Configure a Windows Computer Network Card for Internal Use Only
November 12th, 2007 by Michael Gray in Random ThoughtsIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Read my top posts or learn more about Michael Gray. Want more frequent updates follow me on Twitter. Thanks for visiting!
I’m sure the answer to this exists on the web however my lack of proper terminology makes it difficult for me to find it, so I’ll describe what I’m trying to do.
I have a windows XP computer on my home network, I want to configure it only to accept internal network traffic over the network card. I need to be able to connect to the computer via remote desktop. After I log into the machine any browser or external traffic should be routed through the modem. I will be controlling the computer via remote desktop over the internal network and browsing external traffic on the modem. Don’t ask why … lets just say … it’s complicated.
Any one have any suggestions or can nudge me in the right direction.
Sphere It
November 13th, 2007 at 1:00 am
you can try setting the default gateway to use the modem interface and remove it from the network interface. the traffic for that computer will be routed out the modem. the network interface will be able to work with machines on the same local subnet.
November 13th, 2007 at 4:18 am
Try enabling internet connection sharing on the dialup connection. That’s quite a clear signal to Windows that outgoing internet traffic should use that connection, but it does set the IP address of the internal card to 192.168.0.1, and I don’t know how to change that.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:17 am
What Jim said about the gateways should work, but it’s worth mentioning that if you have multiple internal subnets, you’d need follow his advice plus set persistent routes for other internal subnets.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Assign you network card an IP and subnet, but no gateway or DNS servers. Having an IP and subnet will allow you to connect to it through your internal network, but the lack of a GW and DNS’s will prevent any external (internet) traffic.
Then, just setup your dial up connection like normal.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:21 am
You may be able to use the route add function to limit that network card only to the local network, and direct all internet traffic to the modem connection. The interface command can specify only to apply a specific route to a specific network adapter.
Something like this is where I would start.
route add 0.0.0.0 mask 0.0.0.0 192.168.12.1 metric 2
route add 192.168.0.0 mask 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.1 metric 1
Here’s the windows guide on it:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/route.mspx?mfr=true
Also a software firewall may be able to do this easier. Bit defender allows you to limit traffic over individual networks. They off free 30 day trials on all of their products. You would need Internet or Total security for the firewall function.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Actually replace the metric with ‘if’ and the network interface code. Ex 0×2, 0×4, 0×20011.
route add 0.0.0.0 mask 0.0.0.0 192.168.12.1 if 0×1
November 13th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Adam’s suggestion should work.
November 13th, 2007 at 11:33 am
You can also call your routers Manufacturer tech support and they will hand walk you through the process… just tell them what you are trying to do.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
a picture might help
“connect to the computer via remote desktop” where from yr local network, externaly mars or the lost city of R’lyeh
as people have said a route of last resort (the 0.0.0.0 should work