networkingSecuritywifiwindows 7wpa
I have shared my ethernet connection over wireless in Windows 7 using the method outlined in the accepted answer here: Windows 7 – wireless connection sharing.
My wireless card is a TP-Link TL-WN821N, which, according to the specs, supports WPA2.
When I am in the Setup an Ad Hoc Network configuration screen, I only have the option of WEP under Security Type:
How can I enable WPA2 as an option? I am using the latest driver, v3.5.0.12 dated 11/26/2009.
The WiFi's encryption level should be completely transparent to any applications that are communicating over the network. If you take a look at the OSI model, it should show that all the wifi and encryption related stuff is going on in layer 1: the physical layer. Being able to pass any data to the remote system means it is not a physical layer issue.
So I think I can pretty definitively say that the wireless encryption is not your issue.
Now to what your issue is... I'm not sure, but I'm going to say it is probably related to how you are accessing the server.
Are you accessing the remote system by IP or by Name?
If by name, can you resolve that name into a valid IP (using nslookup)?
Can you telnet into the server on port 1433?
a. Can you telnet to port 1433 from either or both networks?
Check SQLServer's configuration, it is entirely possible (and indeed likely) that it is not running on port 1433. I believe it attempts to use dynamic port allocation by default. Microsoft has specific instructions on how to get it to use one static port.
Try this (on the client computer):
Login locally using a user with administrator privileges.
Connect to your office's wireless network, save the credentials, and then make sure you check the "Connect automatically" checkbox.
Open a command prompt window and type the following command to find the profile name of your wireless network: netsh wlan show profiles
Let's say the profile to use in the example is "office-network". Open regedit and look for the key HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Create a new String Value (REG_SZ) at that location, and name it anything you want (i.e. WIFI_Connect), and enter the following command string: %comspec% /c netsh wlan connect name="<profile name>" where profile name in our example would be "office-network".
Reboot the laptop for this to take effect.
If it still doesn't work or fails to connect to your office network at pre-logon, try enabling the following Local Group Policy (using gpedit.msc): Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative templates\System\Logon\Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon. A full description of what this policy does is present on the dialog when you edit it. (It's too long to paste here).
If it still says it cannot find a valid domain, it could be a DNS issue. Make sure that the wireless router providing you the connection is setup to provide the proper DNS servers over DHCP, and that the domain can be resolved with them.
If not of that works, I don't know what is wrong, but it's nothing obvious. Every KB I've read so far point to this solution, and it seems to work well for others.
Best Answer
Windows 7 supports a Soft AP mode that can be used to create a more secure sharing environment as it supports WPA2\AES. This works with most WLAN Nics but there may be issues with some older kit.
The steps you need to follow are:
1: Open up an administrator command prompt.
2: Create the SoftAP config:
3: You will now need to modify your ICS settings to allow sharing from your main internet adapter to this new network. You manage this from the properties->sharing tab of the network adapter that is your primary internet connection. This can be the same WLAN adapter that will be used for the Soft AP.
4: Start the SoftAP
5: Connect to this from your other systems just as you would connect to any AP that provides a WPA2 secured SSID
There is a full guide with screenshots available here.