Connection Sharing.

willhub · 23 May 2010 at 06:33

No, wireless networks are strictly not allowed on Manchester Hornet, apparently they will scan and check for these networks and shut them down.

agw_01

The problem is, I have internet on the desktop, not the laptop.

The desktop is plugged directly into the network, the laptop goes into the second lan port in my PC.

Now basically the cables have being switched due to one not reaching as I've put my case on the floor.

The internet works (I went onto the Hornet site and put the other lans MAC address in)

The Local Area Connection on the PC, that is the one I have the internet on, sometimes, keeps changing to a manual inputed ip address of 192.168.137.1

Now I never put this in O_o

But anyway I put it in myself on the Local Area Connection 2 which is what the laptop is connected to, and still no internet.

trentlad · 23 May 2010 at 07:49

There's always a way.

I'd purchase a cheap wireless card/dongle, install into the PC and setup an encrypted wireless ad-hoc network. The PC wireless connection would broadcast it's SSID for barley a minute, just long enough to partner the laptop with the PC, and then disappear after I disabled the SSID broadcast.

The partnership allows the laptop to connect to the wireless ad-hoc network at any time without the need for the ad-hoc network to broadcast the SSID.

With no SSID broadcast the wireless link is completely invisible. Nothing can see it, not the windows default wireless manager (which most would use), netstumbler and even SNORT.

willhub · 23 May 2010 at 08:02

I have a USB wireless adaptor but thought an ad-hox network no matter how secure was risky?? And I left it at home

ANDARIAL · 23 May 2010 at 08:33

With no SSID broadcast the wireless link is completely invisible. Nothing can see it, not the windows default wireless manager (which most would use), netstumbler and even SNORT

Netstumbler and inssider sees encrypted networks(even with ssid broadcast disabled)just fine

bigredshark · 23 May 2010 at 09:37

trentlad said:
With no SSID broadcast the wireless link is completely invisible. Nothing can see it, not the windows default wireless manager (which most would use), netstumbler and even SNORT.

That's complete and utter garbage, turning off SSID broadcast does very little at all, netstumbler, snort and a number of other tools will see it straight off. That's exceptionally bad advice...

bigredshark · 23 May 2010 at 09:39

Have you actually just asked them what they'd suggest? I can't imagine it's unusual for students to have a desktop and laptop or even a laptop and netbook etc so I assume they have an answer to this question already.

Technically it's easily possible to register two mac addresses as allowed but only one at any one time on a switchport...

dovey · 23 May 2010 at 12:32

I cant imagine them regularly going round and scanning for wireless networks, if ever. Even if they do are they even allowed access to rooms to check if you have a router? I'm not where I work.

If that is your only concern simply turn off the wireless or buy a none wireless cable router. That way it will be invisible to them and you will be able to share the internet without any problems or messing about.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-082-BE

That router would be ideal

bigredshark · 23 May 2010 at 13:15

dovey said:
I cant imagine them regularly going round and scanning for wireless networks, if ever. Even if they do are they even allowed access to rooms to check if you have a router? I'm not where I work.

Why not? It's not exactly time consuming and many corporates do it regularly to cut down on staff setting up rogue APs...

Hell, our APs in the office will spit out a report of every other network they can see with some useful information with no work at all but if you want more than any handheld/laptop with a decently configurable wireless card and GPS will do the job, just set it off, chuck it in a bag and go for a walk.

Maybe a uni IT team wouldn't (I don't hold them in the best regard technically) but I wouldn't rule it out without knowing and I think the OPs attitude of not ****ing them off and getting disconnected is the right one.

trentlad · 23 May 2010 at 15:05

I'm sorry, I've never tried out that config so shouldn't have suggested the ad-hoc setup.

I did try t google if snort and netstumbler wouldn't be able to see a disabled SSID broadcast and found a few results confirming that they could not. I didn't check their integrity.

My understanding was that an access point with a disabled SSID broadcast would not be identified by any means other than physical signal strengths.

My apologies again, I shouldn't have offered that suggestion without secure knowledge.

willhub · 23 May 2010 at 16:25

HORNET suggest every time you want to use a diffo network adapter changing the MAC Address in my account on the hornet site.

The ICS was working perfectly untill I switched the cables around, now I can't get it to work, I need it to work though.

dovey · 23 May 2010 at 17:15

bigredshark said:
Why not? It's not exactly time consuming and many corporates do it regularly to cut down on staff setting up rogue APs...

That is a good point. As it doesn't cause any problems and would be tricky to enforce any kind of ban we just let them get on with it.

If wireless is the issue here just get a cable router and turn it off. No need to mess around with ics and have both computers running.