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General discussion

Trying set up a small home network with an external modem

Feb 23, 2004 8:29PM PST

I know I need two NIC's on my host computer. One to connect to the modem and one to connect to the router.
How do I connect both the host computer and the router to the modem when there is only one place in the back of the modem to connct to? Do I need some kind of adapter or spliiter back there?

Discussion is locked

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The correct setup is as follows.
Feb 23, 2004 8:38PM PST

Connect the modem with the WAN-port of the router, and each computer on the LAN to one of the (most of the times 4 or Cool LAN-ports. Each computer on the LAN has one NIC connecting it with the router. All your problems solved!

Go to http://www.linksys.com/edu/ and click on "step by step" button for a very understandable introduction.

Kees

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Re:The correct setup is as follows.
Feb 23, 2004 9:26PM PST

Well, I bought a Linksky's Broadband router and hooked it all up as manual described last night. I hooked the modem up to the internet port of the router and hooked both computers up to two of the four ports. I used the installation CD and configured my host computer and then the second computer. When I was finished the second computer had internet but the host computer was not able to browse the internet. I went to the Windows XP Help Center trouble shooter and it said if I had an External modem I would need two NIC's. One to hook to the modem and the other to hook to the router. Now I don't know what to do next. Any help is apreciated!

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Re:Re:The correct setup is as follows.
Feb 23, 2004 10:37PM PST

1. In the 'correct' setup there is no 'host' and 'second' computer. The situation is symmetric, and both computers are equivalent and independent. So best treat it not as a network problem, but as a single-computer-connect-problem.

2a. Independently try to connect both computers to the modem (without the router in between).
2b. If that works, connect them both independently with the router between the modem and the PC (just one PC at a time connected to the router, the router connected to the modem). If no connection, run ipconfig in a command windows and renew everything (type ipconfig /? for help). If one works and not the other carefully compare all settings.
As long as the computer can't browse when connected directly to the cable modem, it's unlikely it will work through the router.

3. If both computers work independently, they should work together also.

Moreover:
-'not able to browse the internet' is rather inexact. Can you ping the router, can you ping a location on the internet? Are all indicator lamps working as intented? Can you access the router menu in your browser (say 168.100.0.1 or something like that)?
What error message in IE?
- network card and drivers correctly installed?
- does a LAN-connection between both computers work?

Kees

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And ...
Feb 23, 2004 10:44PM PST

I can't find the Windows XP Help Center Trouble shooter here on this PC. Maybe the IT staff disabled it, as I'm not supposed to do troubleshooting myself (it's their work).

But are you sure you interpreted the information correctly? It's a highly uncommon configution.
Please tell the forum exactly where you found it. Then maybe somebody can tell you if you misunderstood something.


Kees

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Re:And ...
Feb 23, 2004 11:37PM PST

On Windows XP..... I went to Start/ Help and support.This opened up a central location for help topics, tutorials, troubleshooters, and other support services.

When it opened up I chose "Fix a problem" and the "Network Problems". I ran the "Internet Connection Sharing Troubleshooter".

It asked me to choose which problem I was having and I chose "I cannot browse the Internet from an Internet Connection Sharing host computer."

Then it asked me "How does the host computer connect to the Internet?" and I chose the response,"I have an external cable modem or digital subscriber line (DSL) connection to the Internet."

This is the info it gave me...
Internet Connection Sharing requires that your host computer have two network interface cards (NICs). One NIC connects the host computer to the Internet; the second NIC connects the host computer to your home or small office network.

External DSL or cable modem:
You need two NICs. One connects the host computer to the modem; the second connects the host computer to the home or small office network.

I have to get to work. I'll check back this evening to see if anyone can help. Thank you so much!
Shirley

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ICS
Feb 24, 2004 12:01AM PST

Shirley,

This is a very clear answer. ICS is a Microsoft program, best described as a software router running on one of the PC's. Kind of poor women's router, because you don't have to buy a hardware one, but use your main PC to serve as such. The second PC connects to the Internet through the first one, but only if the first one is switched on, of course.
The network between the two PC's should either be a direct cable connection (a 'UTP-cross-cable') or a switch/hub. A switch is cheaper than a router, but a router can serve as a switch.

ICS came with Windows 98 SE, and I'm inclined to say that ICS went when routers became as cheap as they are today. It's old technology now.

Forget about ICS and get both computers working with your new router.

Kees

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Re:Trying set up a small home network with an external modem
Feb 24, 2004 12:53AM PST
You said - I know I need two NIC's on my host computer. One to connect to the modem and one to connect to the router. How do I connect both the host computer and the router to the modem when there is only one place in the back of the modem to connct to?

Later you quoted - External DSL or cable modem: - You need two NICs. One connects the host computer to the modem; the second connects the host computer to the home or small office network.

If I'm not mistaken, you're actually trying to get one computer to act as a server the way this reads. As Kees has mentioned, if you connect both computers from their respective NIC to router only, the router to the modem, and then the modem to the cable, you'll have an independent setup for the two boxes. If you go the other way, then the main box (server) will have to be on for the other computer to do anything since it's not connected.

I may be talking through a hole in my head, but I find this the most simple solution -- at least between the two boxes my better-half and I run.

Bill Gaston
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Try another cable on the non-working machine.
Feb 24, 2004 9:15AM PST

.

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Re:Trying set up a small home network with an external modem
Feb 24, 2004 9:28AM PST

While I was at work today my daughter called someone out here and paid them to get this all hooked up right. The USB adapter we were using was faulty. They hooked up another one and it works fine on both ends now! I hate she had to spend the money but it was her call since the reason for networking was to get her computer on line as well. Thank you all so much for your help!

Shirley (Grandma to 9!!)