[Halbe]

I am doing some computer work for a local non-profit. I don't know enough about networking to know if what they have is what they should have.

They currently have a the following:

Actiontec "wireless ready" DSL Gateway - Model R1524SU
Hawking 16 port 10/100M switch - HFS16T Rev C.
NetGear WGR614v6 (802.11G wireless router)

Internet -> DSL Box - > NetGear -> Switch -> All computers

With this setup they have networking OK. I am wondering if this is the correct way for them to have wireless networking as well as wired networking. They basically have a bunch of donated PCs, a few new ones and two laptops.

I am wondering if this is OK and the correct way to network the PCs for file sharing -- because that's all they do as well as use the internet for surfing and email.

Thank you in advanced.

[ivwshane]

Yes that's a good setup. Just be sure the modem doesn't have the wireless enabled.

[Halbe]

Some boxes are acting funny sometimes. It's not something consistent but what do I need to have the computers set for? What settings do I need to have so that the internet works? Effectively there are two routers in place. I just had a problem with one computer not getting an IP address. It got a IP from a completely different IP range and I had no idea how it did that. I figured it had something to do with the setup of having two routers. I know that will work but I am wondering which should be assigning internal IP addresses.

Clearly I have no training in this area. Normally I just troubleshoot the crap out of things and they eventually work. Windows does a good job out of the box of just letting you plug stuff in and it will work.

[Undertaker989]

this "wireless ready" dsl gateway seems to be one of those all-in-one boxes that functions like your standard home router and dsl modem in one. That means that it will be running NAT/DHCP. This is your problem.

You do not want to have 2 DHCP servers. What you should do, is either A.) Take the Netgear wireless router out of the equation totally and get an additional AP if you need more wifi coverage, or B.) disable DHCP on the netgear, plug the uplink into one of its LAN ports, and essentially just use it as an additional AP for its wireless functionality.

so basically:

internet > all in one gateway (that has NAT/DHCP) > switch > A.) Wireless AP or B.) Reconfigured netgear router.

Also, for the computer in question, check the connection settings on the network adapter in question and make sure it is configured to obtain automatically for both IP and DNS. If you are running one DHCP server, know where your backbone is going to, and every computer is configured to obtain automatically (dhcp client), you should be good to go w/o any wierd addies in the mix.

have fun.

[ivwshane]

Good point I forgot to mention that, NO DHCP on at least one of the devices.


I personally turn the modem (if they have routing/dhcp capabilities) into bridge mode and let the router handle dhcp and routing duties.


If you don't have that option then you will basically have to turn the router into a switch and let the modem do dhcp.

I also like to run static IP's whenever I can to further eliminate any potenial dns/dhcp issues.