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runningduck · Sep 17, 2003, 01:07 PM

I recently purchased a <Netgear MR814 802.11b Wireless 4-Port Cable/DSL Router> to use in my dorm room at school (for my 12" Powerbook

). I have been doing some reading latly and noticed that a router on campus can cause probelms with the network. My question is; does the DHCP server hand out IP addresses back onto the network its connected to? or does the DHCP sever only hand out addresses on the computers "physically" connected (eg. the wireless or eithernet ports on back)? I have assumed that it will not mess up the network because it only hands out address on "my side," not back onto the schools network that it is connected to? Would that be a correct assumption?

Thanks

John Strung · Sep 17, 2003, 01:26 PM

If you have the school network plugged into the WAN port on the router, then the DHCP function will not be seen on the school network. If you want to use the router as a simple bridge, then turn off DHCP on the router and connect the school network to one of the LAN ports.

runningduck · Sep 17, 2003, 01:56 PM

so the WAN port on the router is labeled internet (in my case it was ment to be used connected to DSL/Cable modem)? If i wanted a simple bridge I would just plug the network into one of the LAN ports on the router and the network would be distributed wirelessly?

John Strung · Sep 17, 2003, 02:12 PM

Yes. Plugging the school network into the LAN Port achieves much the same effect as uplinking to a hub. You may have to use a cross-over cable, though, unless your router supports auto-mdx or has an uplink port.

If you do that, remember to turn off DHCP in the router or you will create havoc on the school network.