How to Setup Networking when connected to 2 networks

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How to Setup Networking when connected to 2 networks

From:   
Date:   06 Nov 2006
Time:   15:31:51 -0500
Remote: 
Name:   

Comments:

I have 2 networks available to me. One is a wired network and the other is a 
wireless network.

Each offers connectivity to a different set of services. The set of services 
a single network provides (here in this case) is mutually exclusive of the 
other. 

I cannot move services from one network to another (in case you were going 
to suggest that).

The wired lan 10.x.x.x offers connectivity to network shares and printers.
The wireless lan 192.x.x.x offers connectivity to the Internet.

Each network has its own DNS settings which are different between the 
networks.

I can connect to my shared folders and printers with no issue.

Problem. When I try to use a web browser the pages do not render. (nor does 
MSN Live Messenger work).

Theory: I believe this is b/c the route table's 0.0.0.0 pointing to 10.x has 
a metric that favors the internal network for all traffic b/c its cheaper.

I have tried changing the metric for the 10.x.x.x wired network and this 
does not solve the problem. I thought if I made the 10.x more expensive 
traffic would first get routed to the Internet but this does not work as 
expected.

To date I have found that if I: 

1. setup the wireless network's "alternate configuration" and hard code the 
ip address (while it is a dhcp address it has not changed in 2 months) and 
the DNS settings.
2. always connect to the wired network first with the wireless disabled.
3. perform a "DELETE ROUTE 0.0.0.0"
4. Connect to the wireless network

(I tried deleting the 0.0.0.0 entry for the 10.x.x.x network with but could 
not figure out how to only delete it for the 10.x.x.x not both, so the above 
workaround acheives that.

I can connect to both the shared folders, printers and Internet resources.

Secondary problem: this only last for a while. It appears that something is 
re-adding the 0.0.0.0 for the 10.x.x.x network and the the internet based 
addresses no longer work (web pages and IM). <grrrrrrr/>

Anyone knowledgeable in this area that could provide a long term workable 
solution would be highly valued and greatly appreciated. 

Further if you could explain why it works with any relevant reference 
material where I could read more (might be free web pages or $ books, I'll 
read anything) so I could understand the theory and operation behind it would 
be invaluable.

Thanks in advance.


Solved: He setup two default gateways on a multihomed computer. He should setup default gateway for Internet access and keep other default gateway blank.
Last changed: 07/19/10
