connecting a Win 11 computer to a Linux computer

[Bill Stanley]

On 8/19/25 10:28, Robert Heller wrote:
> At Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:59:35 -0400 "Ubuntu user technical support,? not for general discussions" <ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com> wrote:
>
>> HI,
>>
>> I have a Windows 11 computer that I use mostly for gaming and
>> occasionally for other Windows apps which do not need an internet
>> connection.  I just do not trust Microsoft so I have disconnected the
>> LAN line to the router and all my internet stuff is through the Linux
>> computer.
>>
>> How can I connect the Windows computer to my Linux computer. At the
>> moment, there is an "air gap" to the windows 11 computer. Can I
>> reconfigure my router so that the windows machine can't access the
>> internet but can do 2 way connections only with the Linux computer via
>> the router. By the way, the router is owned by my ISP as part of their
>> services.
> It will depend on what sort of firewall the router has and what sort of
> configuration options it provides.  Normally most consumer grade routers are
> not likely to have that fine grain of configuration.  One possiblity is that
> some routers have a configuration intended to protect "children" from full
> Internet access.  Maybe you can tell the router that the MS-Windows machine is
> being operated by an underage child and deny Internet access to that
> machine...
>
> One other thought:  It is possible to run virtual machines under Linux and run
> those machines on a "private" virtual LAN.  Installing MS-Windows in such a VM
> might be an option, although I don't know how much of a performance hit that
> will entail.  I know that sometimes "gaming" machines are built to have higher
> performance than a "normal" workstation, so maybe going the VM route might not
> not work well...

WS=> I had another thought...

Would a separate LAN connection between the Windows and Linux computers 
be a solution?  My idea would be

1.  The Win computer would have no direct connection to the internet.

2. Ethernet 1 connection on the Linux computer would be as usual with a 
connection to the Internet.

3. The Win computer would connect to a separate router and the router 
would connect to Ethernet 2 on the Linux computer.

4. The router would be very simple without wireless or any internet 
connection.  I might even have an old router that I no longer use that I 
might use.  Either that or a new but very simple router.  Might a switch 
work?

>> Best wishes,
>>
>> Bill Stanley
>>
>>
>>
>