HostedNetworkStarter v1.10
Copyright (c) 2016 Nir Sofer
Web site: http://www.nirsoft.net
Description
===========
HostedNetworkStarter is a simple tool for Windows 7 and later that allows
you to easily create a wifi hotspot with your wireless network adapter,
using the Wifi hosted network feature of Windows operating system. With
the wifi hotspot created by this tool, you can allow any device with wifi
support to access the network and the Internet connection available in
your computer.
System Requirements
===================
* Any version of Windows, starting from Windows 7 and up to Windows 10,
32-bit or 64-bit systems. (In older versions of Windows, there is no
support for Wifi hosted network)
* Wireless network adapter that supports Wifi hosted network.
Versions History
================
* Version 1.10:
o Added 'Put Icon On Tray' option.
o Added 'Save Configuration To File' and 'Load Configuration From
File' options.
o Added /Start command-line option to start the hosted network
instantly without displaying the settings window.
o Added /cfg command-line option to start HostedNetworkStarter with
the specified configuration file.
* Version 1.02:
o HostedNetworkStarter now displays an error message when typing a
network key shorter than 8 characters (The hosted network feature of
Windows fails to start if the network key is too short)
* Version 1.01:
o Fixed issue: When Windows hosted network is disabled,
HostedNetworkStarter now automatically enable it. In previous
version, HostedNetworkStarter failed to start the wifi hotspot if
Windows hosted network was disabled.
* Version 1.00 - First release.
Start Using HostedNetworkStarter
================================
HostedNetworkStarter doesn't require any installation process or
additional DLL files. In order to start using it, simply run the
executable file - HostedNetworkStarter.exe
After running HostedNetworkStarter, the 'Hosted Network Options' window
is opened, allowing you to choose the desired configuration of your Wifi
hotspot. After filling the network name ,the network key, and choosing
the desired Internet connection to share, you should press the Start
button to start the Wifi Hotspot.
After starting the wifi hotspot, the main window of HostedNetworkStarter
displays information about the started hotspot. The upper pane displays
general statistics about the active hotspot (Hosted Network State,
Channel Number, number of Connected clients, Sent Bytes, Received Bytes,
and so on) , and the lower pane displays the list of clients that are
currently connected to your hotspot
If there was any error during the hotspot activation, the error code or
message will be displayed in one or more of the following lines in the
upper pane: 'Hosted Network Error', 'Hosted Network Reason Code', and
'Internet Connection Sharing Error'.
The 'Hosted Network Options' window
===================================
Here's the description of all options available in the 'Hosted Network
Options' window:
* Network Name (SSID):The name of your Wifi hotspot.
* Network Key:The network key of your Wifi hotspot.
* Persistent Key:If this option is checked, Windows operating system
will store your network key, and it'll use it in the future if the
'Network Key' field is empty.
* Storing the network key inside the .cfg file: Tells
HostedNetworkStarter how to store the network key inside
HostedNetworkStarter.cfg (located in the same folder of the .exe file):
o Don't store the network key inside the .cfg file (The default)
o Store the network key inside the .cfg file without encryption
o Store the network key inside the .cfg file with Windows encryption
If you choose to store the network key with Windows encryption,
HostedNetworkStarter will be able to get load the key only when running
it on the same computer with the same user.
* Share the Internet and the network from the following connection: If
this option is checked, the devices that connect to your hotspot will
be able to use the Internet from the selected network connection as
well as to access other computers and devices on your network.
HostedNetworkStarter automatically activates the Internet connection
sharing when you start the wifi hotspot and deactivates it when you
stop wifi hotspot.
If this option is turned off, you can still manually activate the
Internet connection sharing from the settings window of your network
adapter.
If this option is turned off and you don't activate the Internet
connection sharing manually, then the devices connect to your hotspot
will only be able to access the computer that runs HostedNetworkStarter
and any other device that is connected to the wifi hotspot.
* Maximum number of connected devices: The maximum number of wifi
devices that will be able to