Connect to a local network without accessing the internet.
Connect to a local network without accessing the internet.
Choose a router or firewall capable of managing dual WAN and load balancing. This isn't a costly upgrade anymore. It gives you a unified network experience. Regarding dual NICs, Windows supports multiple IP addresses per interface, don't you think?
Beyond simple load balancing, directing specific traffic through a particular WAN requires robust policy routing. Most routers offer basic balancing but fewer support advanced policy-based routing. For instance, pfSense allows defining aliases to route entire domains or fetch IP lists from external sources. OpenWRT doesn’t provide this capability—it only accepts direct IP addresses, requiring custom scripts for list management. Other router systems likely have similar limitations.
Appreciate the help, it really works well. Thanks to all the others too—dual-wan routers with load balancing could be better, but my main goal was quick and simple printing with what I have. XD
When connected to both networks simultaneously, routing metrics become essential. If one uses Ethernet and the other WiFi, the WiFi will automatically take lower priority unless you disable the default behavior in Windows. For Ethernet connections, adjust the advanced TCP/IP settings on each adapter, turn off automatic metric tracking, and assign a higher metric value to your printer’s network so it takes precedence (lower numbers mean higher priority). Even though some suggest removing the gateway, it's better to keep both assigned to DHCP. Use the route print command to view the routing table and verify that your chosen adapter appears with a lower metric than the primary network. This works best when the networks have distinct IP addresses, such as 192.168.1.0 and 192.168.2.0; if they share the same range, synchronization becomes challenging.