Change LAN network name
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"I would disagree a little. The name that Windows calls the network is actually your domain name. "
No quite often that is not even close - windows will name the network based upon SSID if wireless, and other factors if wired. While sure it can and sometimes uses a domain name of the network - I would sy it fails in this more than it uses it for sure. And again even if it named it your local domain - that has nothing to do with the actual AD the computer might be in, or what it uses for suffix search and what domain name you may have assigned to a connection.
You can name it whatever you want - it has no effect on use of the machine, name resolution or access to other machines be it in a AD or not.
So you only have 1 cisco router - what is the make and model. Virtual switch?? You mean a vlan? What is the configuration you have setup on this cisco device, please post its make and model number. You have no other AP envolved?
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By virtual switch I mean that there are 4 ports built into the back of the Cisco router. It is a Cisco E2500 router. Assuming AP means access point, then no, only Cisco router which I have in bridge mode. Bridge mode on the cisco router just passes DHCP and all that good stuff onto pfsense. I'm just using it for WiFi.
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If the segment you have labeled Wired (LAN) Client cannot talk to the segment you have labeled WiFi (WLAN) Client there is nothing in pfSense that can be changed to make that happen.
Whatever is keeping that communication from happening is in your Cisco device.
You need to do whatever you need to to bridge the ethernet ports with the SSID with the port connected to pfSense so there is no layer 3 going on.
And if you have pfSense plugged into the WAN/Internet port plug it into a LAN port instead.
SEE ALSO: http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/ukp.aspx?pid=80&vw=1&articleid=3733
AND: https://www.google.com/search?q=linksys+e2500+bridge+mode -
Okay, I have figured out that on one of the computers on WLAN had an antivirus firewall that was blocking external communication, even from the same network. I just need to find the setting to "trust the network".
Now back to my original question. Is there any possible way to "name the network". I realize that's not the technical term, but it'd be nice to have them all say the same network name.
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You might try a windows forum.
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I already posted how you can change the name for windows 7, and the reg key you modify for the windows 8+ machines - or can be set with group policy.
Here
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/19670-network-name-change-windows-8-a.htmlAnd that is not a virtual switch - that is the switch ports off a soho wifi router. ;)
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http://www.7tutorials.com/how-rename-active-network-connection-windows-7
Honestly, if you can't figure that that name is a network profile in Windows 7 that has nothing to do with pfSense, I don't think you should be running pfSense at all…
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I'm not sure I would go that far. The network name is based on several factors but I'm not sure if it is published. Like Johnpoz stated sometime it's based on your domain name, other times the SSID, and any other information it uses (Maybe DNS suffix). There seems to be a behavior change from Windows 7 to Windows 8 and even Windows 10 (Technical Preview) Where once the network is named you can't change it without going to the command line or in the registery. In Windows 7 all you had to do is right click on the network name and erase the profiles or even rename them. But in Windows 8 and up you have to use the netsh command. I'm sure there are other ways as people have indicated in this thread. I wouldn't go as far as to say that the question is invalid. Even at its most basic use, PfSense can be a turn key firewall for the beginner and even more for the advanced user. Let's remember we were all new at one time.
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I wouldn't call myself new to networking or systems administration in any way. I've been working with computers like this since I can remember. I think we should all remember that we don't know everything about everything, rather than assume I'm a beginner because I don't understand where windows get's it's network name.. Thank you all for the help though.
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Point well made. Sorry if I offended.
