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Asked: 2024-09-27T07:10:18+05:30 In:

How can I share my wireless internet connection through an Ethernet cable on Ubuntu?

I’ve been wrestling with a bit of a tech dilemma, and I really need some help from you savvy folks out there! So, here’s the situation: I have a laptop running Ubuntu, and I’m in a bit of a bind. I need to share my wireless internet connection with another device, but the only way to do it is through an Ethernet cable.

Let me give you a clearer picture. I’m staying at a friend’s place, and while the Wi-Fi is great for my laptop, I’ve got this older desktop that doesn’t have Wi-Fi capabilities. It’s stuck on the slow side of life, and I might as well be using dial-up. I heard that it’s possible to share my wireless connection via an Ethernet cable, but I’m not exactly sure how to set it up.

I’ve tried looking up guides, but most of them seem focused on Windows or Mac OS. I’m really at a loss here, and I feel like I’m about to pull my hair out. Is there anyone out there who can walk me through the steps? Like, do I need to configure any settings in Network Manager, or do I need to mess around in the terminal? Aren’t you supposed to be able to just plug in the cable and go, or does it require more finesse?

Also, I’m curious if this kind of setup could result in any speed issues for my desktop. I mean, am I going to be able to stream videos without buffering, or should I not even bother? And if any of you have faced similar issues, how did you resolve them? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

I’m really counting on the tech know-how of this community, so if you’ve got the magic answer hiding in your back pocket, spill the beans! How can I efficiently and smoothly share my wireless internet through this Ethernet cable on Ubuntu? Thanks a ton in advance!

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    2 Answers

    1. Okay, I totally get your struggle! Sharing your wireless connection through Ethernet on Ubuntu is definitely doable, and I’ll try to make it as simple as I can.

      Step-by-Step Guide to Share Wi-Fi via Ethernet

      1. Plug in the Ethernet Cable: First, connect your laptop to the desktop using an Ethernet cable. Just plug it into the Ethernet ports on both devices.
      2. Open Network Settings: Click on the network icon in your system tray (usually located at the top right corner) and select ‘Settings’ or ‘Network Settings’.
      3. Select Your Wi-Fi Connection: In the Network settings, look for your Wi-Fi network (the one you’re currently connected to) and keep it active.
      4. Configure the Ethernet Connection: Now, find the Ethernet connection (it might be called ‘Wired’ or similar). Click on it to access its settings.
      5. Set Up Sharing: Under the ‘IPv4 Settings’ tab, change the ‘Method’ to ‘Shared to other computers’. This will allow your laptop to share its internet connection.
      6. Apply the Settings: Hit ‘Apply’ and close the settings window. You might need to restart the network service or your laptop for the changes to take effect.
      7. Check Your Desktop: Now, on your older desktop, go to the network settings and see if you get an IP address automatically. If everything went well, it should connect to the internet!

      Regarding Speed:

      As for speed, it really depends on your Wi-Fi connection. If your internet is decent, you should be able to stream videos without too much buffering. Just keep in mind that the speed might drop a bit because the connection has to go through your laptop first. But hey, it’s way better than dial-up!

      Final Tips:

      • If you find it’s not working, restart both machines after setting everything up.
      • If you’re having trouble, double-check the cable and settings to ensure everything is correct.
      • And don’t stress too much; if it doesn’t work right away, it might just be a small setting you missed.

      Good luck! You got this! If you encounter any hiccups, just ask for more ideas.


    2. To share your wireless internet connection from your Ubuntu laptop to a desktop via an Ethernet cable, you’ll need to enable IP forwarding and configure the Ethernet connection. Start by connecting your laptop to the desktop using the Ethernet cable. Open the terminal and type the following command to enable IP forwarding: echo 1 | sudo tee /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward. This allows your laptop to route network traffic from the Ethernet interface to the wireless interface. Next, you’ll need to set up a route in your system’s network settings: go to “Settings,” then “Network,” and find your wired connection. Set it to “Connect automatically,” and under “IPv4,” choose “Shared to other computers.” This setup will create a shared mode that provides an IP address to your desktop.

      Regarding potential speed issues, the performance will mostly depend on your laptop’s wireless connection to the router and the capabilities of your desktop. As long as the Wi-Fi connection is stable, you should be able to stream videos without significant buffering. However, keep in mind that if multiple devices are using the Wi-Fi heavily, it may impact speed. In real-world usage, many users experience satisfactory results with this kind of setup, and it’s certainly worth trying. If you encounter any further issues, ensure that the desktop’s network settings are set to obtain an IP address automatically (DHCP) to get the configuration from the laptop seamlessly. Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you hit any snags along the way!


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