Multiple active Ethernet with Access Connections?

[JohnO]

I purchased a T41 in May. It is my first IBM laptop. I like the Access Connections software, but I can't seem to create a connection with both network interfaces (wireless and wired) active at the same time. I realize this isn't a common configuration, but as a network consultant, I would appreciate the option of having both interfaces active, for example using the wireless interface to get to the Internet while connecting to a network under development with the wired interface.

Am I missing something, or is there no provision for this within Access Connections?

Thanks,

John

[jdhurst]

Generally, if a person has a wired connection that is active and the wireless NIC finds an unsecured connection that also works, the application systems receiving data can get confused. I have a Sierra Wireless Air Card, and if mail is connected to it, and I then plug in a working ethernet connection, the mail daemon gets confused. So, so far as I know, there is no such provision in Access Connections, and I don't think I am surprised by that. ... JDHurst

[JohnO]

Yeah, I guess I'm just not "general."

In today's example, one network had access to the Internet, the other was not. In that case, setting the default gateway to the network which connects to the Internet would make everything happy. In other cases, where both networks have access to the Internet, setting the network metrics to prefer the "better" route, usually keeps everything happy.

Again, I realize these aren't everyday requirements for most people. I know I can completely bypass Access Connections, but I really like using it.

[jsteele]

Although I do not use it in this mode, I have had both active at the same time. Simply do not set the wireless profile to turn off the radio when another profile (the Ethernet) is in use. Both interfaces will be active and data does move on both. Setting the interface metric to different values for the wireless and wired connections will prefer the smaller metric.

I've done this in my office occasionally. Connected to the port replicator has the Ethernet running and having the wireless running allows me to administer the wireless access point at the same time. In my case there isn't much real reason to do this, but as I said it does work.

[JohnO]

Thanks -- that was the pointer I needed!