Routing Nightmare

[Strat]

I got an RP114 Netgear router. Now I can get the login screen it tells me to type the user and pass in but when it asks me for numbers, I should leave it all blank - or leave it to retrieve data itself - because my connection isnt static, but this aint working.

I've thought about trying 'Run - Command.com - IPConfig' and copying in the numbers but it says only to do that if my ISP has assigned a permament address. My ISP assured me that their service is not static, even though i have had the SAME IP for th last 8-9 Months.

Another thing, I found out my MAC address when a tech came round to sort something out with the TV on the box. BUT the 'Spoof IP or MAC address' dont have enough character space in the bar for '-' in between the paired characters and if i leave the MAC number in there then it tells me the previous page had an error in getting information.

I'm far too confused with this thing. It's doing my nut in GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR !

[BipolarBill]

One word. Firmware update. Oh...that's two. Sorry. :o

Make sure that the router itself is set up as a DHCP client. Release and renew the IP address in the appropriate place.

There are no commands that you can run in Windows that will have any effect on the router. All router configuration must take place through the router firmware.

Your modem may indeed have "taken a liking" to your PC NIC. It may refuse to connect to any MAC address but that NIC's. In this case you must use the MAC clone feature somehow. If you cannot enter the address, new firmware may help.

Oh...don't forget to try resetting the router.

[Strat]

And how do I change the firmware on the router ???????????:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[jmichna]

Originally posted by Strat
And how do I change the firmware on the router ???????????:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: With my Linksys router, it is somewhat similar to flashing the bios of your pc. Your router manufacturer has probably got a software utility that does the flashing, as well as binary "firmware upgrade" files, analogous to bios updates. You run the utility, navigate to the firmware upgrade file, you will probably be prompted for an administrative password by the router, and then the utility does the flashing. I've upgraded the firmware on my BEFSR41 Linksys probably about 5-6 times since I got it (~18-20 months ago).
Regards,
jmichna

[BipolarBill]

Go here and find your product:

http://www.expressresponse.com/cgi-bin/netgear1/download.cgi?cat1=all&cat2=&erproduct=dwnld

Use the View Downloads by Product tool to filter Routers and Firewalls > RP114.

You'll have the firmware and the manual - all you need. :cool:

[Rainsford1]

I wouldn't necessarily take the step of flashing the firmware just yet. A couple of questions for you first. Have you ever gotten the router to accept an IP address from your ISP correctly? Have you specified that the router should act as a DHCP client in the systems configuration? Ditto for NAT?

Based upon your original post I am assuming that you are trying to get more than 1 PC to share your broadband connection. This is a fairly straightforward process, but attention does need to be paid to those little devils of details.

Lastly, although you may very well have had the same IP address on your PC for several months, your reservation of that particular IP address is quite likely measured in an hour or less. Your ISP has the option to reassign that IP address to whomever they choose whenever they choose to do so. The fact that they haven't done so does not mean that they won't. So, don't copy your current IP address into the configuration.

Here is some info from netgear's site regarding the above:

it can be configured to receive an IP Address from a DHCP server. The configuration is found under menu option # 4, Internet Access Setup.
Simply move the cursor with the arrow keys down to IP ADDRESS ASSIGNMENT = and make sure it says Dynamic. If not, press the space bar key until it does. Press the enter key all the way through the menu, and it will save the configuration to ROM. The router will then be able to receive an IP address from the ISP.

Document ID: N100101.htm

HTH

[Strat]

Well........

I'm gonna try the FirmWare update tonight, as theres no way that the Setup Wizard is leting me Type enough characters in the 'Spoof MAC Address' bar.

That means taking the Network card out of the computer in my room, taking the other one out of one of the clients, putting mine in that one, need to do this beasue the wizard only works with Win95/98/ME, and my machine runs 2K. I need to type in the IP address of the card (gotten from my ISP) in order for it to find out and copy the MAC address (lame lame lame let me type it in dammit).

Then try the whole **** thing again, for f**** sake, you would have thought they'd make it easy ! ;) ;) ;)

[Element#5]

A point worth bringing up here without trying to confuse anyone.
Many cable companies have started to move into the DOCSIS platform and have implemented DOCSIS modems at the users home.

These modems differ from the standard legacy modems of the past. The DOCSIS platform uses a very different handshake process from the legacy system.

DOCSIS uses the MAC address of one machine at the client site to bind with. It see's a MAC address and issues an IP to that MAC. This MAC is added to a record in the Cable services router.

This means- The MAC address that is in memory-is the only one getting the IP.
Typically, to change this MAC or clear it requires a call to the ISP. Or to remove the modem from the system for a four or six hour time period. ( Long enough for the ISP router to deem the modem offline) This will allow it to resync and rebind to a mac address again.

An example.

You have a standard cable connection. A cable modem plugs into your computer. The DOCSIS platform see's the Mac address of the nic in the computer.

Now a couple weeks later you get a new router. You connect everything correctly and power cycle everything. But the router is not pulling an IP from the cable service. And no machine has internet connectivity.

Why?
The DOCSIS platform is only intrested in the MAC address it was bound to and the router is not that MAC.

Grant it, Not all cable services are rushing into DOCSIS, but it is starting to be implemented nationwide.

Many drawbacks and annoying little issues still exist with DOCSIS. One such example would be-

You have a standard desktop computer at home on your cable connection, it runs fine your connected. You bring home your laptop to get some work done at home. But it can not pull an IP.
You reconnect the desktop and its online right away.

Nothing wrong with the laptop. Its just not the right Mac address.

Why would they move to this platform?
Money.
They sell more IP addresses.
They can tier level bandwith with DOCSIS, both at the router and at the modem.

[BipolarBill]

Nice post E5. Roadrunner uses this DOCSIS. I know because I had to use a cloned MAC address. We're trying to clone a MAC address for this user, but the firmware is not allowing it.

[Strat]

Yep, you both betweeb you just explianed my probelm better than I could have.

I am pretty sure that my ISP uses DOCSIS. But my router (Netgear RP114) won let me einter a MAC address, even though i know what my cable box has set its MAC address to. I know there is a setup screen i can get to on the cable box that shows me the MAC address.


Should I ring up my ISP and just ask for my MAC address to be reset ?

[Element#5]

Yes, Just tell them to do a MAC reset on your modem. Simple enough. If they ask why: Tell them you just got a new computer to replace your old one. :D

But, have the cable modem attached to the Netgear box and the Netgear box running. This way the MAC reset will grab the Netgear MAC address and it can fuction as your expecting.

Afterward the other machines will need to attain New ip's from the Netgear and your good to go.

[Strat]

Should I initially at first start-up plug my router to the NIC I would use to access the net (my best one) just incase it asks for the NIC MAC address again for some reason ?

[BipolarBill]

Since the modem is really what assigns the IP, reset that bugger in the process. There should be a "weephole" where you can insert a paperclip.

[Strat]

My cable modem is built into my set-top cable TV decoder box.

[BipolarBill]

Nevermind. :rolleyes:

[Strat]

So, I'm gonna do a firmware upgrade.

Then phone my ISP and ask for a MAC reset.

Then I'm gonna put my NIC in the Win98 machine, then try and configure it again.


If no luckim gonna thow mouldy cheese at the **** thing.