hub won't light up

[YoYoBabyYo]

my friend bought a d-link hub (don't know what for) and he hooked it up to his toshiba cable modem. It won't light up when he hooks the cable from the modem to the hub to his laptop. he does receive connection when he connects a cable from his modem to his laptop. why is it that the hub does not light up on the uplink?

i don't think the hub is broken.

 

[crispytreat]

The uplink may require a crossover cable. Also to get internet access for both systems his ISP will have to provide two external ip addresses. The computers can only get on one at a time with one external ip.

 

[arbytech]

Cable modems needs to go into a router and from there your friend can hook up his laptop and any other PCs into the router's switch (if it has one, most do).

I've never seen a cable or DSL modem go into a hub or switch, you can't share it that way.

 

[Garion]

Originally posted by: arbytech
Cable modems needs to go into a router and from there your friend can hook up his laptop and any other PCs into the router's switch (if it has one, most do).

I've never seen a cable or DSL modem go into a hub or switch, you can't share it that way.

Sure, that works fine. You can do it this way if your ISP provides multiple IP addresses. You only need to use a router whe your provider only gives you a single IP and you want to use multiple machines behind it. (There are other reasons for routers, like security, etc.).

One thought, to the OP - Many hubs have an MDI/MDI-X button or switch. This turns the associated port into a "crossover port" - Connect a straight-through cable to it and it becomes functionally the same as using a crossover cable. Check your hub, many have them.

- G

 

[YoYoBabyYo]

thanks for the replies! i learned a bit about hubs as well.