HELP!!!! I lost my router IP when I made it a switch......

[redgtxdi]

So, nightmare at work today. *I* was voted responsible to handle this (ugh)....

Bought a Netgear G54 router as Walmart had no switches. Took FOREVER to get this thing hooked up, but finally did and even managed to turn off DHCP. So, now it's working as a switch. I don't know how, but it is.

Netgear forced it into a 10.0.0.1 address as we have a static IP at work.

I changed it (or tried to) to 192.168.1.123 to give it something similar on our stuff, but no interfering. Now I can't log into it. It's not 10.0.0.1. It's not 192.168.1.123. It's not the default 192.168.0.1 , nor the "www.routerlogin.net

I'm lost!!

 

[VirtualLarry]

What kind of corporate organization buys a router at Walmart to use as a switch?

 

[redgtxdi]

What kind of corporate organization buys a router at Walmart to use as a switch?

I'd normally laugh, but right now I just need help.

Thx

 

[Eug]

Factory reset?

 

[seepy83]

You said you set it to 192.168.1.123, but you can't access it at that address. What is the IP configuration on the computer you are trying to access it from? Is it on that same network?

Edit: and yes, factory reset as Eug suggested would be the quickest fix if you don't know what you did or are doing.

 

[s44]

What kind of corporate organization buys a router at Walmart to use as a switch?

Much less one so dated that no one should be buying it any more for anything...

Anyway, 30/30/30 and try again.

 

[JackMDS]

With the G54 there is away to log in to the Router via IP number bypassing the Bizarre login that Netgear uses by default (Google for it).

Put the Router on a single computer that is Not on the Network (through a LAN port). Reset the Router and log in directly to the default IP, then while on a single computer do the necessary changes. When done you will be able to use it on the Network.

Using Access Points or Wireless Cable/DSL Routers as a Switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

 

[redgtxdi]

Thanks guys, I think I could have phrased the question better too, but ya, essentially it'll need a reset.

It's working fine now and I won't be able to mess with it until after 5 and I'm not even sure I want to.

More specifically my question should have read that I just want to access the router's "user interface" but maybe that's impossible once DHCP's been disabled??

P.S. Looks like somebody here had similar issue..... http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/574339

I think it's tied to switch relating all to whatever the modem/router1 thinks. Might "Nmap" tell me anyway??????

 

[JackMDS]

If the DHCP was disabled you have to configure the single computer that you use for accessing the Router with a static IP that is of the subnet of the default IP (or what ever else set) of the Router.

Then use the browser to access the Router's Menus by putting its IP into the address bar.

The Router does not lose its own IP when the DHCP is off, it just can not provide an IP other devices.

Configuring the access computer with static IP means that it does not need the DHCP to have an IP.

 

[seepy83]

More specifically my question should have read that I just want to access the router's "user interface" but maybe that's impossible once DHCP's been disabled??

No, not impossible at all.

Might "Nmap" tell me anyway??????

You don't need to use nmap if you know what static IP you set on the router. If you don't know what IP you set, then nmap won't help much because you probably won't have your computer on the correct network (subnet) to be able to scan and find the router. That's why I asked you: "You said you set it to 192.168.1.123, but you can't access it at that address. What is the IP configuration on the computer you are trying to access it from? Is it on that same network?"

 

[redgtxdi]

If the DHCP was disabled you have to configure the single computer that you use for accessing the Router with a static IP that is of the subnet of the default IP (or what ever else set) of the Router.

Then use the browser to access the Router's Menus by putting its IP into the address bar.

And I believe that is the case. The computer was already setup w/ the static IP that we always use. That's why I don't understand why I can't get into it. In the router's menu (after disabling DHCP) I changed its IP from 10.0.0.1 to 192.168.1.123,(router rebooted & never came back) yet I can't access it from the computer it's plugged into.

confuzzled

 

[s44]

It may be in the DHCP range of the router you've connected it to.

 

[seepy83]

I won't ask the question that I've already asked twice again. But if you choose to answer, it might become blatantly obvious why your computer can't communicate with the router's management interface.

 

[JackMDS]

I remember from years ago that the Netgear G54 default log in has some strange log on address.

I do not know how it is these days they keep selling the Router under the same Model number but they change the internal hardware few times. I stopped using Netgear "Junk" years ago.

Just order this with next day ship and you will have easy life and better Network.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156270

 

[redgtxdi]

I won't ask the question that I've already asked twice again. But if you choose to answer, it might become blatantly obvious why your computer can't communicate with the router's management interface.

PC Lan IP address.....192.168.3.106
Subnet mask.......255.255.255.0
Gateway........192.168.3.1
DHCP Server....192.168.3.1
DNS Server.....192.168.3.254

192.168.3.1 takes me to the VPN router in the back of the building, not the switch.

Although an hour ago I just bought a 5-port switch but not gonna reset this router til I figure out what happened just for curiosity sake.

Thx (Let me know if above is not enough)

 

[Gryz]

Seepy is right. Your PC is on subnet 3. You configured your router to be on subnet 1. No wonder they can't talk.

If this isn't clear to you, learn what a subnet mask is.

 

[kevnich2]

I'm curious what company you work for, cause.....wow. I really have no other words.

 

[redgtxdi]

Seepy is right. Your PC is on subnet 3. You configured your router to be on subnet 1. No wonder they can't talk.

If this isn't clear to you, learn what a subnet mask is.

So when I have it plugged in solely to my laptop using an unrelated LAN and it still won't talk, will learning what a subnet mask is help explain why I can't access the router's interface?

 

[seepy83]

Like Gryz said...the management interface on your "router" that you're using as a switch and your PC are on different subnets. If you want to log in to the router, you're going to need to put your PC on 192.168.1.x. As long as all of the information that you've provided up until now is correct, once you have your PC on that network (AKA subnet), you will be able to access the router's management interface at 192.168.1.123.

I won't go into detail, but devices on different networks (subnets) can't talk to eachother unless there is some Layer 3 device (router) that is aware of the two networks and routes the traffic between them. You should do some reading to learn this stuff if you're going to be responsible for it. I'm guessing you work at a fairly small company and you know more about computers than everyone else, so they assume you know everything.

 

[redgtxdi]

Thanks seepy, although my laptop was only ever on a 1 subnet so I still don't know why it wouldn't log in directly connected via Ethernet to a LAN port.

I just reset it. Interestingly enough, the ip changed to 192.168.1.1 now. (just my laptop & this router on my couch) no Internet or wifi of any kind. Default for netgear is supposed to be 0.1, not 1.1. (yes, even says so in the manual & started life as such)

I wish I could have known what it's ip address really was when it was locking me out. (i can make it 1.123 all day now and it doesn't care & works fine) Would have paid $5 to find out.

 

[seepy83]

Thanks seepy, although my laptop was only ever on a 1 subnet so I still don't know why it wouldn't log in directly connected via Ethernet to a LAN port.

I just reset it. Interestingly enough, the ip changed to 192.168.1.1 now. (just my laptop & this router on my couch) no Internet or wifi of any kind. Default for netgear is supposed to be 0.1, not 1.1. (yes, even says so in the manual & started life as such)

I wish I could have known what it's ip address really was when it was locking me out. (i can make it 1.123 all day now and it doesn't care & works fine) Would have paid $5 to find out.

When you had it on your work network, and your PC had this configuration:

PC Lan IP address.....192.168.3.106
Subnet mask.......255.255.255.0
Gateway........192.168.3.1
DHCP Server....192.168.3.1
DNS Server.....192.168.3.254

The router probably was on 192.168.1.123, and your PC couldn't communicate it because it was on the 192.168.3.xxx network.

Seriously...if you want to understand what was happening, then find a CCNA or Network+ book or something like that and start reading it. You just don't understand some very basic networking principles.

 

[Cabletek]

bah

 

[Cabletek]

bah how do I delete posts.

 

[redgtxdi]

When you had it on your work network, and your PC had this configuration:

The router probably was on 192.168.1.123, and your PC couldn't communicate it because it was on the 192.168.3.xxx network.

Seriously...if you want to understand what was happening, then find a CCNA or Network+ book or something like that and start reading it. You just don't understand some very basic networking principles.

But you're still missing why it wouldn't connect with my "laptop"!!!

Furthermore, if the work "desktop" was conflicted with the 1 vs 3 subnet issue, (and i accept that was the case) then why was it working flawlessly as a switch? (despite my inability to log into its interface it was passing Internet connectivity flawlessly thru its LAN ports)

 

[seepy83]

But you're still missing why it wouldn't connect with my "laptop"!!!

Furthermore, if the work "desktop" was conflicted with the 1 vs 3 subnet issue, (and i accept that was the case) then why was it working flawlessly as a switch? (despite my inability to log into its interface it was passing Internet connectivity flawlessly thru its LAN ports)

I have no idea why it wouldn't connect with your "laptop". What was the network configuration on your laptop?

It working flawlessly as a switch makes perfect sense. Layer 2 vs Layer 3 OSI Model stuff. This is how networks work.

I'm not trying to be short with you, but I've been in your shoes before...not with this specific problem...but I can remember trying to troubleshoot pretty basic network problems like this and I just didn't get it. I had my own thoughts in my head about how these things worked, and they weren't always right. Read a book, or take a class, or find some free literature online. The best thing you can do is educate yourself.