I've heard that Windows 2000 lets you assign multiple logon profiles, including IP addresses, to a single NIC in a notebook computer. For the life of me, I can't get this trick to work. How can I accomplish my goal?

This goodie is the result of a Win2K quirk. Apparently, Win2K accepts multiple NICs: The OS uses a NIC's position on the PCI bus to differentiate between NICs. When you attach a NIC to your laptop through PC Card slot 1, the OS considers the NIC to be in one network. When you attach the same NIC to the system through PC Card slot 2, Win2K considers the NIC to be in a different network. Therefore, you can assign one IP address to your PC Card NIC when it's in slot 1 and assign a different address when the card is in slot 2. To log on to different networks, simply move the NIC to the appropriate slot. The trick works like a charm.

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Reader Comments

I've tried everything from simply moving the NIC from one slot to another, to creating separate hardware profiles and configuring the card with different settings in each slot/profile. Any IP change I make always applies to the card regardless of its location, profile, etc. This simply doesn't work for me.

Jim Boyce- December 04, 2001

I can't seem to get this to work in XP Pro either.

Kevin Williams- December 10, 2001

This is fine and dandy if you have two card slots, but what if you only have one?

GChapman- January 17, 2002

I have been using this technique for a while now. I use my laptops pcmcia card to connect to the office network. At home I connect to a wireless network with a Linksys wireless USB NIC to share my DSL connection with the desktop computer. (If your laptop has a USB port) HIH

John- January 25, 2002

 
 

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