Member Avatar for tomtetlaw

I have Ubuntu Server 10.10.

My setup is as follows:

From the Ubuntu Server, I have an ethernet cable connecting to my Windows Computer, which has a wireless connection to my modem(and the internet). How would I be able to make it so that I can connect to the internet from my Ubuntu Server?

I heard that some routing software would be the solution but I have no idea which program to get or how to use it.

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If the two machines can ping each other (as confirmed) then the Ethernet link is fine — the apt-get “can’t resolve” errors almost always mean either no default gateway or no DNS on the Ubuntu box, not a physical-layer problem. Bridging in Windows frequently fails when the wireless adapter is in client mode, so the fact that a bridge didn’t work is expected; ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) or a proper NAT/router is the usual solution rather than a bridge. ’s pointer to Windows forwarding is the right direction.

Simplest reliable fix (Windows XP): enable Internet Connection Sharing on the wireless adapter (Network Connections → right‑click wireless → Properties → Advanced → allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection) and select the wired NIC as the “home” connection. After ICS is enabled either let the server use DHCP or give it a static IP in the same private subnet and set the gateway to the Windows PC’s LAN address. On Ubuntu, make sure you also have working DNS entries (public ones such as 8.8.8.8 will do).

Example Ubuntu static config (replace addresses to match your Windows side):

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
  address 192.168.50.2
  netmask 255.255.255.0
  gateway 192.168.50.1
  dns-nameservers 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4

Quick troubleshooting checklist:

  • From Ubuntu: ping the Windows LAN IP.
  • Ping a numeric public IP (e.g. 8.8.8.8). If that works but a hostname (google.com) fails, DNS is the issue.
  • Inspect routes with route -n or ip route show to confirm a default gateway is set.
  • Temporarily add a nameserver to /etc/resolv.conf to test (if it fixes name lookups, make the DNS change persistent via dns-nameservers or your resolvconf setup).

If ICS can’t be made to work or you need a robust long‑term solution, use a small hardware router or a Wi‑Fi adapter on the server and avoid Windows NAT altogether.

Recommended Answers

All 12 Replies

Member Avatar for shibblez

Google windows forwarding.

Member Avatar for tomtetlaw

For some reason I still can't connect to anything, I try sudo apt-get update and I get errors about not being able to resolve things. Is there any firewall/connection settings I have to setup in windows or ubuntu server?

Member Avatar for Xlphos

Hello,

Are you after having the internet going to your server(wired) and communicating with the windows machine wireless to allow access to the internet?

Or are you trying to use ubuntu as a radius server with an access point so that wireless clients can join and connect to the network?

Member Avatar for tomtetlaw

Yes, I'm trying to have the internet going to my server.

Member Avatar for Xlphos

As I understand Ideally you should only have the server in the background assigning IPs, serving webpages and controlling traffic via an access point.

I think what you need internet going to a wireless access point which is connected to the internet. Wireless clients should connect to the access point which in a way is controlled by the server. A radius server would allow multiple users with their own password and username access via the access point.

Member Avatar for tomtetlaw

I don't understand. I just want to be able to connect to the internet when using my Ubuntu Server.

Member Avatar for shibblez

Couldn't you find anything on goggle that would work?

Member Avatar for Moncky

I'm on the bus so don't have the capability to test, however this has crossed my mind.

Setup the LAN card on your windows box with an up eg with the mask but no gateway. Do the same on the Linux box same mask as above and your windows box as the gateway.

At this point you should be able to ping each way.

From here set up a static route to send all the stuff from your LAN on your windows box out over the WLAN. Or maybe bridging the interfaces?

Member Avatar for Xlphos

Just to clarify what are you after?

Just internet on the server aswell as XP OR controlling connections from the server and having clients connect through that?

Member Avatar for tomtetlaw

Just internet on the server. I've already got internet on the XP machine.

Member Avatar for tomtetlaw

@Shibbles I tried the windows forwarding thing but it didn't work.

Member Avatar for tomtetlaw

I've done the first part, and I can ping each way. I've tried bridging the interfaces(in windows) and that didn't work. Then I tried adding a static route with the command route add 10.0.0.2 mask 255.255.255.252 and it gave me the error The route addition failed: The specified mask parameter is invalid ( Destination & Mask) != Destination . I'm not sure what I should do here.

EDIT: sorry about the tripple post.

Edited by tomtetlaw because: n/a
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