The Acer Z5610, Asus EeePC music server, Squeezebox 2 and lower (BuffaloLocalNet) Buffalo router are all within 4-6 feet of each other, hence the LAN connection. I can pretty much do what I want here.

    The Squeezebox Touch is about 50 feet away from the Alcatel router and the BuffaloLocalNet units because it feeds my main hi-fi system, hence the wireless connection.

    The Buffalo wireless repeater bridge, Squeezebox classic and Squeezebox Radio (top right on the network diagram) are outside the house on a covered terrace, hence the wireless connection. The Squeezebox Classic sits next to the bridge, hence the LAN connection. The radio is further away so connects wirelessly to the bridge.

    The Dell laptop and iPad are truly mobile so move around.

    I have some spare routers so am open to suggestions regarding alternative wiring, but need to understand what we're trying to achieve.

    Sorry if I've missed the point here; fine wine and an early start don't mix well at my age.

    Thank you and good night.

    GRC
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 3,427
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #10

    my apologies, I was thinking aloud really

    You should probably ignore what I said earlier about wiring it in.... as you said the 4G router doesn't have LAN ports. Looking at your network map, I don't believe there would be another way to wire the Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 directly into the network, unless it could connect to the Repeater Bridge. Shame, because that would solve the issue =/ My apologies on that one, I thought the 4G router was like a conventional router.

    I think your best option is still to try the metrics suggestion.

    If that doesn't work, I'm afraid all you can really do (to the best of my knowledge) is just disable the connection you don't want to use when you switch between them.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 20:56.
Find Us