Wifi Remote Syncing?

RichTJ99 · 06-04-03, 10:38 AM

Hi,

I was curious, can I setup my wifi so I can sync my axim with it? If so, can I setup my axim to work & sync when I bump into a wifi network?

I was thinking along the lines of:

Setup everything in my internal network at home for wifi syncing, then setup the firewall to put that pc in my firewall DMZ. Then when im out & bump into someones open wifi network, i could use my home wan ip address to remotely sync with my home syncing server?

Thanks,
Rich

RichTJ99 · 06-07-03, 01:10 AM

anyone?

reversenext · 06-07-03, 01:34 AM

i would like to know how to setup my router for that purpose too. i will be watching this post. I have my wifi setup to work when i'm home but would love to be able to sync with my home computer from the wifi hotspots in my area (BW3s, Library, and or any others i come accross). I wouldnt know where to start, guess i have some reading up to do. Thanks for the idea tho!

RichTJ99 · 06-07-03, 10:51 AM

I seem to recall that when i installed activesync, there was an option to allow the PPC to sync via a server on the network.

Since I didnt choose that option I cant really guess why it wouldnt work so long as the server was always up & running. Granted, some ports would need to be opened on the firewall though for that to work, if it would work.

AntwanS · 06-07-03, 12:22 PM

I use it and it works great. I use a Pretec WiFi CF card to access my LAN thru an LinkSys AP.

Here are the steps I took to set it up;

1. Manually give the CF WiFi card a IP number.
2. Fill in the WINS server field with the IP number of your PC where you normally sync with thru USB.
3. Download a program "PocketHostNames" and install it to your PPC (Axim I presume? ;) )
4. In the PocketHostNames- program create a new entry with the NetBIOS name of your PC where you normally sync to with USB. And of course fill in the IP number of that PC.
5. Try to PING (with utility from CF card if you have that) the PC (where you normally sync to) and use the computer/netbios name, not the ip address! This is to check if your PPC can "see" your sync pc by it's name and not it's ip address.
6. If this works then change the "Connect via" to WORK setting. You have to do this on the PPC and also on your PC in activesync.
7. When I started ActiveSync, it found my pc on the network and starting to sync all the data.
8. I turned off the setting to sync via USB on my PPC.
9. Check this URL for more info on syncing thru a network; http://www.cewindows.net/wce/20/ethernet.htm (it also counts for PPC 2002)

Important is the WINS name, that this is filled in! And also the Passthrough option in the activesync options on your pc.

I can go on Internet, use MSN and start ActiveSync without changing a profile. If you use a Work settings profile to connect to internet check to make sure that the option "connect to internet...." is checked in your connection settings.

Hope it works for you too!

Good luck

AntwanS.:)

reversenext · 06-07-03, 12:49 PM

Antwans,

we have our wireless setup fine for our home networking/syncing. What we want to do is be able to sync with our home pc from a "REMOTE" Network or WiFI hot spot. or a friends house or work or whatever the case may be.
Thank you for the detailed post though i'm sure it will come in handy for others.

RichTJ99 · 09-16-03, 09:47 AM

I am still trying to figure this out. The syncing from a hotspot.

Any ideas?

09-16-03, 10:11 AM

http://radio.weblogs.com/0124865/sto...vesyncing.html

RichTJ99 · 09-17-03, 12:02 AM

That looks interesting. If I wanted to change it from an internal sync to an external sync, I would just change the IP from my router internal IP to the Cable modem IP & then put the PC that does the Syncing in the DMZ?

Could I then sync via any hotspot that I find?

Jwilker · 09-17-03, 02:04 AM

Very interesting idea. I'm not sure how you would get the ax to know the DMZ IP. Since wifi syncing has to do a cradle sync first to know the IP of the sync target. It would get a local IP not the DMZ one. You may want to try to fudge the internal IP to be the DMZ external one. Do a cradle sync, then try a wifi sync. I think the ax would attempt to use your network to get out and then come back again. ??

Purelly my best guess but I like the idea of syncing from the office to home

Howard2k · 09-17-03, 10:06 AM

You can. I've done a few similar things. The IP needs to be changed and you need to open some ports. I think it was 5678,5679,9998,9999 but can't remember from the top of my head.

You could also bu ld a PPTP VPN from the Axim to the PC and that would be more secure and not need the ports open either.

Howard2k · 09-17-03, 12:52 PM

998 and 999 it was, not 9999 and 9998.

Roner · 09-18-03, 11:51 PM

Hi everyone, I just managed to set my laptop and my axim to synchronize over the net. Howard - thanks a bunch, your comments are most helpful. I would like to add a few tips that worked for me, in case they help anyone else.

First of all, a very helpful link is http://www.oecadvantage.net/ajarvi/PpcVPN.html.

The problem with it is that like many other tutorials, it is geared towards modem connection, and not wi-fi.

What I found that worked for me was the following: after creating my VPN on my WinXP Pro laptop, I put in the TCP properties addresses from the 172.16.x.x block (it is the least used out of the 3 internal network blocks, and will avoid confusion if your axim is assigned by DHCP a 10.x.x.x or 192.168.x.x address).

On my axim I went to the connections tab, and changed what we usually do: instead of setting eveything to "work", I set the first and the third to "internet". This way I could separate my internet connection from my VPN connection, which operates under the middle entry (work settings). I set up my VPN in the work settings to point to my static IP address, and entered nothing else.

In order to synchronize with my laptop and not be recognized as a guest, I used PocketHosts to associate my laptop's name with the lowest IP address I entered in the VPN TCP properties.

After all these preparations, what I did was this:
1. Connected to the network (any open network) as usual
2. Went to the connections tab, and tapped "connect" on the middle entry (work settings - once you set the first and third entries to "internet", the "connect" of the middle one is enabled). I was prompted for my username and password. Upon entering them I was connected to my laptop's VPN.
3. Started activesync from my axim, and synchronized.

Like Howard says, VPNs are easy on firewalls. After I did it once, all of my wireless syncs, even through my home wireless network, automatically connect through the VPN. But who cares? It is just as fast.

A couple of other points to notice: when you are connected to your VPN, PocketDHCP shows two adapters - one is the one through which you are connected to the internet, and has your current address. The other one is the VPN adapter, and has the address assigned to you by your laptop.

When you open PocketHosts while connected to your VPN, it will show the entry you created and the ppp entry of the VPN gateway. Your axim will synchronize as itself and not as a guest only when these two entries show the same IP address (which they should by now).

I hope I helped, and as always - will be glad to hear comments.

Ron

P.S. Working with axim basic, ppc2002, and WinXP Pro.

j-kid · 09-19-03, 12:17 AM

I set up my wi-fi and synch through it each morning at home and with a cable at the office. It works great. I also install all my programs etc. with the wi-fi card at home since the cable is at the office. I don't recall it being more than a simple thing to do.

Roner · 09-19-03, 12:22 AM

j-kid, the whole point of my elaborate and torturing story is to enable people to sync with their home computers from any hotspot or open network.