Wireless Networking → How do I setup a ad-hoc network (peer to peer)?

Since there really isn't anything saying exactly how to do this, I decided to summarize into a thread. If there is anything more to be added, feel free to reply.

• 1. You will need one wireless network card for each computer

• 2. Go into the network card properties and set the SSID to something unique. Make sure to set the SSID to the same value on each machine. If you don't, the network will not work properly.

• 3. Go into the network card properties and set a channel for the wireless network to use. Make sure you set the channel to the same number on each machine. If you don't have the same value set, the network will not work.

• 4. Set a static LAN IP on both computers. Be sure to put them on the same subnet and in the same IP range. Ex. If you set the IP on one machine to 192.168.1.1, be sure to set the other machine to something inside that same range (192.168.1.2-254). You may also want to take a look at »Linksys FAQ »How do I set a fixed/static IP address on a LAN PC?.

• 5. Set the network cards to run in "ad-hoc" mode, instead of infrastructure.

If you don't want to share your internet connection, this should get you up-and-running.

If you do want to share your internet connection, follow these steps:

• 1. Enable "ICS" on the network connection which has internet connectivity. Write down this computers IP address, since it will be the "host" computer. If you are not running Windows, or don't have the option to run ICS, consult Google,or this forum, for other connection sharing options.

• 2. Set the default gateway of the network card on the second computer to the host computers IP address.

• 3. Set the DNS servers for the network card on the second computer to values given to you by your ISP, or ones which you know work.

Also, keep in mind, when sharing your internet connection over an ad-hoc network, the host computer must be on, and connected to the internet, if you want the second machine to be able to access the internet.

To test connectivity:

• 1. Go to Start.

• 2. Go to Run.

• 3. Type "cmd".

• 4. Type "ping x.x.x.x", where x.x.x.x is the IP of one of the machines in the network.

• 5. If the ping is successful, your network is up and you should have full connectivity

Regular filesharing setup and problems still apply to ad-hoc networking. Be sure to take a look at »Wireless Networking Forum FAQ »Why Can't I Share Files? if you run into filesharing problems.

You can also find an additional guide here

Well put Sw Bill.

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The post that was here, and all followups to it, were moved to a new topic .. »How do I setup a network?

Excellent post.
Glad it's been pinned!

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The post that was here, and all followups to it, were moved to a new topic .. »Problems with network

nevermind

When Im Just Living To Die

my linksys cards are stuck scanning in infastructure mode, how can i chance this..

Bill,

G R E A T J O B

A couple of questions to answer or points to add if you wish. This may be more detail than you intended to provide...

1. Question: Is there a form of WPA security available in an Ad-Hoc network? Or are you limited to a maximum wireless security of WEP?

2. Point: In an ad-hoc network, every station in the network must be able to communicate with every other station in the network. If any part of the network has a hidden node, the network will perform very poorly.

3. Question: When running in ICS mode, can you use the DHCP server of the ICS machine to handle addresses?

4. Point: An 802.11g card need only support 11 Mbps in ad-hoc mode to comply with the standard. Many cards, however, support full-speed connections in Ad-Hoc mode. In Windows, these options are found on the Advanced settings in the card's Configuration Properties page.

1. Yes, I believe you have the choice of WEP or WPA.

2. Yes, that's a good point. If there's a hidden node, I don't even see how it'd "perform very poorly". If there was already a "hidden" client connected, how would another machine connect? Or do you mean something else?

3. I'm not really sure. Does Windows XP even have a built-in DHCP server (since most people are using that OS these days)? I don't have an XP machine to check on, so maybe someone can answer that for me. If it doesn't, I'm sure there's probably a third-party program out there that can do it.

I googled regarding the issue and came up with this "Microsoft Knowledge Base" article, which applies to Windows 2000 server, and, from what I've seen, some problems with other operating systems often roll over to others.

4. Yep

Sorry about being late to respond; I've been on vacation for the past week

Obviously the two nodes that can't see each other wouldn't work. But further, they would interfere with links that otherwise would work. It would be one of those troubleshooting nightmarkes -- Why are the speeds so bad between A & B? Turns out it's C causing interference.

Where exactly do I need to go on Win XP SP 2 to set the SSID and the Channel for my wireless card? I couldn't find setting such as these in the Wireless Network settings under Network Connections, nor under the card's properties in Device Manager.

Hey!
I just came across your forum while searching on adhoc network on google.I have really meager knowledge on this subject and you might find my question somewhat dumb!
My wireless router stopped working due to some electrical trouble with it. So I am trying to set up an adhoc network so as to share internet on both my desktop and laptop.
I have ethernet connection on my desktop connected through Realtek RTL8139 network card. I have a linksys wireless G PCI adaptor in the desktop and this doesn't have any slot to connect the ethernet cable to it. My laptop is wireless enabled. Is it possible to share the internet connection on both??

Most likely, yes. If the operating system of the desktop is Windows, look up Internet Connection Sharing in help for the details.

Excellent post. Followed it step by step and got it working in no time, including ICS (had to call ISP for DNS). THANKS!!

Hi,

I have 2 laptops, and I connected the wirelessly. I disabled all firewalls, antivirus, etc. The wireless connection succeeds with no problem, however the computers won't see each other at all. Ping fails.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Cristian

This is a sticky thread ... perhaps you should start your own topic in this forum. Attach an IPCONFIG /ALL for both computers (assuming Windows). You will get helped.

Despite following all the steps listed I have consistently failed to set up an ad hoc wireless network that works for more than an hour or so.

I just bought a new pair of wireless adaptors and I still cannot get anywhere. As far as I can see the two adaptors are stuck in a continuous loop of completing the connection. If I let Windows take control it says 'acquiring network address' - whatever that means. Each card can see enough info from the other one to attempt to make a connection but they never succeed.

I'm not sure if Windows (XP) gives reliable information about connectivity of peer-to-peer connections. I suspect that if you think you have a network but you cannot ping the other end even with the firewalls down then you are in the same state as I am!

This means that the network has sent a DHCP (automatic addressing) request and is waiting for a response.

Because you are not using a wireless router, this DHCP request is going to fail. But you can set up a manual (static) address.

In Windows Help, do a search for "static addressing" and you'll find a step-by-step guide.

If you need suggestions for IPs, may I suggest

Computer #1:
... IP Address: 192.168.7.101
... Netmask: 255.255.255.0
(leave the other fields blank)

Computer #2: 192.168.7.102
... Netmask: 255.255.255.0
(leave the other fields blank)

This will allow computer #1 and #2 to communicate with each other.

Sorry, I was not being sufficiently clear. If I set static IP addresses then Windows SAYS it is connected but the utility software that comes with the wireless adaptors is still stuck in a loop trying to connect but failing. That's why I think that others in the same state as I (not even being able to ping the other end) sometimes think they have a connection when they don't.

COMPUTER ONE (with internet connection also)

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Alan>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : WINXP
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 802.11b/g USB Wireless LAN Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-72-4A-E5-EA
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

PPP adapter Speedtouch Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : ***.***.***.***
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 84.68.146.244
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 195.92.195.95
195.92.195.94

COMPUTER TWO

2 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : 802.11b/g USB Wireless LAN Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-02-72-4A-E5-DD
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . .

I was about to write that the connection was still dead when I suddenly got a few minutes of connectivity during which computer two discovered it needed updates and I managed to download 3.4 mbytes of data before everything ground to a halt as before.

Perhaps there is just not enough signal strength? What are the symptoms of a weak signal? Is this brief connectivity normal?

No, it's not normal.

Any chance there are some other 2.4 GHz devices nearby (cordless phones, baby monitors, wireless AV equipment, etc.)?

can we setup WEP on peer to peer network?

Yes, but you cannot easily use WPA.

I have an Intel Celeron M laptop which has wireless built-in, and windows XP. I also have a desktop PC with Windows ME. I bought a Belkin USB wireless adaptor. Can i network these two machines together wirelessly, and can i share my broadband connection from my desktop pc to my laptop wirelessly?

I assume doing this for a wireless print server is the same process, i saw there is a print server thread but not one joining these 2 threads. so wanted to confirm.

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THANK YOU HELLA MUCH

hello leute,
nice post...i did according to this post..now my two pc is connected.but i cannot get internet in second pc..what can i do?please help me

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BIG THANKS!!!!

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