Network Bridging issues

Ok, so I had a "Working" network bridge on my laptop, which is sharing a wireless connection to my main PC. The problem I have is that I deleted the network bridge and now I am unable to connect to the wireless network by creating another network bridge.

The strange thing is, I setup the bridge the exact way that it should be and previously have done before... The bridge is able to acquire an IP through DHCP from the wireless network however, if I enable / connnect the crossover cable from my main PC to the laptop, both PC's are now unable to connect to the network / web. Keep in mind all the initial tests are configured on my Laptop and it's Wireless Connection

Step 1: (Verification of network access)
Both Wireless Network and Lan adapter are enabled. The Wireless connection has obtained an DHCP IP from the Wireless router and is able to browse the web. The Lan adapter is enabled, but the crossover cable disconnected.

Step 2: (Bridge Setup)
Now, that I have verified that I have a working connection, I start to setup a network bridge, between two connections. I select the Wireless Connection then Lan Connection, highlighting both network adapters, (the network cable is still unpluged during this time) and Bridge the connections... Windows installs a Network bridge between both connections.

Step 3: (Bridge Verification)
Good... the connections are both bridged and, now, "should" be able to use the wireless connection as the DCE. I verify that the Bridge has acquired an IP, Yes, it's acquired an IP through DHCP, and has the correct subnet, mask, and gateway.

Step 4: (Connecting)
Ok, so I have a valid IP, so now I should be able to connect to the network / web. I open Internet Explorer and wait, IE is establishing a DNS connection... Finding site: www.google.com; that's not right. I refresh the connections and still unable to connect.

Now I return back to network connections and display the properties of my network bridge, IP is valid, gateway is valid. Verified both connections are utilizing the Bridge, both are selected. Ok, so I open properties and manually configure TCP/IP, still unable to connect to the network/web, i've attempted several IP's from the same subnet that are not being used... still unable to connect. So, I connect the network cable in (shouldnt matter), still unable to connect.

Step 5: (Final approach)
Ok, this is all fouled up... so I delete the Network Bridge, refresh my connections and Hey, I'm connected, but no bridge... so I know again that I "should" be able to connect via my network bridge. So a few advanced things.. checked my arp table... shows the correct DNS, but not too sure about the mac, so I clear it arp -d also /flushdns to be sure and cycle the laptop.

I'm logged back in and repeat the above steps. This time I was unable to connect to the network/web via Network Bridging via DHCP, but after I staticly assigned an IP to the bridge I was able to connect. I then connect the ethernet to the Lan and enabled the corresponding network connection on the main PC (connecting to the Laptop); before I proceed further I /flushdns and arp -d. I re-enable the lan adapter and it will not acquire a DHCP address, I also staticly assigned an IP and still unable to connect.

I proceed back to the laptop and attempt to connect again, but this time I am unable to connect and is attempting to locate the DNS, if I delete the bridge again and attempt to connect directly to the Wireless connection all is fine.


Final Thoughts:
Windows XP Network Bridging is foobard! Any suggestions?

 

Hello,
Since you seem to know what you're doing, why don't you try nat instead of bridged?
Mrk

 

Bridging / Natting same thing on windows ICS. Though, I am not using ICS to configure the bridge, since the IP has already been assigned to the wifi router I am connecting to.

 

Bump, any thoughts?