Browse web via 3G USB without disconnecting LAN?

Bleek

Bleek

Bleek

Soldato
Joined
7 May 2004
Posts
5,503
Location
Naked and afraid
Not sure if I'm being daft here but I want to browse the web via my 3G dongle without it disconnecting my LAN connection, is there a way to do it?
 
Remove the gateway from your LAN connection, your computer will then be forced to use the 3G adapter to access the internet.
 
OK, I was just wondering if the 3G modem uses any proprietary software to establish the connections. I know the BT software for them also tries to manage WLAN.
 
Well the software I've used in the past with these (3, BT) has never disconnected the other network connections, just the 3G connection takes priority of the data sent and received over the other ones when it's connected.

How does it disconnect your LAN?
 
Connect to 3G and the LAN connection remains live (i.e. it doesn't say unplugged) but everything dependant on the LAN drops, Exchange etc.
 
Yeah, that's what I've experienced too. I can't help any more really except to say there must be a way of setting a program to use each connection rather than what windows thinks is best, though I'm not sure how to accomplish this, someone might know.
 
you can only have a single default gateway for your PC, so local LAN traffic should still work but anything unknown (i.e. non-connected networks or remote VLANs on the LAN) will be sent via the default gateway.

If you have other VLANs on your LAN that you need to get to then you could add persistent routes to your PC to go via the LAN gateway for these subnets but still leave your default route to go via the 3G.

Paste an 'ipconfig /all' and a 'route print' from command prompt if you like and that will show what's going on.

Paul.

<edit> sounds like it might be a work PC and your trying to bypass company web restrictions/proxy?? If it is you may not have the admin rights or knowledge of the networks to get this working, let us know the environment and we can try to help.
 
Last edited:
paul_31 said:
<edit> sounds like it might be a work PC and your trying to bypass company web restrictions/proxy?? If it is you may not have the admin rights or knowledge of the networks to get this working, let us know the environment and we can try to help.
Click to expand...

I used to circumvent the ‘issue’ but certain changes have been made the environment.

I'm a domain/ent admin and have full access to anything (300+ servers) but obviously I don't want to modify things, my previous work around was untraceable but things have changed.

The annoying thing is I don't do a lot of web browsing and therefore my usage levels are acceptable, however what I do browse would be considered inappropriate (no not p0rn) so I wanted to keep it private. What I briefly check several times a day is my business outside of work, hence the potential conflict of interest.

I had an idea, my iPhone with it's 3G (connects at 8Mbit here) and unlimited internet access must work as modem surely?
 
Edleake said:
I had an idea, my iPhone with it's 3G (connects at 8Mbit here) and unlimited internet access must work as modem surely?
Click to expand...

I have a feeling you have to pay for the ability to use it in that way though. There is a free symbian app for my Nokia E71 that allows it to be used as a wireless wifi hotspot though, if you have a symbian handset you could do that.
 
Personally I would just connect the 3G when I need to browse the web, just accept it will disconnect things and then disconnect the 3G when I have finished.

If you do want to get around it you could add routes similar to the following on your PC at a command prompt -

route add Y.Y.Y.Y mask Z.Z.Z.Z X.X.X.X

where Y.Y.Y.Y is any subnet you wish to reach on your work LAN
where Z.Z.Z.Z is the subnet mask for the above subnet
where X.X.X.X is your work LAN default gateway address

This should allow you to access what you need to at work but still allow you to browse the web via the 3G dongle. These route statements are removed when you reboot so if they cause any problems just reboot and they will be gone. If it works and you want to keep them then add a '-p' to the end of the line when you enter the route and it will then be persistent across reboots.

If you want a bit more info about the command just type 'route' in a command prompt, hit enter and it will give you the help notes.

Hope that all makes sense and that I've got the right end of the stick. Seems like it should work in my head but give it a go if you like and see :)

Paul.
 
adding static routes is how i did it. Be sure to have two default routes added, one out your LAN at a higher metric(eg 50) than the one out your 3G (should default to 20). Use -p on the commands to make them persistent so they are remembered when you reboot.
The default route with the lowest metric will be used. This will be your 3G when connected (make sure this route is NOT -p) and when disconnected the route should vanish leaving only the route with the higher metric via LAN. That should prevent annoying disconnects when connecting and removing the 3G.

All my work subnets were 10.1. so used a summary route of 10.1.0.0/16 for all my non-local subnets to save hassle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom