How can I share a laptop's Wi-Fi connection through its Ethernet port?

Question

I have two laptops, one with a working Wi-Fi connection (Laptop 1) and one without (Laptop 2). As I have no Ethernet plugs nearby I want to connect Laptop 2 to Laptop 1 via an Ethernet cable so that they can both use Laptop 1's Wi-Fi connection.

Both laptops are running Windows 7.

Is this possible, and if so, how?

Answer 1

If you are actually allowed to do this e.g. DHCP is unrestricted and it is simply you want to know how, the easiest way is to go to the network connections page, highlight both the Wireless and Wired internet connections and then right click and choose "Bridge Networks"

If however this is not your network and/or restricted, uses MAC security or anything advanced, you may have problems and need to assign IP's manually and/or install additional software - in this scenario, I usually tie the network card in to an IPCOP or MONOWall Virtual Machine and share it out from there.

You may also have luck using Window's own network wizard, but I cannot really recommend and/or give advise there.

Answer 2

Use a cross over ethernet cable to connect the 2 laptop ethernet ports. Configure laptop 1 as a router. It may be easier to assign static IP addresses to the 2 ethernet ports, or make laptop 1 a DHCP server.

Answer 3

Running Windows XP, I did this (on Laptop 1) via going to my WiFi connection properties by clicking on the Windows WiFi icon in my task bar, clicking on the properties button, and then going to the advanced tab. In the Internet Connection Sharing field set, I checked "Allow other network users to connect through this computers' internet connection," and then I selected my LAN adapter. From there I selected Ok, it did it's magic in the background, and then Close. That was it for me.

If anyone needs more details let me know.

Answer 4

You can also do that with your WLAN in Infrastructure mode, if you have a wireless router. You will need to turn off the DHCP on the wireless router configuration, however.

Answer 5

Connectify Pro 3.2 Can now do it. (http://www.connectify.me)

New Pro Features:
Share over Ethernet: Connectify can now act as a wired Ethernet router. In the ‘Advanced >Settings’, select ‘Share Over’, and then select your Ethernet card. In this mode, you can use >your Connectify-enabled PC to get Ethernet-based devices onto Wi-Fi or 3G/4G networks.

What I've tried is that my laptop's wifi connect to internet and let Connectify share Internet from wifi to Ethernet Card, then plug the cross over ethernet cable to another laptop with wifi disabled. Connectify itself act as an accesspoint, DHCP enabled with internet connection.