ipconfig : how to configure when two computers hooked to ethernet?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tandon.sourabh
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tandon.sourabh

When I had problems accessing internet (I have a cable modem to which
two computers are hooked through a splitter), I was asked to do
"ipconfig /renew" at the DOS prompt. It sure worked! However, it worked
only on one machine -- the one on which the command was issued.

Now, if I issue the same command on the second machine, it works, but
the first one doesn't. Caught in a trap here...

Any ideas on how I can get both machines to work? Is it something like
setting the second machine with the same IP address as the one that's
on the working machine? How?

All help is appreciated!
 
When I had problems accessing internet (I have a cable modem to which
two computers are hooked through a splitter), I was asked to do
"ipconfig /renew" at the DOS prompt. It sure worked! However, it
worked only on one machine -- the one on which the command was issued.

Now, if I issue the same command on the second machine, it works, but
the first one doesn't. Caught in a trap here...

Any ideas on how I can get both machines to work? Is it something like
setting the second machine with the same IP address as the one that's
on the working machine? How?

All help is appreciated!
Click to expand...

The reason ipconfig /renew worked on one machine and not the other is
that something else is wrong on the one where it didn't work. You need
to find out what that is - simply changing the IP address won't do it
and you can't have two machines with identical IP addresses on one
network anyway.

Since we have no information about your machine, your Internet
connection, or what changed between the time things worked and the time
they didn't, you can't get more specific advice.

Start by answering these two questions:

The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between the time
things worked and the time they didn't?

The Second Question of Windows Troubleshooting: what is the
malware/virus status of the machine? If you think it is clean, what
programs (and versions) did you use to determine this?

Be sure the computer is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Malke
 
When I had problems accessing internet (I have a cable modem to which
two computers are hooked through a splitter), I was asked to do
"ipconfig /renew" at the DOS prompt. It sure worked! However, it worked
only on one machine -- the one on which the command was issued.

Now, if I issue the same command on the second machine, it works, but
the first one doesn't. Caught in a trap here...

Any ideas on how I can get both machines to work? Is it something like
setting the second machine with the same IP address as the one that's
on the working machine? How?

All help is appreciated!
Click to expand...

Here's what could be happening:

1. You get one IP address from your cable ISP.

2. The "splitter" device is a network hub or switch, not a broadband
router. What is the make and model of the "splitter"?

A router can share one IP address between multiple computers and give
them all simultaneous Internet access, but a hub or switch can't. If
you have a hub or switch, only one computer will be able to connect to
the Internet at a time.

If that's the case, the best choice is to replace the "splitter" with
a home broadband router. Another possibility is to get two IP
addresses from your cable ISP, which would probably require an
additional monthly fee.

If you indeed have a home broadband router, the problem could be that
the cable modem is connected to the wrong port on the router. Connect
the cable modem to the router's LAN or Internet port, not to one of
its LAN ports.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
Steve said:
If
you have a hub or switch, only one computer will be able to connect to
the Internet at a time.

If that's the case, the best choice is to replace the "splitter" with
a home broadband router. Another possibility is to get two IP
addresses from your cable ISP, which would probably require an
additional monthly fee.
Click to expand...

The two computer were indeed working at the same time in the past with
the same cable model through a splitter and without a router. I do not
know what changed to cause the problem -- I did not knowingly change
anything. I am unable to believe that only one computer can work at a
time with one cable modem (I have cox broadband)
Even today, both computers work, just not at the same time.
 
The two computer were indeed working at the same time in the past with
the same cable model through a splitter and without a router. I do not
know what changed to cause the problem -- I did not knowingly change
anything. I am unable to believe that only one computer can work at a
time with one cable modem (I have cox broadband)
Even today, both computers work, just not at the same time.
Click to expand...

Why mess around with this? Go and buy a router - very inexpensive
solution - and you can have multiple computers sharing your cable
Internet connection. With most things computer-related, including
networking, the simplest and most standard setup is usually the most
successful.

Malke
 
The fact that this worked in the past, and no longer does, is probably due
to a change by Cox. There was a similar situation with OptOnline (northeast
cable provider) where the cable network allowed two connections contrary to
their own intended policy, and at a certain point they modified their system
to prevent it. Quite a few people (in this area) raised exactly the
question you're raising. A router is definitely the correct solution.
--
 
If
you have a hub or switch, only one computer will be able to connect to
the Internet at a time.

If that's the case, the best choice is to replace the "splitter" with
a home broadband router. Another possibility is to get two IP
addresses from your cable ISP, which would probably require an
additional monthly fee.
Click to expand...

The two computer were indeed working at the same time in the past with
the same cable model through a splitter and without a router. I do not
know what changed to cause the problem -- I did not knowingly change
anything. I am unable to believe that only one computer can work at a
time with one cable modem (I have cox broadband)
Even today, both computers work, just not at the same time.[/QUOTE]

Is this "splitter" a device with three coaxial jacks that lets two TV
sets connect to the cable? If so, it's not a networking device, and
it can only let two computers access the Internet simultaneously if
you get two IP addresses from your cable ISP. Perhaps they provided
that to you (intentionally or unintentionally) in the past. Most
cable ISPs charge an additional monthly fee for a second IP address.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
Steve,
The splitter is an ethernet splitter. The coaxial cable (as in cable
TV) goes into the modem; the output of the cable modem is ethernet
cable which goes into the splitter. At the output of the splitter are
several ethernet ports, two of which are being used at my home.

I am using the "automatically connect to the internet" option on both
the computers. The popular wisdom says that you simply have to plug the
ethernet cable to the computer for the internet to work, which has
worked for me in the past. Ethernet cable splitters have worked great
too. But something has changed (was it my spybot that blocked certain
changes?).

Thanks for your inputs.
-Sourabh

The two computer were indeed working at the same time in the past with
the same cable model through a splitter and without a router. I do not
know what changed to cause the problem -- I did not knowingly change
anything. I am unable to believe that only one computer can work at a
time with one cable modem (I have cox broadband)
Even today, both computers work, just not at the same time.
Click to expand...

Is this "splitter" a device with three coaxial jacks that lets two TV
sets connect to the cable? If so, it's not a networking device, and
it can only let two computers access the Internet simultaneously if
you get two IP addresses from your cable ISP. Perhaps they provided
that to you (intentionally or unintentionally) in the past. Most
cable ISPs charge an additional monthly fee for a second IP address.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com[/QUOTE]
 
Steve,
The splitter is an ethernet splitter. The coaxial cable (as in cable
TV) goes into the modem; the output of the cable modem is ethernet
cable which goes into the splitter. At the output of the splitter are
several ethernet ports, two of which are being used at my home.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but I'm not familiar with anything called an "Ethernet
splitter". What is its make and model number? I assume that it's a
network hub or switch. That type of device can only give Internet
access to two computers simultaneously if you get two IP addresses
from your cable ISP.
I am using the "automatically connect to the internet" option on both
the computers. The popular wisdom says that you simply have to plug the
ethernet cable to the computer for the internet to work, which has
worked for me in the past. Ethernet cable splitters have worked great
too. But something has changed (was it my spybot that blocked certain
changes?).
Click to expand...

It's possible that your cable ISP provided you with two IP addresses
in the past, either intentionally or unintentionally.

When one of the computers is connected to the Internet, look at the IP
address assigned to that computer's Ethernet connection. If the IP
address is NOT in one of these ranges, you would need to get two IP
addresses from your cable ISP to get both computers on the Internet
simultaneously without a router:

10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255
172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255
192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255

As several of us have said, the most likely solution is to replace the
"Ethernet splitter" with a home broadband router.
Thanks for your inputs.
-Sourabh
Click to expand...

You're welcome.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
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