Hi
I have two computers and a laptop - All HP running XP home or Pro -
all can use the internet by plugging them into the broadband cable
modem  separately and switching the modem on.  So I thought that I
could say get a Belkin fast Ethernet Switch to connect them together
to the internet and share files - Is this as easy as Belkin say ??-
namely simply connect them through the switch and all protocols are
automatically negotiated?  (I've only just got them all to work
properly  separately on the Internet after being totally misdirected
by my ISP free Indian "helpline" - eventually I solved the non
existent problems myself)

However in addition I have 7 printers , two scanners. and an All in
one fax/scanner/printer - All of which I would like to use as
seamlessly as possible. Three printers are high speed ethernet ready
lasers (using them as dedicated USB printers) - 1 printer is a old HP
parallel laser dedicated to printing envelopes (I have 6 spares and
loads of toners for it) - 2 printers are HP 895 cxi with parallel/usb
capability (using them as dedicated USB printers - 1 Canon USB only
inkjet printer (used as dedicated USB Photo printer)  All printers are
connected to one computer. The Kodak all in one is not used as yet.

 The work load is intermittent as I publish a quarterly Charity
Newsletter 1000 8 duplexed paged copies - plus 500 e-mailed PDF
copies. In addition to running three websites.    I also send and
receive numerous daily e-mails for the Charity Helpline as well as
assiduously surf the Internet. The laptop is used primarily to take to
my charity work to show new website setups and various photos and
e-mails to fellow workers.

Any help and advice as to what I really need to set up a simple but
secured home network please - I will not use wireless for security
reasons.

I get the idea I need say a Belkin 16 port fast ethernet switch and
possibly a Prosafe VPN firewall - though I would like to simply use a
switch without the VPN firewall - Is this easily possible??

All advice welcomed!! :-)

   
Richard from London UK -- greyhounds@ntlworld.com
Bambi,Beauty,Brian(Brutus 77-97 Bessie 87-01 Ben 95-06 @ RB)
Greyhounds are for life not just for racing!!
Whittingham Homefinding Scheme
Visit our Kennels 
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhounds
www.whittinghamretiredgreyhounds.co.uk

In article , Richard Lobb 
says...
> 
> Hi
> I have two computers and a laptop - All HP running XP home or Pro -
> all can use the internet by plugging them into the broadband cable
> modem  separately and switching the modem on.  So I thought that I
> could say get a Belkin fast Ethernet Switch to connect them together
> to the internet and share files - Is this as easy as Belkin say ??-
> namely simply connect them through the switch and all protocols are
> automatically negotiated?  (I've only just got them all to work
> properly  separately on the Internet after being totally misdirected
> by my ISP free Indian "helpline" - eventually I solved the non
> existent problems myself)
> 
> However in addition I have 7 printers , two scanners. and an All in
> one fax/scanner/printer - All of which I would like to use as
> seamlessly as possible. Three printers are high speed ethernet ready
> lasers (using them as dedicated USB printers) - 1 printer is a old HP
> parallel laser dedicated to printing envelopes (I have 6 spares and
> loads of toners for it) - 2 printers are HP 895 cxi with parallel/usb
> capability (using them as dedicated USB printers - 1 Canon USB only
> inkjet printer (used as dedicated USB Photo printer)  All printers are
> connected to one computer. The Kodak all in one is not used as yet.
> 
>  The work load is intermittent as I publish a quarterly Charity
> Newsletter 1000 8 duplexed paged copies - plus 500 e-mailed PDF
> copies. In addition to running three websites.    I also send and
> receive numerous daily e-mails for the Charity Helpline as well as
> assiduously surf the Internet. The laptop is used primarily to take to
> my charity work to show new website setups and various photos and
> e-mails to fellow workers.
> 
> Any help and advice as to what I really need to set up a simple but
> secured home network please - I will not use wireless for security
> reasons.
> 
> I get the idea I need say a Belkin 16 port fast ethernet switch and
> possibly a Prosafe VPN firewall - though I would like to simply use a
> switch without the VPN firewall - Is this easily possible??
> 
> All advice welcomed!! :-)
> 
Ethernet switch will do what you want - plug broadband cable modem into 
wan port and rest into the others.

As regards the non ethernet printers, have a look at print servers. 
These are things that connect to your network on one side and the 
printers on the other. Some will support multiple printers, some 
single.



-- 
Conor
www.notebooks-r-us.co.uk
I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't 
looking good either. - Scott Adams

Richard Lobb wrote:
> I have two computers and a laptop - All HP running XP home or Pro -
> all can use the internet by plugging them into the broadband cable
> modem  separately and switching the modem on.  So I thought that I
> could say get a Belkin fast Ethernet Switch to connect them together
> to the internet and share files - Is this as easy as Belkin say ??-
[snip]
> However in addition I have 7 printers , two scanners. and an All in
> one fax/scanner/printer - All of which I would like to use as
> seamlessly as possible.  [...]

You need more than just a switch - you need a router. There are lots of 
different models, with the most important differences for general 
domestic use being the type of WAN interface, wireless networking 
capability (or lack thereof), and number of LAN ports.

(Sidenote: you can make a computer act as a router but a dedicated 
router is much simpler, more reliable and more secure by default; given 
their cost I think most would agree with me that it's a much more 
preferable solution.)

For use with a cable modem you need a router with an Ethernet WAN 
interface; these are commonly sold as "Cable" or "Cable/DSL" routers.

You've specifically ruled out any use of wireless, so I won't go into that.

Most routers have four LAN ports, however you can increase this by 
connecting one or more switches. This can also reduce cabling, depending 
on where the computers and network-ready printers are located relative 
to one another and the cable modem.

For the non-network-ready printers, you can get print servers. I haven't 
looked lately but it might have limited choice for a parallel printer. 
Some routers also have this functionality built in. You can also turn a 
PC into a print server by sharing the printer (this is analogous to 
using a PC as router, as I mentioned above, but the trade-offs are 
different so it makes more sense).

Compared to using a printer directly attached to a computer, whether you 
use a dedicated print server or have it shared on another computer, the 
biggest issue is possible loss of functionality such as reporting on 
ink/toner levels etc.

Generally, you can't share a scanner between multiple computers (other 
than by plugging it into the one you want to use it on), and you 
probably don't want to try sharing anything from an all-in-one device 
unless it's specifically designed for it.

I think those are the main factors to consider - if you can provide more 
details about what you ideally want to be able to do, budget, and things 
like the relative locations of equipment, then some more specific 
suggestions can be made.

Alex

In article , Alex 
Fraser says...

> You need more than just a switch - you need a router.

Why? The broadband cable modem acts as a DHCP server. 




-- 
Conor
www.notebooks-r-us.co.uk
I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't 
looking good either. - Scott Adams

"Conor"  wrote in message 
news:MPG.24e803cd8a610fc9989986@news.eternal-september.org...
> In article , Alex
> Fraser says...
>
>> You need more than just a switch - you need a router.
>
> Why? The broadband cable modem acts as a DHCP server.

If the modem is acting as a DHCP server then it's more than just a modem: it 
must be acting as a router in that it is mapping the private IP addresses 
192.168.x.y that it gives to the PCs on the LAN, to the public IP address 
that the ISP has given to the customer.

If the modem really is a modem, the address seen at the songle PC which is 
connected in the present pre-switch configuration will not be of the form 
192.168.x.y and a router (with NAT - network address translation) will be 
needed.

A NAT router, by virtue of the way that NAT works, will include a firewall 
to block unsolicited incoming traffic (ie hacking).

You mention VPN. As far as I am aware (and I'm open to corrections) all 
routers will allow PCs on the LAN to establish VPN connections to and VPN 
server elswhere on the internet (eg operated by a company such as you 
employer who may use it for you to work from home). If you need other people 
to VPN into you (ie you are running a VPN server) you will need a 
VPN-capable router.

On Sat, 8 Aug 2009 18:56:43 +0100, Conor  wrote:

>In article , Richard Lobb 
>says...
>> 
>> Hi
>> I have two computers and a laptop - All HP running XP home or Pro -
>> all can use the internet by plugging them into the broadband cable
>> modem  separately and switching the modem on.  So I thought that I
>> could say get a Belkin fast Ethernet Switch to connect them together
>> to the internet and share files - Is this as easy as Belkin say ??-
>> namely simply connect them through the switch and all protocols are
>> automatically negotiated?  (I've only just got them all to work
>> properly  separately on the Internet after being totally misdirected
>> by my ISP free Indian "helpline" - eventually I solved the non
>> existent problems myself)
>> 
>> However in addition I have 7 printers , two scanners. and an All in
>> one fax/scanner/printer - All of which I would like to use as
>> seamlessly as possible. Three printers are high speed ethernet ready
>> lasers (using them as dedicated USB printers) - 1 printer is a old HP
>> parallel laser dedicated to printing envelopes (I have 6 spares and
>> loads of toners for it) - 2 printers are HP 895 cxi with parallel/usb
>> capability (using them as dedicated USB printers - 1 Canon USB only
>> inkjet printer (used as dedicated USB Photo printer)  All printers are
>> connected to one computer. The Kodak all in one is not used as yet.
>> 
>>  The work load is intermittent as I publish a quarterly Charity
>> Newsletter 1000 8 duplexed paged copies - plus 500 e-mailed PDF
>> copies. In addition to running three websites.    I also send and
>> receive numerous daily e-mails for the Charity Helpline as well as
>> assiduously surf the Internet. The laptop is used primarily to take to
>> my charity work to show new website setups and various photos and
>> e-mails to fellow workers.
>> 
>> Any help and advice as to what I really need to set up a simple but
>> secured home network please - I will not use wireless for security
>> reasons.
>> 
>> I get the idea I need say a Belkin 16 port fast ethernet switch and
>> possibly a Prosafe VPN firewall - though I would like to simply use a
>> switch without the VPN firewall - Is this easily possible??
>> 
>> All advice welcomed!! :-)
>> 
>Ethernet switch will do what you want - plug broadband cable modem into 
>wan port and rest into the others.
>
>As regards the non ethernet printers, have a look at print servers. 
>These are things that connect to your network on one side and the 
>printers on the other. Some will support multiple printers, some 
>single.

Thanks Conor

What do you think of a Belkin 16 port Fast Ethernet Switch?

I hope to be able to plug each computer and ethernet printer into the
switch - one at a time - allow switch to negotiate connection - check
operation of last switched item - and it's interactions - then go on
to the next. Is this the correct procedure?  (I'm trying to cover the
eventualities :-))

In addition I then hope to be able to only switch on the computer and
printer that I'm about to use - without niggling messages coming up
saying "various networked items NOT switched on" or some such. Is this
the case?
 
I can easily use the non ethernet printers as dedicated to a single
computer anyway. The last time I used a print server was in 1995 and
it was horrendously slow - I assume they're faster now!  I used to run
a 200 computer network then which was easier to understand as nothing
was automatic - rather like new cars! :-) But a multi-printer server
could make things easier.

If I receive an affirmative reply - I'll buy the Belkin and report
back!! :-)

Thanks again - it's such a relief to chat to informed people after an
enforced absence of 4 years - I feel so behind!! :-)


Richard from London UK -- greyhounds@ntlworld.com
Bambi,Beauty,Brian(Brutus 77-97 Bessie 87-01 Ben 95-06 @ RB)
Greyhounds are for life not just for racing!!
Whittingham Homefinding Scheme
Visit our Kennels 
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhounds
www.whittinghamretiredgreyhounds.co.uk

Conor wrote:
> In article , Alex 
> Fraser says...
> 
>> You need more than just a switch - you need a router.
> 
> Why? The broadband cable modem acts as a DHCP server. 

No it doesn't. In the days of NTL, although it probably hasn't changed, 
the actual DHCP servers appeared to be in a few major data centres 
nationwide and the Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS), located at 
the central distribution points (eg one place per town), acted as DHCP 
relays.

The cable modem (CM) is a managed bridge, so it is a perfectly valid 
network configuration to attach multiple devices through a switch to a 
CM. However, the CM can be configured to restrict the number of MAC 
addresses on the Ethernet side (it does this by entering each new 
address they see into a list which is cleared at power on, until the 
list reaches the configured size; only packets from MAC addresses in the 
list may be forwarded to the cable side). That number is normally one, 
which implies a NAT router is necessary to share the connection.

Alex

On Sun, 09 Aug 2009 09:22:35 +0100, Alex Fraser wrote:

> Conor wrote:
>> In article , Alex
>> Fraser says...
>> 
>>> You need more than just a switch - you need a router.
>> 
>> Why? The broadband cable modem acts as a DHCP server.
> 
> No it doesn't. In the days of NTL, although it probably hasn't changed,
> the actual DHCP servers appeared to be in a few major data centres
> nationwide and the Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS), located at
> the central distribution points (eg one place per town), acted as DHCP
> relays.
> 
> The cable modem (CM) is a managed bridge, so it is a perfectly valid
> network configuration to attach multiple devices through a switch to a
> CM. However, the CM can be configured to restrict the number of MAC
> addresses on the Ethernet side (it does this by entering each new
> address they see into a list which is cleared at power on, until the
> list reaches the configured size; only packets from MAC addresses in the
> list may be forwarded to the cable side). That number is normally one,
> which implies a NAT router is necessary to share the connection.
> 
> Alex

Thank you for a detailed explanation of how this is configured. I'm 
pretty much a complete numpty WRT networking, and had tried 
unsuccessfully in the past to use a switch directly connected to my CM.

I found it didn't work, now I understand why!

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply.

A follow up call to Virgin Media my ISP - 

I've found they "recommend" -  AKA sell - only a Netgear Wireless/4
port switch router WGR614 v6 and will offer "support" for it

They include a Virgin branded Installation CD with it.

So the question is - it gives me my three computer connection - but
only one port left for the printers.

Is it possible to seamlessly add extra ports rather like a USB hub to
extend the ports to cover my three ethernet printers and a print
server for my other printers??

Or is it better to ignore their "help-line" which has proved to be
useless in the past and go for an unsupported system.

My problem is I have no idea if the wireless part is continually
operating and so compromises my proposed deliberate ethernet cable
setup

Suggestions and advice please!! :-)

Richard from London UK -- greyhounds@ntlworld.com
Bambi,Beauty,Brian(Brutus 77-97 Bessie 87-01 Ben 95-06 @ RB)
Greyhounds are for life not just for racing!!
Whittingham Homefinding Scheme
Visit our Kennels 
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhounds
www.whittinghamretiredgreyhounds.co.uk

On Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:53:10 +0100
Richard Lobb  wrote:

> A follow up call to Virgin Media my ISP - 
> 
> I've found they "recommend" -  AKA sell - only a Netgear Wireless/4
> port switch router WGR614 v6 and will offer "support" for it

They sent me one without my even asking for it, despite the fact that I
bought one elsewhere years ago.  I just know that if I sell it then the
other one will fail ...
> 
> They include a Virgin branded Installation CD with it.

Totally unnecessary if you ask me - manual setup is easy.
> 
> So the question is - it gives me my three computer connection - but
> only one port left for the printers.
> 
> Is it possible to seamlessly add extra ports rather like a USB hub to
> extend the ports to cover my three ethernet printers and a print
> server for my other printers??

Just plug a switch into the spare port - that's what they're for.  :-)
> 
> Or is it better to ignore their "help-line" which has proved to be
> useless in the past and go for an unsupported system.

The helpline droids are lost without a script, but we can make it up as
we go along.
> 
> My problem is I have no idea if the wireless part is continually
> operating and so compromises my proposed deliberate ethernet cable
> setup
> 
Just untick the "Enable Wireless Router Radio" box on the advanced
wireless settings page.  But properly configured Wi-Fi isn't much of a
risk anyway.

On Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:53:10 +0100, Richard Lobb wrote:

> A follow up call to Virgin Media my ISP -
> 
> I've found they "recommend" -  AKA sell - only a Netgear Wireless/4 port
> switch router WGR614 v6 and will offer "support" for it
> 
> They include a Virgin branded Installation CD with it.

Best avoided. Any router you buy will have any software needed supplied 
with it. You shouldn't actually *need* any though.

Netgear are good, but I doubt VM's prices are. Current price for the 
WGR614 is around 32UKP.

> So the question is - it gives me my three computer connection - but only
> one port left for the printers.
> 
> Is it possible to seamlessly add extra ports rather like a USB hub to
> extend the ports to cover my three ethernet printers and a print server
> for my other printers??

Until someone better qualified answers, I do know that you can extend the 
router ports by using a switch. It is a completely transparent process; 
just plug in and it works.

> Or is it better to ignore their "help-line" which has proved to be
> useless in the past and go for an unsupported system.

As a VM customer, probably.

> My problem is I have no idea if the wireless part is continually
> operating and so compromises my proposed deliberate ethernet cable setup
> 
> Suggestions and advice please!! :-)

It's possible you could disable the wireless from the router interface, 
but why buy what you don't need?

If it was me, I'd have the wireless, but make sure I set up security 
properly. Printers don't last forever, and are available with wireless 
interfaces now.

BTW, from bitter experience I wouldn't recommend trying to make your 
printer(s) connect to the network using a third party USB/Ethernet 
adaptor. I've had no success with either Canon or HP. Unless the printer 
was designed to have its own network interface, I would forget it. 

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply.

In article , Richard Lobb 
says...

> Thanks Conor
> 
> What do you think of a Belkin 16 port Fast Ethernet Switch?
> 
Pretty much much of a muchness. As long as you stay away from Belking 
wifi routers, pretty much everything else they make is decent.

> If I receive an affirmative reply - I'll buy the Belkin and report
> back!! :-)
> 
The other one I'd look at is Netgear. There's also some D-Link ones as 
well. 

You're going to have to try very hard to get a bad switch as long as 
you stick to known names.



-- 
Conor
www.notebooks-r-us.co.uk
I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't 
looking good either. - Scott Adams

On Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:21:29 GMT, Chris Whelan
 wrote:

>On Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:53:10 +0100, Richard Lobb wrote:
>
>> A follow up call to Virgin Media my ISP -
>> 
>> I've found they "recommend" -  AKA sell - only a Netgear Wireless/4 port
>> switch router WGR614 v6 and will offer "support" for it
>> 
>> They include a Virgin branded Installation CD with it.
>
>Best avoided. Any router you buy will have any software needed supplied 
>with it. You shouldn't actually *need* any though.
>
>Netgear are good, but I doubt VM's prices are. Current price for the 
>WGR614 is around 32UKP.
>
>> So the question is - it gives me my three computer connection - but only
>> one port left for the printers.
>> 
>> Is it possible to seamlessly add extra ports rather like a USB hub to
>> extend the ports to cover my three ethernet printers and a print server
>> for my other printers??
>
>Until someone better qualified answers, I do know that you can extend the 
>router ports by using a switch. It is a completely transparent process; 
>just plug in and it works.
>
>> Or is it better to ignore their "help-line" which has proved to be
>> useless in the past and go for an unsupported system.
>
>As a VM customer, probably.
>
>> My problem is I have no idea if the wireless part is continually
>> operating and so compromises my proposed deliberate ethernet cable setup
>> 
>> Suggestions and advice please!! :-)
>
>It's possible you could disable the wireless from the router interface, 
>but why buy what you don't need?
>
>If it was me, I'd have the wireless, but make sure I set up security 
>properly. Printers don't last forever, and are available with wireless 
>interfaces now.
>
>BTW, from bitter experience I wouldn't recommend trying to make your 
>printer(s) connect to the network using a third party USB/Ethernet 
>adaptor. I've had no success with either Canon or HP. Unless the printer 
>was designed to have its own network interface, I would forget it. 
>
>Chris
Thanks yet again for your time Chris

So I'll buy a new Netgear WGR614-v6 giving me 4 ports and wireless
(spit) - As I know it works on Virgin - According to Netgear it
negotiates automatically through it's own software - I understand from
someone the Virgin/Netgear kit will work with any suitable network.

Start with 2 ports for two desktop computers - 1 port for ethernet
printer - 1 port for an extra 6 port Net gear switch for "extras". Add
the printers and other computer as and when. 

I have 3 HP 895 cxi with parallel/USB ports - so I'll probably leave
them dedicated to a computer.

I'll buy the kit new and get back!! :-)

Thanks again!! :-)   

 
Richard from London UK -- greyhounds@ntlworld.com
Bambi,Beauty,Brian(Brutus 77-97 Bessie 87-01 Ben 95-06 @ RB)
Greyhounds are for life not just for racing!!
Whittingham Homefinding Scheme
Visit our Kennels 
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhounds
www.whittinghamretiredgreyhounds.co.uk

On Sun, 9 Aug 2009 13:55:53 +0100, Conor  wrote:

>In article , Richard Lobb 
>says...
>
>> Thanks Conor
>> 
>> What do you think of a Belkin 16 port Fast Ethernet Switch?
>> 
>Pretty much much of a muchness. As long as you stay away from Belking 
>wifi routers, pretty much everything else they make is decent.
>
>> If I receive an affirmative reply - I'll buy the Belkin and report
>> back!! :-)
>> 
>The other one I'd look at is Netgear. There's also some D-Link ones as 
>well. 
>
>You're going to have to try very hard to get a bad switch as long as 
>you stick to known names.

I'm going for the NETGEAR WGR614-v6 router as this is used as standard
by Virgin Media - and get a netgear switch to give the extra ports
required.  Thanks Again for your help.

Richard from London UK -- greyhounds@ntlworld.com
Bambi,Beauty,Brian(Brutus 77-97 Bessie 87-01 Ben 95-06 @ RB)
Greyhounds are for life not just for racing!!
Whittingham Homefinding Scheme
Visit our Kennels 
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhounds
www.whittinghamretiredgreyhounds.co.uk

In article , Richard Lobb 
says...

> I'm going for the NETGEAR WGR614-v6 router as this is used as standard
> by Virgin Media - and get a netgear switch to give the extra ports
> required.  Thanks Again for your help.
> 
No problem, fully understand the reasons behind it. If you need to 
expand your wired network in the future, you only need to get a switch 
and plug it into one of the ports on the WGR614.



-- 
Conor
www.notebooks-r-us.co.uk
I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't 
looking good either. - Scott Adams

In article , 
greyhounds@ntlworld.com says...
> A follow up call to Virgin Media my ISP - 
> 
> I've found they "recommend" -  AKA sell - only a Netgear Wireless/4
> port switch router WGR614 v6 and will offer "support" for it
> 
> They include a Virgin branded Installation CD with it.
> 
> So the question is - it gives me my three computer connection - but
> only one port left for the printers.
> 
> Is it possible to seamlessly add extra ports rather like a USB hub to
> extend the ports to cover my three ethernet printers and a print
> server for my other printers??
> 
> Or is it better to ignore their "help-line" which has proved to be
> useless in the past and go for an unsupported system.

No matter really. Simply add as many switches as you need now. You can 
get 4 port, 8-port 24-port etc. Your router will be the brainf of it 
all, you can hang an many switches as you need to from it. Other device 
to investigate is this print server doodah for your non-networkable 
printers. I've not had good experience with netgear personally. And 
certainly don't go anywhere near a branded installation CD - totally un-
necessary.

> My problem is I have no idea if the wireless part is continually
> operating and so compromises my proposed deliberate ethernet cable
> setup

Wireless can be turned off from any router. It's user controllable.
-- 
Regards
Jon

In article , 
greyhounds@ntlworld.com says...
> I hope to be able to plug each computer and ethernet printer into the
> switch - one at a time - allow switch to negotiate connection - check
> operation of last switched item - and it's interactions - then go on
> to the next. Is this the correct procedure?  (I'm trying to cover the
> eventualities :-))

Bugger that, just plug everything in at once, it will work.

> In addition I then hope to be able to only switch on the computer and
> printer that I'm about to use - without niggling messages coming up
> saying "various networked items NOT switched on" or some such. Is this
> the case?

You would do well to have your router set up to assign fixed IP's to 
each printer. In some routers this is called "reserving IP" or similar.

For example, your 7 printers could be 192.168.1.20, 192.168.1.21, 
102.168.1.22 etc. Your computers 192.168.1.10, 192.168.1.11 etc, and the 
router will probably default to 192.168.1.1. As long as you know which 
machine is assigned which IP you'll easily be able to reference the 
printers from any machine on the network.

-- 
Regards
Jon

Further adventures with Home Networking!! :-)

First thanks for all the useful advice

I bought the NetGear WGR614 v9  router and the FS608 v3 switch

I decided to install the system through my HP media centre on the
grounds that if it totally failed - I would still have my HP 340T
connected and  working.  So put in the install CD - told I needed to
update my Flash prog - duly did - 

The setup wizard then analysed my computer and connections - and said
couldn't find modem (that was working of course) - after several
attempts - decided to plug it all together as advised by you lot -
worked fine.

Then tried the HP 340T using the installation CD (I know - I know!)
This time Set Up Wizard found the modem through the router.
I have full access to the Internet - but - the port light is amber -
not green (though it was green until I turned on the computer) 
The manual states this indicates "The Ethernet cable is connected but
the router has not gotten an internet address"

But the computer is communicating with the Internet both ways as this
post indicates.  I can send and receive perfectly.

Any ideas??  All advice and suggestions welcomed!! :-)

 

   
Richard from London UK -- greyhounds@ntlworld.com
Bambi,Beauty,Brian(Brutus 77-97 Bessie 87-01 Ben 95-06 @ RB)
Greyhounds are for life not just for racing!!
Whittingham Homefinding Scheme
Visit our Kennels 
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhounds
www.whittinghamretiredgreyhounds.co.uk

In article , "Richard Lobb" 
wrote:

> 
> Then tried the HP 340T using the installation CD (I know - I know!)
> This time Set Up Wizard found the modem through the router.
> I have full access to the Internet - but - the port light is amber -
> not green (though it was green until I turned on the computer) 
> The manual states this indicates "The Ethernet cable is connected but
> the router has not gotten an internet address"
> 
> But the computer is communicating with the Internet both ways as this
> post indicates.  I can send and receive perfectly.
> 
> Any ideas??  All advice and suggestions welcomed!! :-)

Which port or what piece of equipment?

Some have LEDS that indicate one colour for 10/100 and another for a 
gigabit connection (My LAN equipment does this).  Older ones have one 
colour for 10Mbps and another for 100mbps.  If your equipment is Gb 
capable, then check your Ethernet cables are fully wired (8 wires)

They may have just changed the LED types without updating the manual.  
There are tools available that can check the LAN operating speed.

-- 
John W
I you really want to mail me, replace the obvious with co.uk twice

On Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:56:39 +0100, John Weston
<invalid@earlsway.invalid> wrote:

>In article , "Richard Lobb" 
>wrote:
>
>> 
>> Then tried the HP 340T using the installation CD (I know - I know!)
>> This time Set Up Wizard found the modem through the router.
>> I have full access to the Internet - but - the port light is amber -
>> not green (though it was green until I turned on the computer) 
>> The manual states this indicates "The Ethernet cable is connected but
>> the router has not gotten an internet address"
>> 
>> But the computer is communicating with the Internet both ways as this
>> post indicates.  I can send and receive perfectly.
>> 
>> Any ideas??  All advice and suggestions welcomed!! :-)
>
>Which port or what piece of equipment?

As stated in the original post - but if you insist - port 2 on the
NetGear WGR614 v9  router. 

>Some have LEDS that indicate one colour for 10/100 and another for a 
>gigabit connection (My LAN equipment does this).  Older ones have one 
>colour for 10Mbps and another for 100mbps.  If your equipment is Gb 
>capable, then check your Ethernet cables are fully wired (8 wires)

As stated - the equipment is indicatiing no Internet ADDRESS - The
other port (1) works with a green light - the amber colour indicates
NO INTERNET ADDRESS.

>They may have just changed the LED types without updating the manual.  
>There are tools available that can check the LAN operating speed.

I really want to know how to find the internet address - not operating
speed
Frankly I really doubt if they would change the operation of coloured
lights - if there is an entire chapter on the lighting colours and
function - plus the manual and equipment are dated 2009

Thanks anyway

Richard from London UK -- greyhounds@ntlworld.com
Bambi,Beauty,Brian(Brutus 77-97 Bessie 87-01 Ben 95-06 @ RB)
Greyhounds are for life not just for racing!!
Whittingham Homefinding Scheme
Visit our Kennels 
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhounds
www.whittinghamretiredgreyhounds.co.uk

In article , "Richard Lobb" 
wrote:
> 
> As stated in the original post - but if you insist - port 2 on the
> NetGear WGR614 v9  router.

Sonetimes we don't follow the whole thread, just try to help with a 
question that no-one else is dealing with...

> 
> As stated - the equipment is indicatiing no Internet ADDRESS - The
> other port (1) works with a green light - the amber colour indicates
> NO INTERNET ADDRESS.

Your router is a Cable type and the Ethernet port into which you connect 
to your cable source has its Internet address supplied by your ISP.  I 
suggest you plug this into port 1.  The router than will assign private 
(LAN) addresses on the other ports when requested by the attached 
computer. These will, for example, be in the range 192.168.1.2 to 
192.168.1.254.  If you need to know what INTERNET ADDRESS (your caps) 
has been assigned by your ISP to your router, then you have to log onto 
the router and ask it the correct question.

The router will automatically translate the LAN address to the WAN 
address, or LAN to LAN address as necessary, depending on what you are 
trying to do.

 
> Thanks anyway

You're welcome.

-- 
John W
I you really want to mail me, replace the obvious with co.uk twice

On Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:19:10 +0100
Richard Lobb  wrote:

> On Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:56:39 +0100, John Weston
> <invalid@earlsway.invalid> wrote:
> 
> >In article , "Richard
> >Lobb" wrote:
> >
> >> 
> >> Then tried the HP 340T using the installation CD (I know - I know!)
> >> This time Set Up Wizard found the modem through the router.
> >> I have full access to the Internet - but - the port light is amber
> >> - not green (though it was green until I turned on the computer) 
> >> The manual states this indicates "The Ethernet cable is connected
> >> but the router has not gotten an internet address"
> >> 
> >> But the computer is communicating with the Internet both ways as
> >> this post indicates.  I can send and receive perfectly.
> >> 
> >> Any ideas??  All advice and suggestions welcomed!! :-)
> >
> >Which port or what piece of equipment?
> 
> As stated in the original post - but if you insist - port 2 on the
> NetGear WGR614 v9  router. 

You didn't say in the OP which port you meant.  That's a LAN port, so it
wouldn't be assigned an Internet address anyway.
> 
> >Some have LEDS that indicate one colour for 10/100 and another for a 
> >gigabit connection (My LAN equipment does this).  Older ones have
> >one colour for 10Mbps and another for 100mbps.  If your equipment is
> >Gb capable, then check your Ethernet cables are fully wired (8 wires)
> 
> As stated - the equipment is indicatiing no Internet ADDRESS - The
> other port (1) works with a green light - the amber colour indicates
> NO INTERNET ADDRESS.
> 
Actually he's right - the manual says "If a port’s light is lit, a link
has been established to the connected device. If a LAN port is
connected to a 100 Mbps device, verify that the port’s light is green.
If the port is 10 Mbps, the light is amber."

> I really want to know how to find the internet address - not operating
> speed

The Internet address belongs to the router, not the attached devices.
It's displayed on the first configuration page (Basic Settings).  The
local IP address of any device attached to the router, along with its
MAC address, is displayed on the Attached Devices page.

On Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:00:28 +0100
John Weston <invalid@earlsway.invalid> wrote:

> Your router is a Cable type and the Ethernet port into which you
> connect to your cable source has its Internet address supplied by
> your ISP.  I suggest you plug this into port 1.

I think it's a better idea to plug it into the WAN port really.  :-)