Connecting a Wireless Laptop to an existing local area network.

The hardware:

• An internet connection connected to a Dlink 704P router via an RJ45 connector.
• Multiple clients connected via network cable and with an MSI PC54G (wireless) PC card with Windows XP pro on at least one station.
• A laptop with an MSI CB54G (wireless) card bus connection and Windows XP pro.
  
  

Solution:
You first need to create a wireless network with the two wifi cards in Ad Hoc mode (PC to PC) and then to create a Point to Point connection with a VPN between the two computers.

1 – Creation of the Ad Hoc network:

Go to the Windows control panel => “Network Connections” => “Create a New Network Connection”.

Right click on the Wireless Network Connection icon that should normally appear after you have completed the installation of a network card, and choose “properties”.

In the “pre-share key”, use a numerical key that you want to implement for your encryption, knowing that the will be long depending on the chosen mode (it will state this), then check the last option “This is an Ad Hoc Network”.

You will then need to perform this same operation on the laptop (SSID and WEP Keys being identical).

Restart the two computers: you should now see a network icon appear in the bottom right of the taskbar “Wireless Network Connection (PC to PC)” with an indication of the signal quality and the speed.

If you click on this icon, and select “Advanced” you will be able to see the IP address of the network connection on the PC (note the IP address of the computer, as we will need this later).

If you have shared folders on different computers, you can swap the files without any problems between the two computers (although the laptop will not be able to see the other computers on the network). It will not be able to take advantage of the Internet connection on the client PC at this time either, as it is impossible to share the gateway. To do this you will have to read the next step.