Wired & Wireless Connections simultaneously

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kentwjames

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Apr 19, 2013
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I am currently living in an apartment with public wireless internet connection. I have a HP 4000 ( I write & print a lot for my job) with ethernet connectivity. Would like to connect to the printer via an ethernet hub/switch. I have 2 computers that I want to connect to the printer. When I connect to the ethernet hub it kills my wireless internet connectivity even though both networks are recognized. Any ideas would be appreciated.
 
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eibgrad

eibgrad

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Feb 16, 2010
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I suspect your ethernet hub/switch is more likely a router, or at least has its own DHCP server. If that's the case, then what's probably happening is that when you’re connected to the wired network, its DHCP server is assigning a default gateway which is overriding the default gateway assigned by the wireless connection. And since you can only have ONE default gateway, and the default gateway assigned by the hub/switch isn't really connected to the internet, you lose internet connectivity.

The way to prevent this is to use static IP assignments w/ the local network and NOT specify a default gateway on that network.
 
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spectrewind

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Mar 25, 2009
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Another possibility would be changing the BINDING ORDER of your connections, since you have more than one:
Start/Run > NCPA.CPL > Toolbar [Advanced] > Advanced Settings.
In the Advanced settings window, you might try changing the ORDER of the connections. Based on your description, I would guess that your wired connection is above your wireless connection on this list.

Someone also mentioned a router vs. switch. If it is a router, just log into the admin page of it and disable the DHCP server, which will basically turn it into a switch, for what you're doing.
 
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spectrewind

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You can have multiple default gateways (with cost metrics) under the advanced TCP/IP settings window, IP Settings tab, second window. Basically for devices with more than one interface. I do not see it used much, but it's there.
 
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eibgrad

eibgrad

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Feb 16, 2010
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^^ Not a bad idea, but in my experience, the binding order isn't always reliable. Sometimes Windows seems to ignore it, at least for certain things. It *should* work that way, you would think, but I've just run across too many cases where it didn't, so I tend to avoid it as a recommendation. Using static IPs always works however.

Another option (assuming it is a router) is instead of disabling DHCP, disable the WAN. I suspect if you do, then the DHCP server won't return a default gateway at all, and that will correct the problem as well (and of course, you retain the convenience of having a DHCP server). But here again, it's not always a reliable solution because not all routers allow you to disable the WAN. Plus, a lot of ppl wouldn't even know what I was talking about! So once again, static IP assignments to the rescue.

So definitely several ways to skin this cat, take your pick.

 
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eibgrad

eibgrad

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Feb 16, 2010
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Yeah, you can have multiple default gateways DEFINED w/ different metrics, but for all intents and purposes, only one is ever used (otherwise it wouldn't be a default). It’s just better to eliminate it and avoid the confusion. Otherwise we’re now into having non-technical users making metric changes (ugg). I always thinking, what’s the EASIEST solution that can be implemented by the MOST ppl w/ the LEAST confusion. In my book, that’s static IPs. But I'll grant you, metrics is plausible.
 
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