Help me get my LAN working

[d1abolic]

First off, let me tell you about my miserable attempt to get it running myself. I have two machines, a Linksys BEFSR41 router and a cable connection. So i started off with my main PC connected directly to the modem, and popped in the Linksys installation CD. It verified that i have a connection, and then asked me to hook everything up through the router. I did it and the main machine worked perfectly. So now to the next one. I popped in the CD, and it asked me to connect directly. So i did. And this is where things went horribly wrong. The second machine refused to connect directly or through the router. And after giving up, i found out that now my main machine couldn't connect either. To get my main machine back online i had to call my ISP and they said they cleared something to get it to work again. They said i should have done a DHCP release before attempting to connect the second machine. They wouldn't tell me more though because they said they aren't trained for router support. So now i'm here, hopefully someone will tell me how to get this right.

 

[KouklatheCat]

I have the one port Linksys router and a five port Linksys hub. You will have to enable DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) in the router. Do you have a dynamic or static IP address? If you have a dynamic address like I do it was pretty easy for me. You will have to go to the routers internal IP address. I can not remember what it is but it was somewhere in the instructions. Ive lost my instructions so I have to go to Linksys web page anytime I want to change something. Look for the DHCP tab and enable it. If you cant get it let me know Ill look up the instructions and re-read them. Sorry I can't be of more help im recalling this off the top of my head.

 

[d1abolic]

Hmm and this will do what exactly?

 

[KouklatheCat]

Enabling DHCP will allow all your computers to access the internet throught the router. Im not an IT guy so I cant tell you how or why it works but I know it is what I had to do.

 

[sgold]

The cable modem should be connected to the WAN side of your router, and your computers to the LAN side. The WAN side has one network plug, the LAN side has 4 plugs. I'm not sure why your isp told you release your ip address but heres how to do it. Go to a dos prompt and type:

ipconfig /release

To have a new address assigned, reboot your computer, or go to a dos prompt and type:

ipconfig /renew

 

[d1abolic]

Hmm ok i still have no idea what to do. I know how to plug it in and all, i just don't know how to set the software up. Anyone wanna ICQ me? 15033999

 

[d1abolic]

Ok, everything is working fine now, thanks!

 

[Fiera]

here is an article at whatis.com about Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

Basic idea of DHCP is that it's an easy way to adminster the network address without having to manually keep a database of all the address.