Linksys router - set it not to use DHCP

[rh71]

Currently 3 machine LAN set to use DHCP through the router (set to 3 clients) and only 2 of them are getting to the internet. When I go to the DHCP client table in the Linksys setup, only 1 of the working machines (192.168.1.100) is seen. I don't know why the 2nd (192.168.1.101) is working and not being shown at all in the client table.

Anyway, I've tried rebooting the non-working machine many times and it isn't able to get a DHCP assigned address. Can I just set all 3 machines a static IP address and disable DHCP altogether? I know the option is there, but I just was just curious as to why people just don't do this in the first place. I plan on setting each machine as follows:

1st: 192.168.1.100 (or maybe I'll start at another number)
2nd: 192.168.1.101
3rd: 192.168.1.102

all set with 255.255.255.0 as subnet mask.

Any problems with this?

[rh71]

You're right...the NIC seems busted cause it keeps flashing orange and no green whatsoever... it was working just fine a couple days ago... will replace it soon.

But I just came back to ask something real quick... my machine is WIN2k so I didn't have to set a "host" under the DNS options... but I do for WIN98SE. What is the purpose of this? I can make the host anything I want right?

I have the DNS primary and secondary set up along with the gateway already...

[randy48]

It's very possible that the NOc is not working! I've got a machine on the bench now, were the guy bought a Linksys card at Wally World for $10 and doesn't work! Replaced it with an old ISA card and works fine! Just because the machine "sees" it, doesn't mean the card is any good! Are the little lights on?

[defcon1]

turn off dhcp if you are going to assign static ips. that will prevent any problems with ip conflicts. also, it seems to be typical of these companies to assign strange ip schemes and subnet masks, so make sure that the ips you are setting coincide with what you would get if you used the built-in dhcp. the DNS host name (www for a typical web site) is simply part of a FQDN or fully-qualified domain name. The purpose of this is to allow people to access a system over the internet without having to type in an address (www.yahoo.com is a FQDN where www is the host name and yahoo.com is the domain name). I am not sure why Win98SE requires this, but since you are giving out private addresses to your boxes, the host can be anything and will have no adverse effects on your network. Also, check to see if you have to manually enter those clients into the client table. The 3com office connect devices will sometimes miss clients and you have to manually enter them.

[ohernan]

I have the Linksys 4 port 10/100 switch & cable/dsl router, and have found that DHCP acts goofy sometimes. What I do is hit the reset button on the front of the router, and reboot all the machines on my LAN, and they all successfully get IPs assigned.
Hope this helps.

[rh71]

currently running on static IPs and it's running sweet as ever. thx.