Router Issue

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

But trust us, there's no point pushing yourself.

[squall_01]

well you want too do it then?  I'm doing what I can to the best of what I can do the fact of the matter is I dont know much networking.

[dahlarbear]

1.  Setup the Hardware.  With all of the components unplugged (no power):
    a.  Connect "straight" ethernet cable (standard straight through cable) into port 4 of Linksys Router and NIC port of first computer.
    b.  Connect "straight" ethernet cable into port 2 of Linksys Router and NIC of second computer.
    c.  Plug in the router and watch its lights go through their initialization sequence.  Wait for them to settle down.  (I assume it should be less than a minute).
    d.  Plug in, power up, and boot first computer.
    e.  Plug in, power up, and boot second computer.

2.  TCP/IP Configuration.  Check "current" values for the wired NICs of both computers using the "ipconfig /all |more" command from a command prompt window.
Record and/or "post" the following:
     a.  IP Address
     b.  Subnet Mask

Does each have a nonzero value for both the IP Address and the Subnet Mask?

Do both nonzero subnet masks have the same value?

Is the nonzero "network address" portion of the IP address the same for both machines?  For example, 169.254.xxx.xxx.
 
Note:  You can redirect the command output of "ipconfig" into a text file if you wish.  Use "ipconfig /all > <filename>" where you replace "<filename>" with desired "path" and "filename".  For example: "ipconfig /all > NIC_PC1.txt" will create text file named "NIC_PC1.txt" in the directory from which the command was invoked.

3.  Ping Each PC.  From command window on first PC, attempt to "ping" second PC by its IP address:
    > ping <IP_Address_Second_PC>

From command window on second PC, attempt to "ping" first PC by its IP address:
    > ping <IP_Address_First_PC>

For example, if IP address of second PC is 169.254.189.6 then "ping 169.254.189.6".

What are your results?

[squall_01]

1.  Setup the Hardware.  With all of the components unplugged (no power):
    a.  Connect "straight" ethernet cable (standard straight through cable) into port 4 of Linksys Router and NIC port of first computer.
    b.  Connect "straight" ethernet cable into port 2 of Linksys Router and NIC of second computer.
    c.  Plug in the router and watch its lights go through their initialization sequence.  Wait for them to settle down.  (I assume it should be less than a minute).
    d.  Plug in, power up, and boot first computer.
    e.  Plug in, power up, and boot second computer.

2.  TCP/IP Configuration.  Check "current" values for the wired NICs of both computers using the "ipconfig /all |more" command from a command prompt window.
Record and/or "post" the following:
     a.  IP Address
     b.  Subnet Mask

Does each have a nonzero value for both the IP Address and the Subnet Mask?

Do both nonzero subnet masks have the same value?

Is the nonzero "network address" portion of the IP address the same for both machines?  For example, 169.254.xxx.xxx.
 
Note:  You can redirect the command output of "ipconfig" into a text file if you wish.  Use "ipconfig /all > <filename>" where you replace "<filename>" with desired "path" and "filename".  For example: "ipconfig /all > NIC_PC1.txt" will create text file named "NIC_PC1.txt" in the directory from which the command was invoked.

3.  Ping Each PC.  From command window on first PC, attempt to "ping" second PC by its IP address:
    > ping <IP_Address_Second_PC>

From command window on second PC, attempt to "ping" first PC by its IP address:
    > ping <IP_Address_First_PC>

For example, if IP address of second PC is 169.254.189.6 then "ping 169.254.189.6".

What are your results?

How can we do this if we have yet to config the router?  I'm sorry but I have full time classes for the most part except tue,thur,fri so its rather hard.  Carbon dont say it cause I can do it but between understanding this an everything else, I dont really know what I'm doing at all.

[kpac]

I dont really know what I'm doing at all.

That's why dahlarbear is spelling it out for you, letter by letter.

[dahlarbear]

How can we do this if we have yet to config the router?

I'm not sure we can, but I'd sure like to give it a try!   

[squall_01]

I thought you were looking for a manual for it, too reset it or something.

[dahlarbear]

1.  I was looking for a manual with "factory reset" instructions.  I found it, and I believe you already have a copy of it.

5.  Reset Factory Defaults.  The Quick Installation pamphlet has instructions to perform a hardware "reset" back to factory defaults.  This resets the configuration web page address of router to "192.168.1.1" as well as resetting the "user" and "password" values.

I cant give you it right this moment but its a ver 2 an I have a quick guide but not a full manual.    Bows in respect

Reset instructions are in the "Help" section of pamphlet, end of subsection "3.B".  Subsection 3 is appropriately titled:  "I cannot get onto the Internet, nor can I access the Router's Setup page.  What should I check?" 

The IP Address field should show an IP address of 192.168.1.100 or 192.168.1.xxx, with "xxx' being any number greater than 100.

If your IP address is not in that range, hold the reset button on the front of the Router for more than 30 seconds.  This will cause your Router to be set to factory default, so you will need to re-configure the Router's Setup page.  After re-configuring the Setup page, restart the computer.

2.  I thought you just needed the "switch" functionality.  If so, you may not need to configure the router.

that it does, I wont be useing the internet port though.

and then,

That is right, I dont think anything is really connected at all since I couldnt get it working.  I just want to use it as it was an have a jumper to the hub so that it can connect more pc's.  It does    I must of missed that an such.      Why I was going too?  I couldnt say an dont think that I'm going to mess with any of that. 

3.  As you're reading the Quick Installation pamphlet, look for the default "IP address", "user", and "password" for the router's web configuration page.

[dahlarbear]

Some background reference(s):
    Home Network, Wireless Network and Computer Networking Made Easy
    How to Configure Router as Switch

[squall_01]

some of that will help.  I must of missed that some were then, I skimmed over some of the parts cause I knew how to do them but I read the rest of it.  Ah I didnt read that since I didnt think it applied to me.  I just want the thing too work as it was.

[squall_01]

I got it too work.  I never seen that before  So any how I can see the machines around me,  thing is do I have to do the setup?  IS that like to make it secure?

[dahlarbear]

1.  You have a home router.  Think of it as multiple components packaged into a single box.  For example:

                           WAN Port (usually public IP address)
                                   |
          ----------------------------------------------------------
          |         Router / Firewall (NAT?) / DHCP Server                  |
          ----------------------------------------------------------
                                   |
                           LAN Port Logical? (private IP address)
                                   |
                                   |
                           LAN Logical? (to router)
                                   |
          ----------------------------------------------------------------
          |         Switch ( 5 ports? - 4 physical LAN, 1 logical to router       |   
          |             ( Distributes traffic based on  MAC address )               |
          ----------------------------------------------------------------
                  |                   |                  |                  |
             LAN_1            LAN_2           LAN_3            LAN_4
 

Note:  I do not guarantee that my representation of the functionality packaged above is correct.


2.  Router Configuration.  If it's working then I guess you don't have to do the router setup.  Almost all of the configuration parameters involve the hardware firewall (security) which restricts traffic to/from the WAN port.  You can restrict access to WAN port via IP address, MAC address, time of day, days of the week.

The only functionality that affects the LAN is the DHCP server.  You can enable or disable it.   If enabled, specify the range of IP addresses to use, the max number concurrently assigned from that range, and the lease time.  You may also specify DNS server addresses.

The WAN port is usually used for internet access, but may be used to connect to any other network (local or WAN).  If you use the WAN port, you should configure the router for security purposes.  First thing to change is the network address of your LAN, possibly the subnet mask, and the user name / password used to access the router configuration web page.

If nothing else you should configure the router to gain a better understanding of the functionality it provides.

Linksys also periodically provides "firmware" updates for these devices (security, performance, stability).  You may download them from the LinkSys web site.  You must get the correct one for your model number and version number.  If everything works, I'd let the firmware updates go for awhile.  Flashing the firmware is always a risk.

[squall_01]

I know it is, so I dont have to use the setup then So should I update it then? 

[dahlarbear]

I wouldn't "update" the firmware until after you're comfortable with "setting up" the router through its configuration pages.  It's been awhile, but I think you "kick off" the firmware update from the configuration pages.

If you're going to use the router for internet access, consider updating the firmware on the assumption it might provide better security, performance, and stability.  It would also be wise to check the experience of other users for that update on the LinkSys (or other) forums.  It's not always a good thing to use the lastest software/firmware.  There's also the risk firmware upgrade will fail and you end up with a "brick" (unusable router).

[squall_01]

I couldnt tell you.  But the most recent is a 05.  I probably wont if need be I use the hub That is true but its seems like they stopped support for it there via code wise.