Linksys Router problem

[ufrich]

Hey guys i was over a at a friends house trying to get there 5 computers networked using a Linksys BEFSR41 router. I cant get the darn thing working at all. Im trying to split up a DSl connection. This paticular connection is weird because they are not using a DSL modem because they are running Fiber for their phonelines, and the installer installed a dedicated cable for the connection. I went throught web based setup and have everything properly setup as far as i know. It also seems like the router freezes on me from time to time, because i cant get to the configuration page. So for all i know, the router could be bad. I know this info is rather vague but any info as to where i could start trouble shooting would be greatly appreciated.

[DVNT1]

An easy first check...are you getting IP info from the broadband router to the clients? Like IP address, default gateway, and DNS server entries. If not, then this part of the problem is probably within the broadband router configuration.

[rowan]

First, I would try hooking 2 or more computers into the router to see if you can get them talking to each other without the added complication of talking to the WAN. This will at least help you troubleshoot:

1. if you can set up a LAN, then the router probably isn't defective. you'll have to fiddle with the config. (Also, on the LAN you should be able to get to the router set up page.)

2. if you cannot set up a lan, the router certainly implicates itself as a possible diffective piece of equipment, though your problems still could be caused by improper setup.

Run an winipcfg on each of the machines to determine if the machines are being assigned IPs from the router.

What OS's are the machines running? Have you given the MAC address of the router to the ISP? Have you set the router up as a DHCP server?

I need more info...

r.



[This message has been edited by rowan (edited 08-07-2001).]

[ufrich]

Hey guys thanks for the posts, i have got the router sharing the connection between the 5 computers, however anytime i try to get into the web based configuration, it only has one computer listed as being assigned an IP address.?? And then when i leave the config page, that paticular computer looses its connection, but then rebooting gets the connection back. VERY WEIRD!! I got the connections working by fidling with the TCP/IP properties in the NIC's on each computer. Question though, should i disable Wins Resolution, or use DHCP for Wins resolution? ANy other properties on the NIC's i need disable or enable. In other words im 99% sure the problems with my router are really my configurations on my NIC's. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[dddave]

I would try to upgrade the firmware

[ufrich]

Hey guys right after i posted, i did ipcfg on one of the computers and it was not given an ip address. However the computer is able to get online. And the same for the other 4 computers. I go into the web based utility, and there you go, only one computer is being assigned an ip address. BUT THE OTHER 4 COMPUTERS ARE ABLE TO GO ONLINE!!! HOW! Its weird because all of the computers are sharing the connection so i shouldnt be complaining but i know something still isnt right. ANy help please would be greatly appreciated.

[DVNT1]

To be clear...when you run winipcfg from the Windows' RUN command line you may initially be seeing a PPP adapter and not your LAN NIC. There should be a drop down box next to this Adapter field in which you can choose your LAN NIC.
You should have IP address information there if the Internet browser works on that PC. If no IP info then the more common problem is corrupted TCP/IP information within Windows. This would often require the removal of TCP/IP, reboot, then add TCP/IP protocol again. Sometimes it may also require the removal/reinstall of the NIC drivers.

[ufrich]

Hey DVNT1, thnaks for the reply. You were right about the drop down arrow. Any who all the compouters are recieveing IP address from the router, however it still seems like any time i go into the config page on the router and try to access anything i loose my connection on that paticular computer. And just recently i looked under the DHCP properites in the config page, and the page listed no computers were sharing the connection. Any more info please just ask.ANd yes all the comuters are sharing the connection as of this post.

[ufrich]

I think i need to tell my friend that he needs to throw this piece of junk in the garbadge and get a NETGEAR ROUTER. A real router that is. Thanks for the posts guys, but this thing is a piece of ****!!

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

I running a Linksys BEFSR41.

Had no problems other then it won't get a DHCP ip From My ISP for some reason. (Maybe it's not asking nicely) and Port 3 is not working with any cable, even one that works on other ports, I'll have to exchange it for this reason, but other then that it works great, oh and to get the other computers to show up in DHCP tab, set them all to use DHCP and use DHCP for WINS resoloution. Then reboot them all and they will show up.

[BC]

What you need to do on it 1st is connect 1 pc and get it set up correctly. Then on the rest have the router assign the IP's.
I have one actually 2 now (trying to get rid of 1 of em) and have had no problems with either one of them. Got the network at home up in less than 5 min. They are more robust then you run of the mill stupid ones. And if you had a bigger network you would see what I mean.

There isn't much you have to do to get it working. Just make sure that you have TCP/IP in there. Also I like the DMZ properties of linksys's.

[ufrich]

Thanks for the replies you guys, i finally got the thing working by changing some settings on every network card on the network. This router was really more of a headache than anything else. Besides the problem with setting the network cards right, alomost every time i went to the config page it would freeze on me, or not even load properly. Any who, thanks for the replies you all.

[knucklebusted]

You know that if you "APPLY" anything to the LinkSys it does a mini-reboot? Is that what the freeze is? If the "CONTINUE" box pops up, look at the router, it will light the DIAG light for a second and then be fine again.

[Wormo]

I have that same freezing problem with my Linksys 4-port router now. Whenever i try to got to the web based setup it freezes for a few minutes, then when the setup does show up the page is incomplete. I have no problem ping from both computers on my network, and the led lights on the router are fine. Im running Windows 98SE on both machines and IE and Netscape. I get this problem on both computers and broswers. But I have a install of Windows 2000 Server on this computer, and I dont seem to have a problem with either browser.