Originally Posted by
lflier
This was a helpful discussion. I have a similar situation to the one discussed:
- Network 1: Shared internet connection to Verizon Wireless using my tethered Palm Treo and Vista Internet connection sharing (ICS)
- Network 2: LAN card connected to a Buffalo router being used as a network switch and wireless access point
The ICS works fine. It sets the LAN card IP address to 192.168.0.1 and enables DHCP, which assigns IP addresses to other computers on the network.
The problem is with network 2 which, when ICS is enabled, shows up as an unidentified network that I cannot rename. By default, unidentified networks are public in Vista, which means that network discovery is off and I can't see the other computers on the network. At this point I can do one of two things: (1) I can change this unidentified network to a private network which enables me to see other computers, but when I restart the computer this connection reverts back to public and I have to reset it. Or (2), I can enable network discovery in the "Sharing and Discovery" section of the "Network and Sharing" window, but this enables network discovery for all public networks -- which I do not want to do, since I sometimes use this computer in public locations.
The solution that worked for two users above -- setting the gateway to the IP address of the computer (which for me is 192.168.0.1, the IP address assigned by ICS) -- did not work for me. Vista kept reverting back to blanks in the gateway IP address.
[If you're not familiar with how to change IP addresses, simply right click on the connection in the "Network Connections" window, which you can get to from the Network and Sharing window by clicking on "Manage Network Connections," then choose "Properties" and double click on "Internet Protocol Version 4."]
The solution that did work for me, which I was led to by thinking about this thread, was setting the gateway to the (fixed) IP address of the wireless access point to which my computer is connected. Success! Now Vista identifies the network and I can rename it and choose a private status.
[This solution may require you to set a fixed IP address for the access point, which you can do through the setup pages of your access point. I use 192.168.0.101. I actually have another Buffalo router connected to the same network to extend my wireless coverage, which has the IP address 192.168.0.102. Wireless laptops, a second hardwired desktop and a hardwired network printer get their IP addresses from the computer with the shared connection, which acts as a DHCP server.]
