wireless communication between T42 and T22

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zver17 · #1 Post by **zver17** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:50 pm

I am a bit confused about the difference between wifi vs wireless vs infrared vs bluetooth. In particular, I would like to wirelessly transfer files between a T42 (it has winXP, wireless and bluetooth) and T22 (win2000, judging from device manager, has infrared port). is this possible and how do I get started? thanks in advance

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:51 pm

Infrared may be ok for small files, but too slow for big files. I don't have Bluetooth, so can't say.

I don't know what you might mean by "wireless" in the same phrase as Wifi. The Wireless NIC in many T models is Wifi. It works roughtly the same way as Wired connections. It is plenty fast for most things, but I will always pull out my ethernet wire and connect it if I am going to move files of 100Mb or more.

... JD Hurst

zver17 · #3 Post by **zver17** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 7:31 pm

thanks for the clarification JD. I thought the term "wireless" was generically used for any communication without wires (including, eg, bluetooth), but it seems the term excludes bluetooth. Now, with the infrared transfer from a T22 to/from T42, how do I get started? Do I need to create some network? If I just put the laptops next to each other nothing happens...

#4 Post by **jdhurst** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 7:41 pm

You need to make sure Infrared is enabled on both computers (look in the Device Manager). If it is, and you have the Infrared sensors (front left on my T41) near each other, they will just connect. There is nothing to manage - if they don't connect, something is wrong.

Much, much faster to put your machines on a router and connect through traditional mapped drives.
... JD Hurst

nikemen · #5 Post by **nikemen** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:29 pm

What is the best way to enable a wireless, WIFI connection between two units? I have tried doing this, ad-hoc, but I never am able to connect or SEE the other unit?

Thinker · #6 Post by **Thinker** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:05 pm

nikemen wrote:What is the best way to enable a wireless, WIFI connection between two units? I have tried doing this, ad-hoc, but I never am able to connect or SEE the other unit?

Excellent question. I have been wondering about this for a while myself.
Basically, can you connect two Thinkpads with WIFI without using a router?

That is, can you use the WIFI to share files as you can do with the infrared port?
This seems technically possible, since both computers can send and receive data through WIFI. Maybe there's a lack of drivers or applications to do this, I don't know. But it SHOULD be technically possible.

And, if you need a router, can you use the router without being connected to the outside, just using it to patch the wireless data from one computer to the other?

I hope somebody will answer this question.

Ruben

#7 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:10 pm

The easiest way is to use a router combined with a Wireless Access Point. Then the router becomes the DHCP server, the two wireless machines get IP addresses on the same subnet, and connection becomes the standard Windows mapped drive connection. The router provides needed hardware firewall security to boot. ... JD Hurst

zver17 · #8 Post by **zver17** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:18 pm

would this preferred method require setting up some special network? at the moment, I've got a T42(winXP) and a T22(win2K) sitting on a wireless connection, but they're not seeing each other as far as i can tell. could this be due to the OS's installed?

beeblebrox · #9 Post by **beeblebrox** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:48 pm

zver17 wrote:would this preferred method require setting up some special network? at the moment, I've got a T42(winXP) and a T22(win2K) sitting on a wireless connection, but they're not seeing each other as far as i can tell. could this be due to the OS's installed?

I have the same configuration. You can either transfer directly, using peer-mode instead of access point.

Or just use Access Point, with the WLAN router, set the IP address and a common domain name and enable the folders for shared access. (that is the easiest way, takes 2 minutes to set up).

nikemen · #10 Post by **nikemen** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 5:01 pm

How is the ptp setup?

#11 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 5:41 pm

If you truly are on a router (with Wireless Access Point), then connection has nothing to do with wireless, and you shouldn't need (or try to use) peer to peer. And Windows 2000 and Windows XP connect together just fine. Check the IP on both machines. They should look the same except for the final number. Also, make sure the workgroup name is the same on both machines (I am assuming you are not on a Domain). Ping one machine from the other to make sure you have a connection. Then use the Tools -> Map Network Drive in Windows Explorer. You may have to turn off simple file sharing in XP to do this. ... JD Hurst

Marc_G · #12 Post by **Marc_G** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 5:54 pm

What if one of the computers is on a domain, as part of corporate settings? Would logging into the "Administrator" account (no domain logon) get around this?
Marc

#13 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:52 pm

You can use traditional Windows mapping to connect an off-domain machine to a domain-connected machine on the same subnet (at least). The domain-connected machine will for sure have disabled simple file sharing. Make sure the off-domain machine has simple file sharing disabled. Windows 2000 does not have simple file sharing in the first place. And, of course, this exercise excludes XP Home because it cannot participate on a domain. ... JD Hurst

Marc_G · #14 Post by **Marc_G** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:20 pm

Thanks JD. I've been meaning to bone up on this topic.

zver17 · #15 Post by **zver17** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:52 am

i am making some progress, but still need a bit of help...

1. As expected both the T42 and T22 have same IP except for last 3 digits. When I go to 'map network drive' I can see MS Windows Network which then branches into Sci > T22name and Workgroup > T42name > PrintersFaxes/ScheduledTasks. I can then view/map shared folders. But do I need to move the machines to a single workgroup and if so how?

2. Is it possible to dispense with the network connection and just communicate directly via wifi (is that what peer-to-peer is?). Eg, if the DSL is off, I would then still have communicating machines.

3. i have 'infrared port' enabled on both machines, but nothing happens even if the machine are sitting side by side...

any advice on what i am doing wrong would be appreciated.

#16 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:26 am

You are blending a lot of concepts here.
1. It doesn't matter at all if DSL is on. The router is the DHCP server and makes the internal network. That you got two IP's on the same subnet is proof that the network part is working.
2. Given the working physical connection, changing the network to infrared or peer-to-peer won't change anything.
3. Windows 2000 doesn't have any concept of simple file sharing.
4. Windows XP sets simple file sharing by default and should be disabled to talk to a Windows 2000 machine in the normal way.

So when you use Tools -> Map Drive, enter the machine name in the space below the drive letter (\\machine_name\C$) and then click on Different User to enter the user and password of "machine_name".
... JD Hurst

zver17 · #17 Post by **zver17** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:42 am

thanks JD, its becoming much clearer (and I got the file sharing working).

1) so i should be able to unplug DSL from the phone line and the network with the T22/T42 will still work (as long as the router is powered on), just as an 'intranet' without access to the www? Btw, should I worry about the machines being on different workgroups?

2) the reason i wanted to be able to connect without the router is if both machines are taken somewhere without a router (eg, on a train, plane, etc). then I would need some kind of direct communication, right?

3-4) How do I check if I have 'simple file sharing' disabled? Since I've got things working I guess I do have it disabled, but would be good to know where the settings are.

wireless communication between T42 and T22

wireless communication between T42 and T22

best way?

Re: best way?

how?

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