nh105 hub no longer works under XP (?)

[chavez67]

I'm not a rookie with regard to networking, but I'm totally self taught so sometimes there's something basic that I'm missing.

I've got a LinkSys NH105 Hub, which is (I think) a switching hub. It's got 5 ports and a "uplink" port, to which I've hooked up a cable modem. I've got a desktop machine with all my printers and other hardware plugged up and shared, and I plug my laptop into a second port to print from the shared resources. The setup worked fine under Win 98 SE.

I upgraded to Windows XP and the whole thing behaves rather strangely. If I have both computers plugged into the hub and the cable modem turned off, then the LAN works fine. If I then turn the cable modem on, one of the two computers will get an internet connection, and the shared resources will become unaccessable.

Anybody hear of this before? Ideas on how to fix it? I figure its an XP gremlin, but I'm not familiar enough with it to troubleshoot it properly.

 

[Shocker]

1) Ip Address is different from the other computer, it should be running at the same segment.
WinXp1 - 192.168.1.XXX
WinXp2 - 192.168.1.XXX

*** Take note that they would only be able to share files and see each other over the network if they have the same workgroup, same IP Segment, and no firewalls.

2) Chavez67, How many IP addresses have you bought with your ISP? If you have just bought one IP Address you will only have one computer that will be going to the internet.

*** Note a switch or hub allows only connectivity thru your network and not allow internet connection sharing, Only routers and ICS softwares shares your internet connection.

Suggestions:

1) Buy a router, router provides internet connection sharing and at the same time allows you to file and print share.

2) Have one computer configured as your gateway, and enable ICS, have another ethernet adapter installed on that computer.

Here are some sites that would be able to help you understand networking:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com

http://www.wown.com

 

[chavez67]

Very helpful. Thanks a bunch. One thing that puzzles me, though, is why the setup would work under Win98 and not under XP.

 

[bcastner]

Because XP provides automatic IP addressing in the absence of a DHCP server, and Win98 does not.

I suspect you mis-remembered all the details of the Win98 setup you were using, as on its face it should not work under Win98 either if desktop was set to obtain an IP address automaticly and then obtained an IP from the cable modem.

 

[Shocker]

Well I disagree that Win98 doesn't provide any IP Address, it does provide an IP Automatically same goes with Win95, WinME, etc. But configuring WinXp to Win 98, is really a headache, you could also try refering to this site for more info...

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/n1008096447

Have a pleasant day!

 

[bcastner]

98SE, ME, 2000, XP provide APIPA. Not 95, 98 or NT.

 

[bcastner]

Oops, 98 provides APIPA, sorry.

I think the problem is that on this switch the LAN port #5 and the Uplink port are shared and cannot be used at the same time.

When the modem is turned on, enabling the uplink port, the computer on port #5 drops or at least becomes very confused. If you use the Uplink port, you only have 4 ports free on this device.

 

[chavez67]

With regard to my old Win98 setup, I can answer some of these questions so you guys can debate it further, if you'd like.

**********
I suspect you mis-remembered all the details of the Win98 setup you were using, as on its face it should not work under Win98 either if desktop was set to obtain an IP address automaticly and then obtained an IP from the cable modem.
**********

Nope. Both desktop machines ran Win98, and both were set up to obtain an IP automatically. I never bothered to check whether they were obtaining the same IP from the modem or obtaining different IPs. And now it's too late to check.

**********
I think the problem is that on this switch the LAN port #5 and the Uplink port are shared and cannot be used at the same time.
**********

Nope. I suspected that, and so I never plugged any desktop machines into LAN port 5 - just ports one, two, and three.


FYI the scenario you guys laid out appears to have been my problem, and buying the router did fix it. Each machine on the local subnet gets an IP from the router, and the router gets a single IP from the cable modem, and everything is peachy now. My old system *did* work under Win98, though, with only a hub.