connect to two networks from one computer simultaneously

Question

I have two very separate networks that I'd like to monitor with one computer.

I am working on creating a simple windows form app that monitors the availability of each network by pinging a server downstream of each network.

What I'd like to do is plug a network cable from the router of one network to the Ethernet port on the laptop, and wirelessly connect to the other network. Or is there a better way?

But when a network cable is plugged in, the wireless on the laptop turns off.

Is there a way (preferable Programmatically) to keep the wireless AND the Ethernet card on and active at the same time?

I'm using Vista at the moment, if that matters.

Answer 1

But when a network cable is plugged in, the wireless on the laptop turns off.

This really shouldn't happen. Or since it does, it sounds like a hardware limitation of your laptop.

Answer 2

Since it looks like you are using DHCP for both connections, check whether you are getting conflicting leases (say, IPs in the same subnet) on both interfaces. That would mess up the routing table.

Also, paste the output of ipconfig /all into your question.

Answer 3

I am using Vista and can ping the routers to both of my networks. I am running Vista Ultimate from a Desktop, with both a wireless and a wired network.

C:\Users\romain>ping 192.168.0.1

Pinging 192.168.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

C:\Users\romain>ping 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 2ms, Average = 1ms

Answer 4

You can definitely do it and it's as simple as connecting to both of them at the same time. Plug the network cable in and then connect in the wireless utilities. I know from personal experience that windows can support this and it will send packets out the interface that is connected to the appropriate network (in all honesty I'm not sure how it handles the decision when the target is not connected to either network ie which one gets priority). With regards to it automatically turning off, that's a driver/network utility issue designed to help reduce power consumption (my ThinkPad does it). If you can't find a way to turn that off, see if you can find a driver through another vendor.