One laptop, several networks

Badgerpoo

Badgerpoo

Badgerpoo

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Ok here's the setup. I have a router, a switch and 8 laptops which need to be networked to the internet at several locations. Different locations have different means of connection; eg. at one location one laptop must be connected to an ADSL line using a usb modem, and the connection shared out via the ethernet port to the other laptops. At another location the router is lugged into an existing network and used as the gateway for all the laptops.

This introduces the problem that they will need different IP addresses/dgateways for each configuration. I'm after an easy way of switching between configurations in a reliable way.

I had a look at the network connections and it seems you can assign more than one IP/gateway to a single device at a time. Will this reliably use the first available network?

Another option I have spotted is to use discrete hardware profiles for the network adapter, and set it so you choose which to use on bootup.

Any feedback?
 
Two options I can think of:-

1) Use Netswitcher on each Laptop and setup a configuration for each location http://www.netswitcher.com/.

2) Buy some wirless ADSL routers configue them for each loaction and set the wireless part of each router up using the same SSID and WEP, then all the Laptops can connect at all locations.

Hope one of the above helps.
 
I remember a couple of applications that will do what you need. You just create a profile for each location and give it the settings you want it to use.

Don't remember what they were called now. My work Thinkpad came pre-installed with an application that will do the above, IBM Access Connections or something. Not sure if it's available on publicly sold Thinkpads or just an internal app.
 
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