Networking / Beginners

Using Ad-hoc Mode

Setting up an ad-hoc network can be a quick and inexpensive way to get your network started. Here are the steps necessary for setting up your hardware in an ad-hoc network.

  1. Plug in the network card.
  2. Install drivers for the network card.
  3. Reboot the machine.
  4. Set configuration software to ad-hoc mode.

After installing one wireless network card, you would follow these steps for each computer that you want to connect. How many computers can you connect? Ad-hoc mode has a theoretical maximum of 256 nodes (computers connected to the network).

TIP: Wireless networking cards can eat up your laptop batteries quickly. If you are disconnected from your wireless network, as when traveling, and working off batteries, consider disconnecting your wireless network adapter.

Keep in mind that if you want to share Internet access between computers in ad-hoc mode, you will need to use connection sharing software, such as the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) software that comes in Windows 98 Second Edition and later (including Windows Me, 2000, and XP). Also, one of your computers will need to stay on to share the connection.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Wireless Hardware and Software Setup
  2. Connection Options
  3. Setting Up Hardware
  4. Software Overview
  5. Using Ad-hoc Mode
  6. Working with Access Points
  7. Access Points with Built-In Routers
  8. Troubleshooting
  9. Placing Your Equipment
  10. Creating a Peer-to-Peer Network
  11. Creating an Infrastructure Network
  12. Setting Up a Hybrid Network
  13. Connecting Network Multimedia Devices
  14. Mixing 802.11 Equipment