Configuring 2nd PC on DSL HUB

[jwgfeb]

Hi.
I work with LAN's and NIC card everyday, but my daughter called me with a problem I can't fix.
They had one PC working good on a Ethernet DSL line. They added another PC and it was working ok, but due to a problem with other hardware, she had to reload Win98SE. Now everything else is working BUT although the DSL modem shows up in device mngr and says it's working, she can not connect!! The other PC works OK! I've never configured a DSL. Can anyone give me some tips on what to look for with this kind of problem? It's DHCP so no static IP's. How is it configured in the Network Neighborhood? Any Standard checks? I wouldn't know what to PING with a DSL unit.

Please help as she's going to be taken to the cleaners by the local service people where she is.
Please HELP!!
Thank you
Joe

 

[salmans]

Does ipconfig show that she has been assigned an IP address via DHCP? Is the DSL connected to a router with multiple LAN ports or is there a router or switch in between? The ISP should have given you an IP address for a DNS server, can she ping that address? Can she ping her loopback 127.0.0.1?

 

[jimbopalmer]

I have a FAQ in the ehthernet Forum that discusses when Duplex goes bad, but here is the short version.

Auto works when both sides are set to Auto, both the switch and the computer, Auto at the switch also works if you set the Computer to Half. (Hubs are always Half, so either Auto or Half works at the Computer) Only set either end to Full if you can set BOTH ends to Full (you have a managed switch)

Turning it down to 10 will solve some other issues, and is rarely the slowest part of the network anyway. (we would love a 10 meg broadband connection)

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[smah]

Unless she has a router or the ISP is assigning 2 IP addresses, this won't work.

The 'router' in this case could be Windows Internet Connection Sharing. Does one of the machines have 2 NIC's? With the old setup, did one of the computers have to be on for the other to access the internet?

 

[jwgfeb]

Hi Again.
I found out a little more then I knew last post,BUT, she packed it up and has mailed it home for me to fix and upgrade to XP.
What I do know is that they have a Cable MoDem, which has a USB, a CAT5 RJ45, And I think , a Cable output. They're using the RJ-45, which is going to a Multi-port Switch, which goes Cat5 from there to each computer.
The main thing I'll need to know when it arrives is how do you configure it for a Cable Modem? Just set it up like if your using DHCP totally? Or Just for the IP,GW, and SM and manually enter a DNS and WINS?, or what? Really, I have no idea of what or how cable modems are used? I found out it is provided by the local City owned, cable provider. Just some basics on this kind of configuration would help a lot. Thank you.
Joe

 

[salmans]

smah is right, if she's got both computers connected to a switch, the ISP is only providing a single IP address, generally for a few extra dollars a month they will give you a second IP. If she was using a router instead of a switch, it would work, because the router Would take the IP from the ISP and could provide IP's to both machines using DHCP . I'm curious how she had DHCP setup? Was the other computer acting as a DHCP server? ---OR--- If the machine with the IP had a second NIC it could share it's internet connection with the second computer.

"Do it right the first time, and there won't be a second time!"

 

[bcastner]

Tell her not to ship it home. Buy a broadband cable/dsl router (good ones without wireless are around US $10-30, great ones US $50).

Many of the cable modems with USB and RJ-45 offer one, or the other, but not both, ports to be used at a time.

You could do ICS, but it is really not worth the hassle.

 

[bcastner]

One last note.

Many cable systems use the MAC or physical address to authenticate.

This is one reason both the USB and RJ-45 devices will not work simultaneously. (there are other issues).

When you get the broadband router in its configuration (well explained in most of the manuals) there is an advanced option called usually "clone the MAC address." This is the only baffling part of the process if it is required.

You need only run Winipcfg /all or depending on OS, Ipconfig /all to return the Physical Address of the ethernet adapter that has been used with success on the cable system.

You add this physical address without spaces or dashes to the router configuration as the "clone". There is nothing illegal about doing this. Do this with the broadband router connected directly to one PC, and without the cable modem connected.

Last hint. Many US cable systems use cable modems that include an on/off switch. If you just "turn it off" it continues to store the last MAC address used. You need to unplug the beast for at least a minute. Start by unpluggin it from the wall while the other cabling issues are worked out. The restore power, turn it on, let it stabilize, and then connect and power on the broadband router to the modem. Last, connect the PCs and start them up.

After this initial oddness, they should work reliably ever after without this voodoo.

Best,
Bill Castner who has had to do this long-distance for his kids.

 

[bcastner]

Alright really final note.

My neighbor had me deal with his daughter who had similar issues. It was clear to me that having her do even a simple broadband router installation (which is, quite frankly, decidedly not rocket science) was overhwelming to her.

I had them have Amazon drop ship a Linksys broadband router to their address; and then told them to go to the university IT office and offer a free pizza and a six-pack of beer to anyone who could figure out how to install the thing.

Last report was that six guys volunteered, installed the thing, and additional pizza and beer was required.

There are local resources if you ask.

 

[jwgfeb]

Thanks gurus of Geekdom.
I'll use the info I've gained and I also sent off a request to the city's IT guys and requested info on their setup. I didn't know they had a web page until last night!
Thank a lot for the help.
Joe

"Though you cannot go back and make a brand new start, my friend, anyone can start from now and make a brand new end."