Very basic XP network problem

[Allenx]

I cannot figure out why my XP laptop is having difficulty
connecting to my working Win98 Dexktop - Ethernet Switch (Belkin)- Earthlink
DSL Gateway.

Normally.....
Win98 Desktop = IP Addr = 172.16.1.10
Belkin LAN switch
Gateway / DHCP Server = IP Addr = 172.16.0.254
With these componenets connected, everything works great.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before connecting the XP machine, I "release" the Gateway's
IP connection binding to the Win98 machine. (Earthlink allows me only
one active connection).
When I connect the XP Laptop to the switch I get the following:

- The switch's status indicators show the cable is now active ... Good
- The XP's LAN ICON detects 100Mbps connectivity ... Good
- Both transmit and receive activity are detected (the
packet counts increment periodically on the XP's LAN status screen ....Good
- The LAN status screen says
"Invalid IP address" = 0.0.0.0 !!!!!
Subnet = 0.0.0.0 !!!!!
- Repair button fails with an error report that says
"There is an IP address conflict with another system" !!!!????

The DOS Ipconfig/all commands shows similar addresses as above
Ping does not work in either XP --> Win 98 or Win98 ---> XP. Something
'very basic appears wrong. BTW...the CPU's have unique names and share the
same workgroup.

Configuration Data ----------------

The XP's "Local LAN Conection Properties" has installed
Client for Microsoft Networks
File and Print Sharing
Network Monitor Drive
TCP/IP

The Win98 machine gets its configuration from the Gateway, and has numerous
other components for dial up and VPN conections.

There are no "Bridge Connections" on the XP

There are no Authentication Boxes checked" on the XP

Internet Connection Firewall is not checked on the XP

Third party firewall is set for "Allow All Traffic". on both


I have run the Netsetup Setup Wizard and made a configuration disk from the
XP.
But I frankly leery of installing it onto my Win98 machine for fear of
losing
ground. Besides, I think something even more basic is wrong and I hoping
someone has
some ideas as to how to debug this.

Thanks in advance.......

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Not sure I followed the part about Earthlink and releasing the Gateway
binding, but try:

1. Confirm Win9x connectivity with an IP of 172.16.1.10 and do not release
anything.

2. Manually configure the XP machine with an IP of 172.16.1.11 subnet mask
255.255.0.0.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[GTS]

I'm not all that familiar with EarthLink DSL, but the problem most likely
involves either your DSL modem retaining the MAC address of the 98 machine,
or simply that it is improperly detecting multiple machines attempting to
use the connection. You would highly advised to use a router instead of a
switch. This would enable both your local network and sharing the Internet
connection with both PC's.

 

[Allenx]

This works. Thank you.

Before the DSL line showed up, I was using dial-up and
I could make the two machines talk
without any manual settings of IP addresses. I would like
to know if this is still possible?

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

There is no technical reason preventing you from doing this. You obviously
have a device which is providing NAT (network address translation) - a
protocol which has little use unless you have more than one computer. And,
this device is also providing DHCP - again something which is of marginal
use unless you have more than one computer. I suspect that if you change
the XP machine back to obtain an address automatically, and do nothing to
the Win98 machine, everything will work. If this does not work, you would
have to check the settings on your router/gateway device.

The disturbing part is: "(Earthlink allows me only one active connection)."
I suspect that you are misunderstanding this - I have never heard of such a
restriction; and most broadband ISPs actually encourage and will even help
you to connect multiple machines. I could be wrong, but I suspect that the
Earthlink restriction simply means that you are restricted to a single
PUBLIC IP address - not that you can't share it among several PRIVATE IP
addreses within the same location.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP