why won't my computers see each other?

[toph99]

ok, just be warned, i'm quite the idiot with networking anyways, i have a Linksys 5-port Etherfast Switch, which i am now using, quite successfully, to share my DSL between my two computers. the DSL is in the Uplink port(port 6 as it is shared with port 5), and for some reason it has to be there or else the modem can't detect any NIC's. the two computers are running differen't OS's, one's Windows 95, the other is win98se. what settings do i have to turn on to let the two computers see each other? i tried to do a Find Computer, using the IP's and names, and nothing came up. any advice is appreciated

 

[jmcoreymv]

Make sure they're in the same workgroup and that neither is running any type of personal firewall software for starters. Also, make sure they can ping one another. LMK if you have done all that first.

 

[toph99]

i don't know what you mean by workgroup, and what is the best way to try and ping it? i did another Find Computer, this time using it's NIC IP and it still didn't see it

like i said, i'm a dummy at this stuff

 

[jmcoreymv]

To ping, open a MS Dos Prompt and type Ping <ip>. I cant remember exactly where it is in Win9x but the workgroup is either in the computer properties or tcpip properties, try to look around for it.

 

[toph99]

the pings didn't work(from either machine)
i found the workgroups. the one i'm on is just called WORKGROUP and the other is called caott01

 

[Looney]

Well, they have to be on the same workgroup, so rename both WORKGROUP or something (just make sure they're the same name).

 

[toph99]

ah, ok i'll try that tomorrow because i'm off to bed soon, and post back if i have any problems. thanks guys!

 

[jmcoreymv]

Something is odd if they cant ping each other. Are you sure you typed in the right ip to ping?

 

[toph99]

yep, i triple-checked the IP's. i also changed the workgroup, and they still couldn't ping. this is weird...

 

[jmcoreymv]

Can they each ping the router?

 

[toph99]

it's not a router, it's a switch

 

[flashbone]

Did you specify the IP addresses on the two computers yourself, and if you did, were they given to you by your ISP?

 

[toph99]

i was just using the IP's for the NIC's that showed up when i did a winipcfg, i didn't specifically set them

 

[lowtech1]

Try install Nebeui.
With 2 system Netbeui &amp; TCP/IP won't taxt your system enought to notice the diff in speed.

* Both systems have to have the same protocol running (ie, TCP/IP, Netbeui, or IPX/SPX).

** Both systems have to be in the same &quot;Workgroup&quot;.

*** Both systems have to have MS File &amp; Print Sharing install &amp; enable to share resources.

- If you want to run only TCP/IP, then both systems have to have diff IP address.

 

[flashbone]

There could be several reasons why you can't ping the machines, unfortunately, it's hard to tell without more detail. A few things to try are as follows:

1) On each machine, try to ping their own IP address and make sure you get replies back. This will tell you that your card is at least up and working.
2) Make sure the LinkSys switch ports that you are plugging your computers into have active/status link lights on. This inidicates that the switch can at least communicate with the NICs properly.
3) If the above two items pass, there is more than likely a problem with the IP address and the netmask assigned to each computer (items viewable by winipcfg. If Windows is assigning the IP addresses, they should be of the form 169.254.X.X (where X is a number between 1 and 254) and the netmask should be 255.255.0.0

 

[lowtech1]

And, make sure the cables continuity are good, and are straight crimped.

 

[toph99]

i tried pinging their own ip's and it worked, and they are both active on the switch. how do i install Netbeui?

also my ip is the same as it was yesterday, 169.254.84.14(this is the NIC's IP) and subnet mask of 255.255.0.0
i can't check the other computer at the moment, but i know the IP is still the same, and i'm pretty sure the subnet mask is 255.255.0.0

 

[lowtech1]

To install NetBeui, goto: Control Panel > Network > Configuration > Add > then select &quot;MS NetBeui Protocol&quot; from list.

 

[toph99]

ok, i installed NetBEUI, now what?

btw, thanks for your help everyone

 

[flashbone]

In your original post, you stated you were using your LinkSys with the DSL modem successfully. Are you able to get out on the Internet?

The other thing I would suggest trying, is setting the IP addresses and netmask manually on both of your boxes. To do this, do the following:

1) On the taskbar, click on Start->Settings->Control Panel and double click on Network
2) Select the TCP/IP Properties of your Network Card
3) By default, the radio button Obtain an IP address automatically will be selected. Click on Specify and IP address
4) Set each machine to the following, and try pinging each again
MACHINE 1 IP: 192.168.1.1 MACHINE 2 IP: 192.168.1.2
MACHINE 1 NETMASK: 255.255.255.0 MACHINE 2 NETMASK: 255.255.255.0

Let me know if the machines can ping each other with those settings.

 

[toph99]

yes, i can connect to the internet succesfully(the DSL modem has a built in router)
now as for changing the ip's, the other computer my Dad uses for work, and i think he needs the specified IP so that he can log into their intranet, so i'm not going to change it. i just found out that the other Subnet mask is actually different(stupid me ) so i'm going to change it right now and see if it works that way

<edit> ok, i just tried to ping my NIC from the computer it's on that i'm using right now and it got a Destination Host Unreachable, the i pinged the DSL modem, it found it and returned, then i tried to ping my other computer, and it couldn't find it. i'm going to put out some info that will hopefully help someone direct me what to do:

machine 1
IP of NIC - 169.254.84.14
Subnet Mask - 255.255.240.0

DSL
IP address - 64.230.88.122
subnet mask - 255.255.255.0
Defualt Gateway - 64.230.88.122

Machine 2
IP of NIC - 47.69.129.241
subnet mask - 255.255.240.0

hope this helps some
oh, and they're all on workgroup caott01

 

[flashbone]

If the IP address on your Dad's computer does not take the form 169.254.X.X, then the two computers will not be able to see each other.

 

[toph99]

ah, ok. i'll change it and see what happens. look at my edit above to get some more info about my set up

 

[flashbone]

That makes sense now. With the settings on your dads computer, they will never be able to see each other. I would assume that your dads computer is a laptop that he uses to plug into his companies network at the office? Also, just to make sure, can you access the Internet from your dads computer?

 

[toph99]

i just changed my dad's IP over to 169.254.0.1 and mine to 169.254.0.2, and they could ping!! i just transferred a 13mb file over in about 4 seconds, this is great!
thanks for your help!