Setting Up a Broadband Network 2

[Guest]

Hey all, first off sorry for starting a new thread, I'm having some
difficulty navigating pages since Service Pack 2 and the wondrous
restrictions it's puts on even Microsoft's own sites.

I am still trying to set up a network through one broadband Motorola SB4200
Modem, I have 3 network cables, one TRENDnet rooter, and 2 new PCs running
XP. The modem is connected by a USB line to my main pc, and the problem I
have is that when I disconnect the USB line and try to run both computers
through the rooter from the modem, neither computer recognizes any internet
connection.

I believe it was Chuck who said I could (more easily) run my first computer
from the modem through the USB line, and then connect the 2nd pc to the
internet with a single network wire running straight from PC 1 to PC 2. If
that would be easier what software alignments do I need to make to the
computers before or after I connect them to each other (everything I tried
has failed so far).

If it is not possible to do this I understand that I have to remove the USB
line from the Modem and my 1st computer completely. Then attach one network
cable from the Modem to the rooters main socket, then have 2 more network
cables running from the rooter's outputs to both PCs. If I do this (which I
tried and failed) what software alignments must I make to either pc before
and after the steps. As I said above when I pull out the USB line and try to
get some kind of connection through the network cable from the rooter, I
can’t access the net at all.

Sorry for being such an amateur. And thanks a lot for the replies to my
first post. (Chuck and Doug Sherman) much appreciated.
Alex

 

[Chuck]

Hey all, first off sorry for starting a new thread, I'm having some
difficulty navigating pages since Service Pack 2 and the wondrous
restrictions it's puts on even Microsoft's own sites.

I am still trying to set up a network through one broadband Motorola SB4200
Modem, I have 3 network cables, one TRENDnet rooter, and 2 new PCs running
XP. The modem is connected by a USB line to my main pc, and the problem I
have is that when I disconnect the USB line and try to run both computers
through the rooter from the modem, neither computer recognizes any internet
connection.

I believe it was Chuck who said I could (more easily) run my first computer
from the modem through the USB line, and then connect the 2nd pc to the
internet with a single network wire running straight from PC 1 to PC 2. If
that would be easier what software alignments do I need to make to the
computers before or after I connect them to each other (everything I tried
has failed so far).

If it is not possible to do this I understand that I have to remove the USB
line from the Modem and my 1st computer completely. Then attach one network
cable from the Modem to the rooters main socket, then have 2 more network
cables running from the rooter's outputs to both PCs. If I do this (which I
tried and failed) what software alignments must I make to either pc before
and after the steps. As I said above when I pull out the USB line and try to
get some kind of connection through the network cable from the rooter, I
can’t access the net at all.

Sorry for being such an amateur. And thanks a lot for the replies to my
first post. (Chuck and Doug Sherman) much appreciated.
Alex

Alex,

I suggested the USB to computer 1, ICS on computer 1, and computer 2 connecting
thru computer 1 solution before I realised (and Doug pointed out) that your
modem has dual connection capability - USB or Ethernet.

If you have a modem with Ethernet, the best choice is always going to be to use
the Ethernet connection. This allows you to connect the modem to the router,
and use the router for security, and for sharing the internet service.

If you can use the Ethernet modem connection, and connect the router as the
internet sharing device, then the router (thru DHCP) will issue network settings
to the computers, so the computers will automatically get internet service.
1) Connect all devices as described (Modem to router, router to both
computers).
2) Enable DHCP on the router, and setup the router per your ISP's service.
3) Enable DHCP client ("Obtain an IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS
server address automatically") on both computers.

Details, including good tutorials, are provided on the previously mentioned
websites.

If you've perused the tutorials, and still have problems, do some diagnostic
work. Provide ipconfig information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.
Identify operating system (by name and version) with each ipconfig listing.

Don't apologise for being an amateur. Everybody starts as one.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

In addition to what Chuck said bear in mind that DHCP does not always behave
the way you expect when you swap a Cable/DSL connection - ie sometimes the
modem will not give an address to the router if it was not manually released
on the computer. So, do this:

1. Connect the USB cable to the main PC as before and make sure you can get
on the Internet.

2. On the main PC, close Internet Explorer. Click Start/Run cmd ENTER.

3. In the command Window that opens up, run this command:

ipconfig /release
exit

4. Then disconnect the USB cable.

5. Follow Chuck's description - you may have to disconnect/reconnect power
to the modem and the router before you get a connection.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Chuck]

In addition to what Chuck said bear in mind that DHCP does not always behave
the way you expect when you swap a Cable/DSL connection - ie sometimes the
modem will not give an address to the router if it was not manually released
on the computer. So, do this:

1. Connect the USB cable to the main PC as before and make sure you can get
on the Internet.

2. On the main PC, close Internet Explorer. Click Start/Run cmd ENTER.

3. In the command Window that opens up, run this command:

ipconfig /release
exit

4. Then disconnect the USB cable.

5. Follow Chuck's description - you may have to disconnect/reconnect power
to the modem and the router before you get a connection.

Good point, Doug. My observance has been that MAC address registration is one
of the most common problems with changing, from a modem to computer connection,
to a modem to router to computer connection.
1) Power down modem, router, and computer. Leave off 5 - 10 minutes.
2) Power up modem.
3) Power up router.
4) Power up computer.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

1) Power down modem, router, and computer. Leave off 5 - 10 minutes.

Chuck,

5 seconds should suffice. I have yet to see any electronic
device that's not fully powered down after a few seconds.

Hans-Georg

 

[Chuck]

Chuck,

5 seconds should suffice. I have yet to see any electronic
device that's not fully powered down after a few seconds.

Hans-Georg

If I were doing the work myself, I'd probably try 10 - 15 seconds (just about
long enough for me to power every thing down, and start reconnecting and hitting
power buttons). That's because I'm impatient. And because I would be right
there to observe what's going on, and maybe to call the ISP for help.

Since I'm advising somebody in another state, who's using a cable broadband
service I know nothing about, and interpreting my instructions as they go, I
follow the general recommendations from other forums, such as
comp.dcom.modems.cable.

Remember, the cable modem is communicating with the cable ISP. Their idea of
service is like "can you be at home next Tuesday afternoon".

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Since I'm advising somebody in another state, who's using a cable broadband
service I know nothing about, and interpreting my instructions as they go, I
follow the general recommendations from other forums, such as
comp.dcom.modems.cable.

Remember, the cable modem is communicating with the cable ISP. Their idea of
service is like "can you be at home next Tuesday afternoon".

Chuck,

oh, I see what you mean. You're thinking about the equipment on
the other end of the line, at the cable service provider's side.
Didn't think of that.

I don't know anything about ISP equipment. But before I believe
any 15 minute story, somebody would have to give me a very
credible example where that actually helps.

The other thing is that recommending such long times can easily
develop into a myth. Somebody does it, it works for one reason
or another, then he becomes a 15 minute evangelist. -)

Being a fundamentally skeptical person (and an electronics
engineer), I tend to disbelieve. Certainly the typical
microprocessor-based equipment, like a router, boots after
losing power for a second or two, so there no longer time is
needed.

But, short of deeper knowledge, I can't prove anything involving
ISP equipment, so any further discussion makes no sense. It
would only be about beliefs. And people believe the craziest
things. -)

Hans-Georg

 

[Chuck]

Chuck,

oh, I see what you mean. You're thinking about the equipment on
the other end of the line, at the cable service provider's side.
Didn't think of that.

I don't know anything about ISP equipment. But before I believe
any 15 minute story, somebody would have to give me a very
credible example where that actually helps.

The other thing is that recommending such long times can easily
develop into a myth. Somebody does it, it works for one reason
or another, then he becomes a 15 minute evangelist. -)

Being a fundamentally skeptical person (and an electronics
engineer), I tend to disbelieve. Certainly the typical
microprocessor-based equipment, like a router, boots after
losing power for a second or two, so there no longer time is
needed.

But, short of deeper knowledge, I can't prove anything involving
ISP equipment, so any further discussion makes no sense. It
would only be about beliefs. And people believe the craziest
things. -)

Hans-Georg

HG,

I'm skeptical myself, and like to experiment with any advice I'm given, when I'm
in a position to directly observe the results. But when I'm giving advice,
especially when I can only observe the results indirectly, based upon a
half-duplex conversation, with conversation packet latency in hours (or days),
rather than seconds, I get conservative.

I spend some time in the broadband forums, both on Usenet and websites, and
there's a fair amount of FUD everywhere. But, in my lifetime as a computer
systems engineer (well not quite a complete lifetime yet) I have sort of learned
to assess the posters, and decide who to accept advice from. I try to ignore
the FUD.

There are a lot of interesting conversations in the cable and DSL broadband
forums. The topic "How do I successfully connect my new router to my service
without directly involving my ISP?" comes up from time to time, and some of the
more literate posters prefer the procedure which I have recommended.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

There are a lot of interesting conversations in the cable and DSL broadband
forums. The topic "How do I successfully connect my new router to my service
without directly involving my ISP?" comes up from time to time, and some of the
more literate posters prefer the procedure which I have recommended.

Chuck,

I'd love to visit those forums, but it's totally out of the
question, when I look at my available time. Too bad ...

But I believe you. I'd like to know some details. One widespread
network timeout is 20 minutes (for some TCP connections, default
session lifetime for ASP pages, etc.). That, however, would
indicate that even 15 minutes are not enough. Perhaps one should
recommend to leave everything switched off overnight?

Again we're running into the 99% question. The cases in which
switching off for a longer time solves a problem are certainly
rare. You're obviously aiming at giving nearly all-encompassing
"99%" recommendations. I rarely try that. It's an interesting
fundamental question, almost philosophical. -)

Hans-Georg