How To Setup An Wireless ADHOC Network In Ubuntu Using Network Manager

Here is a simple tutorial on how to setup an adhoc network between a ubuntu machine and a windows machine wirelessly. An adhoc network is basically a point to point network between two computers ONLY. Here no routers are involved its just a direct connection between two machines.In this tutorial i will be creating an adhoc network called "adhocprash" , i am not using any security like WEP,WPA just for simplicity , you can add them if you wish . I am giving 192.168.1.1 as the ip address for the ubuntu machine and 192.168.1.2 as the ip address for the windows machine . You can manipulate this as you wish :

In the Ubuntu Machine

Step 1 : Go to System->Preferences->Network Configuration
Step 2 : Go to the WIRELESS tab

Step 3 : Click on ADD
Step 4 : Under Connection Name enter "adhocprash" . Ensure that "Connect Automatically" is checked

Step 5 : Under SSID enter "adhocprash" . Select ad-hoc as the connection mode . Leave everything else as it is.
Step 6 : Now go to ipv4 settings , and select method as MANUAL ( as we need to setup a static ip )
Step 7 : Now click on ADD and enter ip address as 192.168.1.1 , subnet mask as 255.255.255.0 and gateway as 192.168.1.1
Step 8 : YOu could leave the DNS servers blank ( NOTE : In case you are planning on INternet connection sharing , enter DNS servers as 208.67.222.222 ( these are opendns servers) )

Step 9 : Click on OK.
Step 10 : Now click on the Wireless Icon on the top bar and click on Connect to Hidden Wireless Network


Step 11 : Under Connection choose "adhocprash" and click on CONNECT

Step 12 : Thats it , now ubuntu is connected to the adhoc network

In the Windows Machine

NOTE : These steps may vary , but the basic idea is to search for adhocprash wifi network and connect to it. and also configure the ip address of the wireless adapter manually.

Step 1 : Go to Control Panel->Network Connections

Step 2 : Right click on your Wireless Network Connection and click on Properties

Step 3 : Now go to TCP/IPV4 Properties


Step 4 : Enter ip address as 192.168.1.2 , subnet mask as 255.255.255.0 and default gateway as 192.168.1.1 . Again If required set DNS servers to opendns servers - 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220

Step 5 : Now click on OK and close all pages
Step 6 : Now right click on the Network Icon below, and click on View Available Wireless Networks

Step 7 : Now choose ADVANCED

Step 8 : Now click on Refresh

Step 9 : You should now see adhocprash listed
Step 10 : Click on OK and you should now be successfully connected to adhocprash

Thats it, now both machines are on the same adhoc network . You could use this for file sharing,printer sharing,Internet connections sharing and a lot of other things.

NOTE : Network name as adhocprash , ip addresses etc are just sample ones which WILL work , but incase you wish to change those values , you could do so ..