The wireless Hosted Network feature in Windows 7 lets anyone with a supported Wi-Fi adapter and driver become a wireless Access Point for other Wi-Fi users, while also having the ability to connect to another wireless network. This simply server as a virtual access point or virtual wi-fi.
What is Wireless Hosted Network?
The wireless Hosted Network is a new WLAN feature supported on Windows 7 and on Windows Server 2008 R2 with the Wireless LAN Service installed. This feature implements two major functions:
- The virtualization of a physical wireless adapter into more than one virtual wireless adapter sometimes referred to as Virtual Wi-Fi.
- A software-based wireless access point (AP) sometimes referred to as a SoftAP that uses a designated virtual wireless adapter.
Configure wireless Hosted Networks
Open Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Right Click on Command Prompt and run as Administrator.
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=[Wifi-Name] key=[passphrase] keyUsage=persistent
Note: Change the actual value for your ssid (your desired network name) and key (WPA2-PSK encryption key). In my case, it's ssid=myhome-wifi and key=passw0rd.
Windows will now detect a supported adapter and it will automatically add a connection to the Network Connections window, named Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter. See figure below. Configure the real network adapter to share its Internet access using the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) feature of Windows. This way, people connecting to the virtual Access Point will receive Internet access.C:\Windows\system32>
C:\Windows\system32>netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=myhome-wifi key
=passw0rd keyUsage=persistent
The hosted network mode has been set to allow.
The SSID of the hosted network has been successfully changed.
The user key passphrase of the hosted network has been successfully changed.
C:\Windows\system32>
Navigate through the Control Panel or Network and Sharing Center to bring up the Network Connections window.
In my case, the source of my internet is Local Area Connection. Right click on it and click Properties. Click on Sharing Tab and tick on Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection. Select the correct Home network connection which is Wireless Network Connection 2, the name of our Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport Adapter. At this point, Internet Connection Sharing is now enabled. Now return to the Command Prompt and enter the following to enable the Hosted Network:
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
Now, your Virtual Access Point is ready. Others nearby should see the Hosted Network appear in their list of available wireless networks. They can connect like normal and enter the encryption key when prompted.C:\Windows\system32>netsh wlan start hostednetwork
The hosted network started.
C:\Windows\system32>
Additional information:
Stop the wireless Hosted Network:
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
To view the Hosted Network details, including the MAC addresses of connected users, enter the following:C:\Windows\system32>netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
The hosted network stopped.
C:\Windows\system32>
netsh wlan show hostednetwork
C:\Windows\system32>netsh wlan show hostednetwork
Hosted network settings
-----------------------
Mode : Allowed
SSID name : "myhome-wifi"
Max number of clients : 100
Authentication : WPA2-Personal
Cipher : CCMP
Hosted network status
---------------------
Status : Started
BSSID : d6:df:9a:b7:fa:47
Radio type : 802.11n
Channel : 11
Number of clients : 0
C:\Windows\system32>