Question about cable modems and home networks

[Wah]

i read somewhere that if you have a cable modem, you will not be able to see other computers on your network because you computer gets all its info from the cable network... or something like that. Is this true? is this why my computer does not see the other computer on the network?

 

[MichaelD]

I don't have cable; I have DSL, but they both work on the same principle. All you get from the cable modem (ISP, actually) is your IP and connectivity) If you had a hub/router/switch whatever and had the cable modem feeding into the input of the device, and then 2 or more pc's connect to the device, you should be able to see either computer from either computer, unless you had it configured wrong, or had it configured that one PC was the server and others were just "dumb nodes". All the cable modem does is feed a signal. PC's seeing each other have nothing to do with the modem. You may have a problem that needs fixing, but it's got nothing to do w/the modem.


Networking gurus please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm not the networking guru (i wish) but I understand the concepts...for the most part.

 

[Helznicht]

I think your thinking of an article related to other people (nieghbors) on your cable modems network.

Now, like MikeD said, your should be able to see your comuters (computers even) on your network with the proper configuration.

Tell us how your network is shared (multiple nics, switch, hub) and we can help ya get it configured properly.

 

[cchan]

It all depends how you have your network set up. More details please. But if you have it properly, you will have no problems seeing other computers on your netwokr.

 

[Wah]

i have a dlink switch and a toshiba cable modem. the cable runs to the modem, which has a cat5 line running to the uplink in the switch. each computer has a line that runs the the 2 and 3 ports in the switch. both computers have the same workgroup name and different computer names. road runner configures the IP settings, and this is where I think the problem is.

 

[Helznicht]

Do you have 2 seperate IP addresses assigned by Roadrunner (you dont unless you pay extra for the second one).

What model Dlink switch you got?

 

[Wah]

yeah i have 2 IPs. i have the dss-5+ switch.

I had DSL a while ago and everything worked fine. The two computers saw each other on the network.

 

[Helznicht]

First I would find the IP addresses by using winipcfg (if you dont know them already).

Make sure you can ping the ip address of the other computer.

I am willing to bet when you installed the software for the cable modems, it messed your network settings up.

I suggest using netbeiu protocol for "file and printer sharing"

Go into your network settings under control panel.

Click add and click protocols, then Microsoft, then add NetBeui.

Then click add again, now service, and "file and print sharing for M$ networks" Be sure you have checked (I want to ab able to give others xxxxxxxx).

Need to do this to both machines and reboot.

You should be able to see them now.

 

[Wah]

adding netbeui worked! thank you so much!