Oh, and Igor, regarding this terminal net of your topology:
Code:
[ALIX] -- [Windows laptop]
Based on wlm2's reported output from
ifconfig(8), you will require either a crossover Ethernet cable for point-to-point Ethernet, or you will need an Ethernet hub or switch. Apparently, a straight-through cable was not functional.
See the
Cabling discussion in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_over_twisted_pair