Netopia Router and LAN problem

[systweaker]

I am helping a friend with two Win XP systems that are sharing a Netopia Cayman series DSL modem - The internet connection is through SBC Yahoo. The system was set up by somebody who is not available. I have little experience with networking, but I understand what needs to be done in a standard setup.

The problem is that my friend says that the current setup is supposed to be a LAN. (But it never worked except for the shared DSL). I can see that two fast Ethernet PCI nics are installed (one in each system) and that XP Local Area Connection Status reports : connected @ 100.00 Mbps in each system using Client for Microsoft networks, Fileand printer sharing for MSN, Qos packet Scheduler and Internet Protocol [TCP/IP] for each system.

IP addresses are assigned by DHCP through a default gateway.

The cables are like this:
From the first system, From the NIC one eight wire patch cable to the DSL modem. One Phone line From the modem to the wall connection

From the modem: one blue Cat 5 cable to the second system NIC, and that is it. No other cable connection is present.

My Network places show no groups or other computers on either machine. Nothing appears to be shared. Yet each machine reports "connected @ 100.00 Mbps "

The only way I can see this setup being anything like a network (LAN?) is through the internet. Unless the DSL modem is supposed to act like a hub?

I think the system needs a CAT 5 cable from each NIC to a hub and another from the hub to the DSL modem.

What to do?

[Midknyte]

Moved to networking forum.

Is that a router/modem combo? what is the exact make and model?

you should be hooked up like this:

wall -> modem -> router -> 2 pcs

[systweaker]

Curent setup is as you describe it:
wall -> modem -> router -> 2 pcs

I cannot get to the modem for a few days, but I think it is a
Cayman 3500 Series?

For sure it has four ports (4-port 10/100)
It has four lights on the front (one for each port - two of them are lit and flickering. The case is dark blue and does not stand but lies on the floor.

It also has two other lights on the front named "System" and "WAN" - both lit.

I can reply more fully on 4/26/04 when I can get to the modem again.

Can you say if any DSL modem can function as a LAN hub?

[Midknyte]

if anything, it would be a combo modem/router/switch. you won't see hubs in combo units very often. you need to go into the configuration panel of the router and make sure that it is getting a proper WAN IP and that it is using DHCP on the router side.