It seems I can only use my work laptop with a wired internet connection. That is annoying because I am on call every two weeks yet I still want to go to the cottage. My internet access there is tethering to my iPhone. This works with my own laptop (which I cannot use for work) but not with my work one because of the locked down access I have.
This means I cannot go to the cottage when on call. My wife is going to be SEVERELY pissed off.
It seems I can only use my work laptop with a wired internet connection. That is annoying because I am on call every two weeks yet I still want to go to the cottage. My internet access there is tethering to my iPhone. This works with my own laptop (which I cannot use for work) but not with my work one because of the locked down access I have.
This means I cannot go to the cottage when on call. My wife is going to be SEVERELY pissed off.
No you wouldn't, if you can't change from being locked out on WiFi, you won't be able to add hardware.
Man that's serious archaic, what reason (or did they) provide for locking down the laptops like that. I'm anal about security, but I wouldn't buy a laptop for a user then lock out the WiFi.
A WiFi to Ethernet bridge should work... You would establish a wifi connection from the bridge to your iPhone (the bridge has a web interface) and from then on it should pass the data thru the ethernet port.
BTW, the iPhone can also tether via bluetooth. If your laptop has Bluetooth, maybe it's not locked down and you could do that. I've done it with my Windows7 laptop, though it's only limited to 1mbps max.
It seems I can only use my work laptop with a wired internet connection. That is annoying because I am on call every two weeks yet I still want to go to the cottage. My internet access there is tethering to my iPhone. This works with my own laptop (which I cannot use for work) but not with my work one because of the locked down access I have.
This means I cannot go to the cottage when on call. My wife is going to be SEVERELY pissed off.
No you wouldn't, if you can't change from being locked out on WiFi, you won't be able to add hardware.
Man that's serious archaic, what reason (or did they) provide for locking down the laptops like that. I'm anal about security, but I wouldn't buy a laptop for a user then lock out the WiFi.
If you can afford a cottage, why not your own laptop? It sucks having to carry two laptops around, but if all you want to do with it at the cottage is surfing and watching a couple of movies on it, an el-cheapo one would work just fine.
Hmm, maybe using a crossover cable you could use the home laptop as an AP for the wired only. I'm sure Windowz will have some function for that.
I see where you are going, no wireless is disabled so that's a no go, you could share a connection (wired) via another PC/Laptop, using a crossover might work, but only if he can get an IP from the 2nd computer.
I can see why, from an administrative standpoint, if you work at a location where the highest level of security was required. I once advised a client with similar, legitimate requirements to remove the wireless NIC's in all their laptops.
If it's not disabled, you could always reset the local administrator account and re-enable wireless?
A WiFi to Ethernet bridge should work... You would establish a wifi connection from the bridge to your iPhone (the bridge has a web interface) and from then on it should pass the data thru the ethernet port.
BTW, the iPhone can also tether via bluetooth. If your laptop has Bluetooth, maybe it's not locked down and you could do that. I've done it with my Windows7 laptop, though it's only limited to 1mbps max.
I would rather not spend $100. Bluetooth is disabled.
If you can afford a cottage, why not your own laptop? It sucks having to carry two laptops around, but if all you want to do with it at the cottage is surfing and watching a couple of movies on it, an el-cheapo one would work just fine.
I see where you are going, no wireless is disabled so that's a no go, you could share a connection (wired) via another PC/Laptop, using a crossover might work, but only if he can get an IP from the 2nd computer.
OP has 2 laptops, 1 personal and 1 work.
The personal can connect to the iphone, then using ICS can provide access to the ethernet jack; crossover cable to the work laptop and you have internet for the cost of a crossover.
If you can afford a cottage, why not your own laptop? It sucks having to carry two laptops around, but if all you want to do with it at the cottage is surfing and watching a couple of movies on it, an el-cheapo one would work just fine.
I see where you are going, no wireless is disabled so that's a no go, you could share a connection (wired) via another PC/Laptop, using a crossover might work, but only if he can get an IP from the 2nd computer.
OP has 2 laptops, 1 personal and 1 work.
The personal can connect to the iphone, then using ICS can provide access to the ethernet jack; crossover cable to the work laptop and you have internet for the cost of a crossover.
He's one of those "Linux People" LOL, but I don't know if something similar exists in Linux.
If you can afford a cottage, why not your own laptop? It sucks having to carry two laptops around, but if all you want to do with it at the cottage is surfing and watching a couple of movies on it, an el-cheapo one would work just fine.
I see where you are going, no wireless is disabled so that's a no go, you could share a connection (wired) via another PC/Laptop, using a crossover might work, but only if he can get an IP from the 2nd computer.
OP has 2 laptops, 1 personal and 1 work.
The personal can connect to the iphone, then using ICS can provide access to the ethernet jack; crossover cable to the work laptop and you have internet for the cost of a crossover.
He's one of those "Linux People" LOL, but I don't know if something similar exists in Linux.
My personal laptop has Windows 7 on it at the moment. I know how to do this in my sleep on Linux, would have to Google for Windows
I would rather not spend $100. Bluetooth is disabled.
A Valet M10 is $20 at Canada Computers. Load DD-WRT on it. Boom instant wireless bridge.
May be the way to go. One thing I am not sure of, is if the VPN will even be reliable. I was going to test it this weekend and see. If the VPN is no good then the whole thing is academic.
If VPN works on your wired network, it'll work with the wireless bridge. You're literally bridging the connection with wifi, all of the router functions on the device are more or less disabled.
I use an old WRT54GL for our debit card machine in a part of the store that doesn't have an Ethernet drop, it works just as well as if it were wired in. I may be picking up another M10 (I use one as our main router here, great little devices for the price) for the little alcove of an office we have so that I can get the DSL modem, router and VoIP ATAs out of here and into the wiring closet before I get someone to do a permanent Ethernet drop.
Edit - didn't see the part about tethering via wifi for VPN access. No idea if that will work.