AAAArrrrrgggghhhh!. Another IT problem with setting up a home network!

[felixe]

So here is my situation,
I have a d-link switch model DS 1005D which is an un-managed 5 port switch, I have it connected to by cable modem, a motorola 5101i. and also connected to 2 computers, each one connected to the switch by a seperate cable.
I can connect either computer to the internet via the switch, but cannot connect both at the same time. If I am connected to the net on Computer A then to connect to the net with computer B I must log off computer A, reset the router (turn the power off for more than 5 seconds) then restart the router and connect computer B by "repairing" the IP Address, and connecting to the network.:eek: A lot of work for such a simple task!
My questions to all the IT Gurus are:
how can I set up this switch "thing" so that the entire process of connecting to the net becomes automatic?
Have I bought the wrong switch, do I need a managed switch ( whatever that means!)?
Do I need software or additional hardware to overcome the situation?
Should I just go by a router instead?:confused:

I have no experience in networks - I do know my way around the operating system of my computer, and how to solve basic hardware problems, but this network thing is all new to me!

Thanks,
Felixe.

[Wood Butcher]

Felixe, I know the feeling. I had a similar problem with my network but fortunately my best mate was in town that week and he's an IT techy. All I can remember is something about the "DHCP" settings:confused:. Good Luck, and I hope someone can offer some real advice!

[Gumby]

Hi felixe,
I think it goes back to our original discussion about the need for a router. Something needs to be asigning ip addresses and it isn't happening.
I think this will answer your question. It was cut from the Motorola site. I got it when searching specifically for the 5101i model.

Q: Motorola’s Cable Modem Products have a USB and Ethernet connection. Can I use both of these ports to support two PCs at the same time?

A: Australian Cable Internet Service providers do not support this mode of operation. To have more than two PC’s connected at the one time; you will need to install a router behind your Cable Modem.


You need either a computer with 2 network cards connected to your modem, have connection sharing enabled, connect the second compuiter to it and it will work. As we said before however, traffic goes through the first computer to the second machine so it can affect performance and the first (host) computer needs to be on for the second to work. Otherwise, the router connected to the modem and then the 2 computers connected to the router is the best method. The router connects to the internet, has it's own ip address (assigned by the provider, just as if it were a computer), it then jhas ports to connect computers to it. That way, the computers can be on independantly of each other.

[Coldamus]

Felixe,

First a disclaimer. I am not a networking expert.

Now to the nitty gritty. Are you using static ip addressing (manually entering a fixed ip address for each computer) or automatic ip addressing (allowing Windows to automatically allocate the ip addresses)?

When you refer to the router, do you have a separate router or are you talking about the motorola cable modem (i.e. it is a combined modem/router)?

If the latter, I have a similar setup but different brands (Alcatel modem/router and Skymaster switch).

Mine would only work with automatic ip addressing.

Regards
Coldamus

[Gumby]

manually setting ip addresses works but you have to have something making the connection to the internet which gets an automatically assigned address from the provider.

You have the first computer connected, which gets it's ip address from the internet on one of it's network cards. It will then issue ip addresses to other computers connected to it via a second network card. This second card can be connected to a second computer directly, or to the switch. Other computers can then connect to the switch as well. You must have interne connection sharing enabled on the the first computer to do this.

It goes like this:
The network card in the host computer connect to the internet would have the ip address issued by the service provider. The second card in that computer has a manually assigned address of 192.168.0.1 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0
It gets connect to the switch (or direct to a computer). The send computer gets ip 192.168.0.2 and the same subnet mask. It has a gateway set as 192.168.0.1 so it know where to get the internet connection from.

There is no benefit in having a switch if you only need to connect 2 computers to the internet.


Disclaimer: I'm only home taught but I have set up our office network using a host computer before we got a router/modem. I had manual ip addresses on out network with no problems at all.

[felixe]

Hi Guys,
The disclaimer is not necessary, I understand that everyone has different levels of expertise, if someone puts up any funny advice I am sure they will be shot down quickly by others!!
So, to reply p- the IP address is automatically assigned by the computer(s) (windows xp). The router is in the modem, not a seperate unit.
It sounds like I should get rid of the switch and get a router!
I can get the network "to work" so that the network connections tell me they are connected at mbps, that the status is "connected" and the duration timer runs, but when this is happening then neither computer can actually connect to the internet.

[felixe]

Q: Motorola’s Cable Modem Products have a USB and Ethernet connection. Can I use both of these ports to support two PCs at the same time?

A: Australian Cable Internet Service providers do not support this mode of operation. To have more than two PC’s connected at the one time; you will need to install a router behind your Cable Modem.

Hi Gumby, I just went to that site and started reading the FAQ. My understanding of this is I cannot connect two computers directly to the modem. When I spoke to the optus support guy , he said to use a switch or a router (did say a router was a more expensive but easier option - to which I now agree), therefore I didn't think this was an issue as I am using the switch - am I wrong on this issue?
I would like to get this working as I will learn something at the same time.

[Gumby]

Sort of...

The ip address is assigned by XP ONLY IF you have internet connection sharing ENABLED on that particular connection.
I don't believe your modem is actually a router as well. If it isn't, then you can only connect 2 computers by having 2 network cards in one as stated in my earlier post OR by getting a router as I have done.


There is a good site I used to use years ago for all this
www.ozcableguy.com.au
I haven't needed it for a long time but is was very helpful and had diagrams which might help you out.

[Gumby]

Q: Motorola’s Cable Modem Products have a USB and Ethernet connection. Can I use both of these ports to support two PCs at the same time?

A: Australian Cable Internet Service providers do not support this mode of operation. To have more than two PC’s connected at the one time; you will need to install a router behind your Cable Modem.

Hi Gumby, I just went to that site and started reading the FAQ. My understanding of this is I cannot connect two computers directly to the modem. When I spoke to the optus support guy , he said to use a switch or a router (did say a router was a more expensive but easier option - to which I now agree), therefore I didn't think this was an issue as I am using the switch - am I wrong on this issue?
I would like to get this working as I will learn something at the same time.

I don't think a switch will do it. It only directs network traffic passing through it and will not connect to the internet by itself as a broadband router does.

A router also has a built-in firewall so is a good saftey barrier as well.

[himzol]

Felixe,

Gumby has explained it pretty well, have a look at the following : in your situation what seems to be missing is the router.

http://www.dlink.com/products/resour...rid=1504&sec=0

Go on tell the missus you need to buy a router to make the computer work.. you know you want to..

[Gumby]

That link does explain it BUT you don't need the switch shown there. The D-Link router I suggested in the previous thread has 4 ports to connect other 'puters to, so having a router AND a switch is only necessary IF you have more than 4 'puters you need connected. That's what I do at work where we have the router, switch and 8 connections.

[Ianab]

Gumby has the right idea.

You need one of these.. http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=478

And connect it like this..http://www.dlink.com/products/resour...rid=1831&sec=0

It will work with your switch, if you need more connections, but you can connect 4 PCs directly to the router.

Cheers

Ian

[felixe]

Yeah I got onto the website before aqnd got a similar config .
So my next question - Does anyone want to buy an "as new switch? Only 2 days old and still under warranty?

[snowyskiesau]

To confirm what others have said, you will need a router to allow multiple PC's to concurrently share a single cable connection.
The router will be assigned an IP address from the ISP, your PC's will either be given a fixed IP address by you or may use DHCP to get one from the router - most routers provide a built in DHCP server.
Have a look at http://www.ozcableguy.com for further information and reviews of various routers.

Feel free to contact me off list if you like.

[Gumby]

Yeah I got onto the website before aqnd got a similar config .
So my next question - Does anyone want to buy an "as new switch? Only 2 days old and still under warranty?

Why not take it back and see if you can swap it for the router and pay the difference. Tell them it didn't work as you expected and you got the wrong thing. If it's a small shop, it shouldn't be a problem.

But as i said rifght at the beginning in the previous thread, make sure the router is one which will suit your connection.