How to reconnect to Ethernet interface on Linux computer?

Windows share disconnects (times out) constantly over Wi-Fi?

• I have 3 PCs. One is a desktop, and I use it as a server. The other two are laptops which access a Windows share from that server. One of those laptops is a Dell always connected via ethernet, the other is an HP which primarily uses Wi-Fi. I started noticing that after a few minutes of not accessing the windows share on my HP laptop, the connection would disconnect. It's extremely annoying because sometimes I'm watching a film from the share with VLC, and I pause the film. If it's paused for more than a few minutes, when I press play it plays from the buffer but closes after a few seconds (5 or so) with the error "Could not read file [x]" after the buffer is out. If I press play again (after it stops completely and returns to the main interface) I have to wait 15 or so seconds for it to reconnect and then I have to find the last place I was in the film. I thought that it was my HP and that my Dell was immune from the problem because I have Fedora (Linux) on my Dell which uses Samba to connect. But apparently the same issue exists here if I disconnect the ethernet cable and try Wi-Fi. I'm not sure how to diagnose the problem and fix it. Surely my server doesn't care (or even know) the difference between a user being connected via ethernet or Wi-Fi. Could it be the server? The router? The laptops? Could it be that Wi-Fi is being disconnected temporarily? I kind of doubt it because I did a bit of testing (opening chrome and browsing around and leaving the share alone, to see if it would stay connected because of the network activity) and it still ended up disconnecting.

• Answer:

  wifi has power saving features you'll need to force them off(power always on) also it may be a windows issue with how you have created the share. dont reference things using IP values. use UNC names. routers also affect the issue in re-assigning new ip's to bad wireless connections you can usually overcome that by FORCING in a TABLE the IP that will ALWAYS be used by a certain MAC address(ie a specific pc). this prevents the router changing even a badly connecting pc's IP. if you have a new wirelessN router it may well be over zealous in saving power. Routers also have timeouts on connections. wireless security may affect it. try it without any just as a test. ie not even WEP.