Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

timmerk · 08:34 AM

Hi all!

At work, everyone uses PCs. The work I do is a LOT easier done on my Powerbook. However, company policy does not allow my laptop to be directly plugged into the network via ethernet (yes, I know, it's dumb.) Even if I could, they use some crazy network protocols and I'm pretty sure OS X could not connect anyhow.

My question is, how would you network gurus connect to the local network, and therefore the internet from my laptop without using ethernet? The PC I use is running WinXP pro and I will have to use it as some type of router since it has the connection to the network. I was thinking maybe I could get an external USB wireless card and connect it to my PC. Is there any software for Windows that would turn it into a DHCP server or something and use the LAN connection to serve up internet over wireless to my Powerbook? Can it turn an USB wireless care (not AP) into an AP? I have found a couple of interesting products:

http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...6&prid=519
http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...6&prid=612

Both are USB wireless links. I guess the main problem is just software side in making it into an AP and serving up the net connection it has over it to my powerbook. Maybe Windows XP Pro has some stuff built in that can help?

Or maybe there is a different approach? I only have USB to work with on my PC right now and I can run any program. Is there some type of USB device to create a local network between 2 computers and then share internet? Worse comes to worse, I can get a USB to ethernet adapter and have my computer plugged into the PC via ethernet and have some software on the PC serve up the net connection via DHCP or seomthing. This last method is dangerous, because the company could consider that still plugging in.

Thanks for any input! If you know of other networking forums or people that might know how to do this, please point me in the right direction!

Thanks!

Phanguye · May 20, 2004, 10:52 AM

windows XP supports internet connection sharing

Scarpa · May 20, 2004, 06:49 PM

Speaking as an IT person who has authored a couple tech policies, most of the time there is a provision to bend the rules when a clear business need is demonstrated. I suggest you take that route first and let your supervisor know that you need to plug your laptop in. (If you have a business need that is)

Probably all the IT guys want to do is make sure you won't run P2P apps or compromise the network somehow. There is no technical reason I can think of why a Mac should be excluded from the network. There's TONS of security reasons I can think of why any personal laptop would be exluded.

timmerk · May 20, 2004, 06:51 PM

I did talk to my supervisor, and he just called the IT dept and they told him No. It is for a legit need to do some work. They let me use my laptop there, just not connected to network. I have to use CDs to transfer files right now.

The reason they give is because they only allow "authorized" apps, and they have no authorized any Mac app, much less every app on my laptop.

ghporter · May 21, 2004, 05:05 PM

Your IT department has a legitimate policy, even if it does suck in your case. One reason to allow only authorized apps is that this gives the network managers control over which network ports and protocols should be open. That kind of control means that your corporate network is much less likely to run into problems from outside attackers or from stupid coworkers running peer to peer servers on company machines (which is practically begging for somebody to attack, corrupt or even hijack the network).

With that said, it sounds like your IT guys are all PC-only types. I was that way for a long time, but at least I kept an open mind-I love to play with our new iBook...when my wife isn't using it. But there are an awful lot of people who "know computers," and even have lots of certifications that are not just ignorant about Macs, they're plain affraid of them. If that's the case with your IT department, it's probably a lost cause to try to educate them.

Finally, with a locked-down network like the one you describe DO NOT connect an unauthorized network device to ANYTHING. I can get you fired! This is a situation where you need to get your boss (and probably HIS boss) involved. Document how much time it takes for you to transfer data using CDs, and how much trouble it causes. Demonstrate how much better your Mac is at the job than your Windows machine. Show them real dollar value numbers for how much LESS it would cost the company for you do get the job done using your personal Mac connected to the network, and how much more it's costing because you can't. Business cases really work in the corporate world when obvious logic fails to win your case.

timmerk · May 21, 2004, 05:21 PM

I agree, but I keep trying to get my boss and his boss involved, but they do not have the ability to make exceptions.

However, I think I have found a way - I will use an USB 802.11 adapter on the PC, and turn on Ad-Hoc mode, which will allow it to act as an access point. Then I will use Internet sharing in WinXP and hopefully, my mac will be able to connect and that's it! IT won't be able to track me because it'll look like all connections coming from PC, and the signal is not strong enough for them to see and find. It's great! :-)

ghporter · May 25, 2004, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by timmerk:
...IT won't be able to track me because it'll look like all connections coming from PC, and the signal is not strong enough for them to see and find. It's great! :-)

I hope you're right. Of course, not all IT departments are as paranoid as the ones I'm familiar with, so they may not go sniffing around for unauthorized wireless networks. Good luck!

Sod Off Sadr · May 25, 2004, 10:39 PM

Don't go vigilante or rebel here. You could very easily get fired for violating their IT policy. I'll tell you this, though: I often get my IT guys to compromise and let me get away with stuff because they know I know what I'm doing. We're on a personal level, and they trust that (1) I know what the heck I'm doing, and (2) I won't abuse the leeway they give me.

timmerk · May 26, 2004, 08:22 PM

I got it all working.

However, this IT dept has MAJOR security - I started a port scan to see what ports Exchange uses - and all of a sudden, my connection was disabled and 3 security guards came to my office.

Intense. :-)

ghporter · May 26, 2004, 08:29 PM

Oops! You did the network equivalent of standing on the bridge of the Death Star and shouting "The Emperor is a fink!" Of course security came running-they had an indication of a network intruder inside the network!!! Speak softly, show up early, and make sure your shoes are nicely shined-for quite some time.

People will remember you...which may not be such a great thing.