Getting started with LAN Bridger
This guide is intended for LAN Bridger 0.9.10b, the most recent version of LAN Bridger. If you're using an older version, please upgrade now.
Joining & hosting networks
To join a network, you just need two things: the network's web profile and the network's password. Once you've been linked to the web profile, just click the large green connect button and LAN Bridger will automatically attempt to join the network. Before you finish joining, you'll be asked to enter in the network's password.
To host a network, all you need to do is click the "Host a network" link on the LAN Bridger welcome screen, and follow the wizard. You'll be up and running in a matter of minutes. When you want other people to join your network, simply use the share network button to generate a web profile and send the web profile link to them via e-mail, IM, or Facebook. You'll also need to let them know the network password before they can join.
Port forwarding
LAN Bridger supports two popular automatic solutions for port forwarding: UPnP and NAT-PMP. There's a good chance your home router supports one of these two standards, meaning you don't have to do anything extra to host or join networks.
If you'd like to host a network but your router doesn't support UPnP or NAT-PMP, you'll need to go into LAN Bridger preferences, click on the connection tab, and disable UPnP and NAT-PMP. You'll then need to manually choose a port number that you'd like to use for LAN Bridger, and use your router's configuration tool to forward that port to your computer.
If you're having any trouble getting other people on your network or joining networks, please stop by the forums and ask for a hand.
What are private profiles?
Once you've hosted a network with LAN Bridger, a private profile will be generated and placed in your network profile directory. If you'd like to re-host your network at any point, LAN Bridger will use this private profile to load the network's settings.
IMPORTANT: Because private profiles contain sensitive information, you should not pass them along to anyone else. Only pass out copies of your network's web profile.
What's supported?
At the current time, LAN Bridger supports Windows XP, Vista, 7, 2003, and 2008. It supports both the 32-bit and 64-bit flavors of these operating systems. Support for additional platforms is in progress.
Installation Notes
LAN Bridger currently uses a signed driver. However, the driver has not been WHQL certified by Microsoft. As a result, on certain versions of Windows, you may be asked to confirm that you would like to install a non-WHQL-certified driver. We are confident in the stability of our driver, so we suggest that you proceed with the installation.
