dhcp working with combination linksys cable modem router

[comarow]

My turn to ask a question.

I have a cba;e ,pde,/router router that works fine with my PCs.
DHCP times out. Yet sometimes it works for a while.

Any one have any experience with it.

I blue light, and counters are clean.

it's c cgws41g

any advice is appreciated.

[Craig A Berry]

What version of what DHCP client on what platform/OS version? Does a static IP work? If so, that should rule out adapter problems.

[Willem Grooters]

I assume your cable modem/router is set up as DHCP server for your PCs, and your VMS box is set to use DHCP as well.

If the ethernet connection on your VMS box is set to "auto-negotiate", this is the first thing to change: avoid auto-negotate since it is unreliable.

If still no solution, try to eliminate causes:
* Try another setting (use lower speed, use half duplex in stead of full duplex)
* Try another cable
* try another port
* try another NIC
* Set your VMS box (or a PC) as DHCP server, and disable it on the router
* Ask yourself whether you need DHCP. If you have a fixed configurartion that doesn't change, you don't (but will need some time to set things up).

Willem

[comarow]

The same combination worked with another router and cable modem. It kept dropping.
tcipip 5.4, since I can't get it to network,
I can't get the eco on.

It had a fixed IP address, and the cable people say this guy rejects fixed ip addresses, so I converted it to dhcp.

We did. I almost worked for a while.

Then stopped.

Thanks. It's very frustrating as I must be able to get that back on the net.

[Hein van den Heuvel]

What is the exact (linksys) router model #?
I know of things like BEFSR41 and BEFW11S4 and WPC54G and such, but nothing exactly like the number you mention.

I would start by using a pc with dhcp connected to the router and check the dhcp setup page. There is a range. Your fixed address should be outside that range, but still in the same subnet. For linksys that woudl be 192.168.1.x for microsoft it would be 192.168.2.x
The 'x' would be above 100 or below 100 depending on the router again.

You need the admin password for the router of course. If you do not have that, reset it:
--- from linksys pages -----
. With the router powered on, and nothing plugged into any of its network ports, hold in the Reset button on the unit for about 30 seconds.
. Connect one computer into one of the numbered ports on the back of the router, then restart or turn on that computer.
. Verify that you are getting a Link light that matches the port to which you plugged the computer into.
. For example, if the computer was plugged into port 2, then the Link light on the front of the router for the number 2 port should be lit.
. When the computer finishes its start up, open a web browser.
. In the â Address Barâ type http://192.168.1.1 and press the [Enter] key on your keyboard
. A box should appear asking for a â User Nameâ and â Passwordâ .
. Leave the â User Nameâ field empty and type your router password into the â Passwordâ field (The default â Passwordâ is admin) and click the OK button.
. The router â Setupâ page should load.
. Click on

[comarow]

It's interesting.
It says dhcp times out.
Sometimes it sort of works.
the name server says started disabled.
Now it won't translate names.
for a while it did.
Netgrear won't talk to me because it's leased from the cable company.
And, the cable company says they don't support VMS.

[Willem Grooters]

Clearing up a bit:
You talk about the ROUTER, not the MODEM, right? These are two different things.
The modem is connected to your cable on one side and to the router on the other, and has NOTHING to do with IP.
The router is connected to the modem on one side, and your PC and VAXen are connected to the the other ports.
Somtimes, modem and router are combined.

Let's assume you use a router between the modem (= ISP) and your network. It's "outside" connection will get it's address data from your ISP. The "inside" will have to be assigned a private address and will be able to supply network data to your network. This will normally be a default, which is Ok in most cases.
Regardless the operating systems running there! Your ISP has nothing to do with that. "...don't support VMS..." - they mean "We don't knwo that system" (Hardly any will, Windows-centred as they are. If you're lucky you find one that knows about Linux as well. I'm exteremly happy with my ISP because they KNOW what they talk about (and know something about (and value) VMS!) But I digress.)

I assume you have DHCP client enabled on the interface?
Another wild shoot: take a look at the ethernet interface setting in SRM. You can specify an address in there, that _might_ be that this is conflicting with one of your PC's.

Willem


Willem

[comarow]

it is a combination router modem.
It works great for my PCs.
However, it times out starting dhcp.
Now this is interesting,
9/10 tcpip show name show start disabled
but this time it started,
but under show name I have
local domain: *Mismatch*

[Antoniov.]

Did you some change on dhcp server?
For example, if originally dhcp assigned addressed from 100 to 200, then it was modified to assign from 1 to 100, every PC try to renew lease can't work; it's just an example.
Can you renew address?
Have you a switch in network with autonegotiation?

Antonio Vigliotti

[comarow]

Very good questions.
The range is 50 PC, and it appears to get the name each time.
IPCONIFG/renews
I've upgraded to tcpip 5.4-eco 4
during IPstartup DHCP times out.

YET, it gets the numbers of the servers
and *usually* works.

But something is wrong or DHCP wouldn't time out.

I'll explore the router settings if they can be set not to autogegotiate since it's fixed, full duplex.

It also gives a domain *mismatch*
and I give the domain rr gave me.


Bob

[Willem Grooters]

Who is giving out the numbers: the router of the ISP?
You can tell by IPCONFIG/all on any PC, it will show who is the DHCP server. This ought to be the inside address of your router.

However, it is possible that your modem/router is set to bridging, so that the cable company's server issues the adresses to your machines, not the router.
They could use another, or slightly changed protocol, that is not accepted by VMS.

The ISP's argument the router will not accept fixed addresses gives me the idea that the router has been procinfigured and you have no means of changing it's configuration. that leads me to the qquestion who is in control of your router? If it's your ISP, I'd suggest you purchase a router of your own that YOU control. In that case, that would be the only connection as seen by your ISP, and you have full freedom to configure your network behind it.

[comarow]

Our cable company pings looking for routers or Wingate, and will disable if you have your own, non leased router.

I do have a support question in to the router company.

[Willem Grooters]

It looks to me that they control the IP-addresses on your network. No wonder a fixed address won't work. Your router will not be a real IP router, just level 2 - AKA switch ;-(

You could try to get around it by using their router as it is, place a simple router behind that and connect the rest of your network to that router. To them, you would have one node. for example, you could use an old PC (laptop, if you wish to be low_power) and run a free (linux-based) firewall on it.

But for me, this is a good reason to look for another ISP, that allows you to have your own router (and network)

[comarow]

I did get a response from netgear, but I don't understand it.

I'd like dhcp to work.
20/06/2005 07:21:00
Dear Robert,

Thank you for contacting Netgear Support. My name is Sandeep & I will be handling your enquiry.

I understand your concern and appreciate the opportunity to assist you. The application requires port forwarding on the router. The ports required can be obtained from the read me file or contact application vendor. To add a port on the router please follow the steps given below:

1. Open the browser and log on to the router (generally 192.168.0.1) or the changed address of the router if you have changed one.
2. Click the Add Custom Service button.
3. Enter the first port number in an unused Start Port box.
4. If the service uses only one port then enter it again in the End Port box. To specify a range of ports, enter the last port to be forwarded in the End Port box.
5. Type a name for the service.
6. Also make sure that the 'Enable' Check box should be checked.
7. Click Apply at the bottom of the menu.
8. Under "Server IP Address" Type the IP address of your computer.

Also, please note that we cannot change the physical settings of the port. They are full duplex and we cannot change this.

I hope this will resolve the issue if you have any further issues please revert back.

Regards

Sandeep Mathur
Netgear Support

[Willem Grooters · Accepted solution]

DHCP has nothing to do with port forwarding. So your question has not been understood, or they don't have a clue what their talking about.

I searched google for the specification but it returned just this thread, so I have had some thougt: "cgw" may stand for "Custom GateWay". If so, probably this modem/router is a piece of hardware specially designed and build for your cable company, in which case you'll be stuck with them, in which case, I would expect them to deliver support - even for non-windows systems.
Perhaps they can have some support for Linux/Unix, which may help you.
Otherwise, I'd suggest as before:
add your own (pc-based) router between their modem/router. It can stand aside the PC's, place your VMS box behind that one.
If they don't accept, then there will be no other choice than leave the VMS box out.
Or, of course, ditch this ISP and use another one, that allows you to use your own hardware (modem and router) so YOU are in charge of your network, not them.
That would be my reaction, simply because using PING to determine the existance of a router behind their router, will only be possible if ICMP reply has been disabled, or by scanning the whole range of possible addresses in the punblic address ranges. I would certainly NOT accept this is my network, for security reasons.

[comarow]

I didn't think his answer made any sense.
I wonder if people have DHCP working on their Alphas with TCPIP 6.4 ECO5.
(Yes ECO5 just came out).

Let me know if it works for you.

Cable modem is the only game in town for broad band.
At least it keeps by PCs working which is most essential for work.
and the Alpha Sort of work, except it times out.

[comarow]

Is anyone getting DHCP on 5.4 ECO 5 to work successfully?

Yes, eco 5 is out, and don't forget to refresh your browsers, it's brand new.