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Tiny-E · Apr 1, 2005, 11:00 PM

I'm trying to connect to my housemates' router that they have set up for their computer. I plug in the ethernet cable to my powerbook and go to network under system prefs, go to
location: automatic,
Show: built-in ethernet and
Configure: using DHCP.
It gives me an IP address, subnet mask and router numbers and all looks good but when I go to connect to IE or netscape, I can't get a connection.

The connection works randomly in that I've been able to jump onto the internet twice in the past 5 days but most of the time I can't connect.

Please!!! Any reasons why I can't connect???????????????????

Insaneous · Apr 2, 2005, 01:50 AM

Please supply more information, ie OS, router brand, under network configuration - is "Built-in Ethernet" at the top of the list?
Are the other computers having any trouble with the internet?

Tiny-E · Apr 4, 2005, 07:43 AM

Okay, I'm using 10.2.8. The router here is D-Link Airplus G+ Wireless Router (although I'm using the ethernet plugs through it). My flatmate says that he has the modem going through his computer so the ethernet cable coming from his computer is going into the local network slot 1 while I have a ethernet cable going from slot 2 to my computer.

I have "Built in ethernet" at the top of the network configurations list.

The computer will connect through the router (I know this 'cause I can jumpt onto the web) randomly, after I go to network and keep fiddling with it and hitting "apply" under DHCP after a while.

So, any possibilities here?

John Strung · Apr 4, 2005, 09:28 AM

Your room mate should connect the modem to the WAN port of the router and turn off internet connection sharing on his computer.

Tiny-E · Apr 4, 2005, 03:48 PM

But why does it work sometimes (most often not) when I have it hooked up this way?

Tiny-E · Apr 4, 2005, 03:50 PM

sorry, also, where do I find the internet connection sharing option on his pc?

ghporter · Apr 4, 2005, 06:20 PM

Originally posted by Tiny-E:
sorry, also, where do I find the internet connection sharing option on his pc?

That depends on what version of Windows he's using. If you can tell us that, we can point you in the right direction.

Tiny-E · Apr 5, 2005, 02:40 AM

His pc is running windows XP home edition 2002. HOpe this helps...

ghporter · Apr 5, 2005, 06:01 AM

From Windows XP Help: When you are setting up a home or small office network, it is recommended that you use the Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP Professional to enable Internet Connection Sharing. The Network Setup Wizard automatically provides all of the network settings you need to share one Internet connection with all the computers in your network.

Note

To start the Network Setup Wizard, click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Setup Wizard.

That should help you out. By default the ICS setup in WinXP acts as a DHCP server (assigns automatic IP addresses), so everything should work smoothly for you without a lot of fiddling.

John Strung · Apr 5, 2005, 08:22 AM

To turn off ICS on your friend's computer, go to the Network Control panel and if you see an network interface called a Bridge, delete it.

Tiny-E · Apr 7, 2005, 04:26 AM

Don't I want to enable ICS and not turn it off? That seems strange to me...

ghporter · Apr 7, 2005, 07:22 AM

Originally posted by Tiny-E:
Don't I want to enable ICS and not turn it off? That seems strange to me...

Yep, you're right. I think John was misreading above. Turn ON ICS and then connect your Mac-it will be connecting to a LAN, not "the Internet."

John Strung · Apr 7, 2005, 03:17 PM

No. I meant what I said. This was in response to my earlier message in which I suggested that the roommate connect the modem to his router, not to his computer.

The problem with the set up as is, is that you have two DCHP servers on the same LAN, which won't work. It doesn't make sense to use ICS if you have a router. ICS is simply a kludge to replace a hardware router with as software one.

The proper set up is the modem connects to the WAN port of the router. Everything else connects to the LAN ports of the router. There should be no direct computer to computer connections, and no ICS.

John Strung · 04:22 PM

The above is all under the assumption that the modem in question is a cable or dsl modem and not a dial up modem. I don't think Tiny directly answered the question of whether this was a broadban connection or not. I have been assuming it was broadband, but maybe I am wrong.

If it is a dial-up connection, then ignore my previous post. In that case you will have to use ICS (unless your router, like the SMC 7004AWBR, has a modem port). But if you use ICS, you have to connect the computer running ICS to a LAN port (not the WAN port) of the router and make sure that the router's DHCP server is turned off.

Tiny-E · Apr 8, 2005, 02:39 AM

Sorry guys, hope this helps. What it is here is a dsl modem, but for some reason, it's a usb cable? going from the modem to the main pc, then an ethernet cable going from teh computer to the router into a LAN (?-not the WAN) line, then another ethernet cable going from the router to my powerbook.

Still haven't gotten it working yet....

ghporter · Apr 8, 2005, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by Tiny-E:
Sorry guys, hope this helps. What it is here is a dsl modem, but for some reason, it's a usb cable? going from the modem to the main pc, then an ethernet cable going from teh computer to the router into a LAN (?-not the WAN) line, then another ethernet cable going from the router to my powerbook.

Still haven't gotten it working yet....

Can you post an illustration of that? I can't understand the setup from your text (and it's early...).

John Strung · Apr 8, 2005, 07:04 AM

DSL modems are a pain in the neck. Is there any possibility of exchanging it for a modem that connectes using ethernet?

If not, you have to use ICS, but first go into the router adminstration program and turn of its DHCP broadcast. Once you have done that, things should work. Make sure your Mac is set to Connect using Ethernet and Configure using DHCP.