Multiple Network Connections at the Same Time on Windows

Posted by Ivan Zlatev on 8 July, 2009 Leave a comment (31) Go to comments

In my scenario I have one Wireless connection for my Internet and one LAN connection to a small private network of my own with my NAS, PS3 and TV and I want to have them both at the same time. It was a major pain to get this setup working on Windows. When I had both connections enabled my Internet wasn’t working because Windows was routing through the LAN connection even though the Wireless connection had a higher priority set in Network Connections –> Advanced menu –> Advanced settings.

The solution is to go into the Properties of each connection (right click on it) –> select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) –> click Properties -> click Advanced –> uncheck Automatic metric in the bottom and set a number between 1 and 9999 where the smaller the number the higher the connection priority. I have set my Wireless Internet connection to 1 and my LAN connection to 9999 and that works.

I hope this post will save someone else’s precious time in the future.

Related Posts:

CodingBugs, HowTo, Windows

← Ivan Zlatev, CSI Manchester

Moving Out Fun →

Ivan Mladenov

So, in this scenario, you have advantage of both internet connection, e.g. you can download twice as faster?
http://ivanzlatev.com Ivan Zlatev

No, because I don't have an internet connection on the LAN network. It might be possible in theory, but I doubt many software applications support choosing which network card to use so that you can set 1 connection for e.g. torrents downloading and the other for web surfing.
Adrian

You sir, made my day. Thanks a lot.
http://twitter.com/mat1t Mat Steeples

As long as the ip addresses were different and there was no default gateway on the LAN network then this should have been automatic.

Do you have any form of routing on the LAN?
Bob Bobson

Get a fucking life, geek.
http://ivanzlatev.com Ivan Zlatev

I doubt you have one, troll. Get a life instead of writing rude and useless comments.
James Brown

thanks, I've been struggling with this one for ages!!
Jeff

Works great! Thanks very much.
Markku Hänninen

You saved my day, I was so ******* frustrated. I struggled for days and then support engineer in microsoft answers pasted your post about this. Everything rocks now.
billross

i have added a second nic to my desktop and connect to two local dhcp routers….i easily have 192.168.xxx on one and 10.10.xx on the other….my problem/question is how do i direct my web browser to open through a specific one while directing my mail client to open thru the other router….and, no, it does not matter how many providers i have… for a start, i just want to be able to direct a specific program thru a specific nic, and i will take it from there.
http://ivanzlatev.com Ivan Zlatev

Your application must support choosing which network card to use (I haven't seen a software that does that). Else maybe you could use some third party software to route connections through a specific network based on software that's trying to connect or ports/urls its trying to connect. Maybe you could even do some trickery with the Windows routing table. However I have no experience doing so and unfortunately can't be of much help.
billross

i have added a second nic to my desktop and connect to two local dhcp routers….i easily have 192.168.xxx on one and 10.10.xx on the other….my problem/question is how do i direct my web browser to open through a specific one while directing my mail client to open thru the other router….and, no, it does not matter how many providers i have… for a start, i just want to be able to direct a specific program thru a specific nic, and i will take it from there.
http://ivanzlatev.com Ivan Zlatev

Your application must support choosing which network card to use (I haven't seen a software that does that). Else maybe you could use some third party software to route connections through a specific network based on software that's trying to connect or ports/urls its trying to connect. Maybe you could even do some trickery with the Windows routing table. However I have no experience doing so and unfortunately can't be of much help.
Jeff

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I have gone through so many attempts to resolve this issue and you come along with a simple fix.

You just made me very happy.
kevinmorley

Wow, you fixed my problem. I was looking into that for around 5 months. thank you. I owe you a lot.
kevinmorley

Wow, you fixed my problem. I was looking into that for around 5 months. thank you. I owe you a lot.
schmittmike

This fixed my issue. Thanks for posting!
Matt

Thank you so much for sharing this solution. I've been trying to find a solution for months. This works.
Kim

I am new to Windows 7, was using XP, old one that died, bought new one and am confused, I want to connect to my ISP wireless connection, I get so far and I cannot get it to accomplish completely, please give this dummie a little more step by step instructions please, thanks for any advice you have to save me from hours of trying to find out (since they don't give you a Windows 7 Manuel, I'm old style…..Kim
http://ivanz.com/ Ivan Zlatev

Hello,

This blog post is probably not what you are looking for if you are simply trying to figure out how to connect to the wireless on Windows 7. It documents a way to have 2 internet connections at the same time.

Have you maybe considered googling for some howto videos like this one on youtube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqWJ7exMJhE or any other ones – http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&q=windows%207%20…

Good luck!
Ashfallen0

Works great, however, for those folks just hoping to use multiple adapters and prioritize use; here’s my system:

On my system, I have a 54G internal, and a 10/100/1000 gigabit mobo adapter. The Gigabit LAN is WAN connected to a 54G wireless router(until I get new “N” internals) and the 54G is hooked to the modem. This allows my wife’s lappy, XBox360, PS3, PSP, Android Phone, and whomever stops by to play nice with the web, and allow my network to be used for media streaming and whatnot. setting the adapter metrics to 1 and 2 will allow my wifi to carry my web use, and keep the bigger pipe free for media and file transfers. This is a nice hybrid system, IMHO, for when WIFI gets creamed with use, my LAN can still take up the slack.
Tst

Tried this it make no difference. Sjphone does not work in windows 7 takes an age to startup. If I have more than one active network adapter, irrespective of whether it is connected or not, sjphone says there is no active network interface.
magoo

Working in the following scenario: Connected to LAN within one of my clients enterprise network in order to work in a CITRIX application. UMTS stick to use my actual applications. Setting 1 for prio on the UMTS and a 2 on the LAN connection does the trick.

Thanks a bunch!
Guest

OMG, simple. Thank you!
Kylemattingly

Just came across this today. After a many hours of searching, this finally did the trick. Thanks!
Damiendownes1

Thanks heaps I’ve been looking for this answer for ages!!!!
Boobies

worked like a charm! thank you very much indeed!
Holy

It works well and that is great. Thanks a lot for the solution.
Mel_lee2007

mine is two desktops that use windows 7 it is not a wireless modem. but it is brand new an iinet connect better (that’s what it’s called) actually , and I can’t find the internet protocol info etc. I think the menu’s might be laid out differently. can you advise? Thanks
Sujith

thanks man,really helpfull post……
Asaru100

You Are A God!!! I worked too hard to accomplish this. Only problem now is that my internet keeps dropping off and I have to relog on.

Thanks

Ivan Zlatev