The short and curlies of vista networking

[Chuck Swiger]

Hi--

On Jun 18, 2009, at 10:41 AM, Mel Flynn wrote:
> Does anyone have a how-to or pitfall summary on how to get a vista  
> computer
> to:
> - accept DHCP offers from isc-dhcp30-server-3.0.7_4
> - connect to WPA-PSK using *any* scheme supported by FreeBSD's hostapd
> - give debugging information that makes sense to someone not  
> speaking "if
> !not_working throw generic_catch_all_error" lingo
[ ... ]
> Related info:
> Vista, WPA-PSK: "The settings saved on this computer for the network  
> do not
> match the requirements of the network."
> /var/log/dhcpd.log:
> Jun 18 08:56:24 gate dhcpd: DHCPDISCOVER from 00:c0:a8:f1:e8:c3  
> (Tyler-PC) via
> bridge0
> Jun 18 08:56:24 gate dhcpd: DHCPOFFER on 192.168.2.251 to  
> 00:c0:a8:f1:e8:c3
> (Tyler-PC) via bridge0
> <repeat till vista gives up>

One common pitfall that affects people doing unusual network  
topologies like bridging between wired and wireless is whether you've  
got proxy-ARP going, which might cause the Vista box to thing the IP  
being offered to it is really in use.  Try pinging one of your IPs in  
the DHCP pool range, and see whether you're getting ARPOP_REPLYs.  If  
so, the MAC address you get ought to lead to the hardware which is  
generating proxy ARP replies.

Of course, it might just be some Vista oddity-- perhaps it doesn't  
trust your wireless network because it doesn't like the encryption  
strength or some such, but I won't try to advise you on how to  
administer Vista itself....

Regards,
-- 
-Chuck