Difference between adding a second computer and adding a Guest computer to the network

Adding a second computer to your wireless network enables it to have access to the Internet and to the main network.  This includes your personal files and folders.  On the other hand, connecting a computer to the Guest network only provides Internet access and restricts it from accessing any information on your main network. 

Connecting a second computer to your network

There are three (3) ways to add a computer:

• Connecting additional computers using a wired connection - Using an Ethernet cable, plug one end of the cable to the LAN port of your computer and plug the other end to any of the numbered ports on your router.
•  Connecting additional wireless computers using the Easy Setup Key - For instructions, click here.
•  Manually connecting your wireless computers using your wireless network name (SSID) and password.

NOTE:  For instructions on how to connect wireless computers to your network, click here.

Connecting a computer to the Guest network

The Guest network is a feature of Linksys Wi-Fi Routers and Smart Wi-Fi Routers that provides a separate wireless network for Internet Access only.  This will appear unsecured in the list of available wireless networks and you can automatically connect to it.  However, when you open a web browser, you will be required to enter the Guest password before you can access the Internet.

When you setup your Linksys Wi-Fi Router and Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router, two (2) wireless networks with the same name will be created.  One of them has a -guest suffix to represent the guest network.  For instructions on how to connect a guest computer to your wireless network, click here.

NOTE:  For instructions on how to set up a wireless network for guests using a Linksys Wi-Fi Router or a Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router, click here.


Related Articles:

Guest Network Frequently Asked Questions
Disabling the Guest Access feature using the Web-based setup page of a Linksys wireless router or gateway
Overview of the Guest Access Tool in Linksys Smart Wi-Fi
 

Was this support article useful?

Additional Support Questions?
Search Again