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.
- 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.
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>
- Configure the wireless Hosted Network settings
- Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter
- Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter.jpg (11.48 KiB) Viewed 3451 times
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.
- Internet Connection Sharing
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
C:\Windows\system32>netsh wlan start hostednetwork
The hosted network started.
C:\Windows\system32>
- Start the wireless Hosted Network
- Start the wireless Hosted Network.jpg (8.74 KiB) Viewed 3451 times
Additional information:
Stop the wireless Hosted Network:
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
C:\Windows\system32>netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
The hosted network stopped.
C:\Windows\system32>
- Stop the wireless Hosted Network
- Stop the wireless Hosted Network.jpg (6.37 KiB) Viewed 3451 times
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>
- To view the Hosted Network details