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Network hardware problems!

Trying to add a XP-Pro computer to a network just to share the internet connection. Currently, there are about 12 computers running off a hodge-podge of hubs, routers??? It can see/access shared folders in all the other PCs but cannot get on the internet. The same is true for pinging - it can't find the servers for web addresses. Don't know all the specifics about how it was was set up since it was done a long time ago (5 years) and no one there knows anything about it. I've pretty much ruled out software problems, which I'm most familiar with, and am pretty sure it's a hardware issue, which I'm not so familiar with. I brought it back to my office (which has the same type of network) and it immediately connected. However, in their office, even when I've tried moving it to different hubs, switching cables, etc., it gives me the same problem everywhere. What am I missing? What should I be looking for?

Thanks!

Andrew P

Sounds like there is no DNS running. I would guess you are receiving an IP Address from a DHCP server on the network. Router could be DHCP server, run the command below. Maybe you could post the results

type IPCONFIG /ALL at the command prompt and see if any IP address are listed for DNS servers.
If no DNS servers are listed then this is the problem. If you know what these should be then you can enter them manually into the TCPIP settings of the machine you are using.

Post info, and I will try my best to tell you the next step....

GC

annkeat

ASKER

I'll be back there in 30 min.- I'll definitely check that out. But 2 questions immediately come to mind - Why would it work fine on the network at my office but not at theirs? And why wouldn't any of the other 12 computers on their network have this same problem?

Glenn Abelson

Go to a PC that works and see how network properties are set up...including DNS and WINS.
Copy the information into the new PC...except, if assigning IP addresses make sure you use one that is not being used.

Most likely you need
1. The Gateway IP of the router
and maybe
2. The DNS numbers of the ISP

annkeat

ASKER

I had an IP address, but no DNS servers. I pulled up the configuration on a working computer and plugged in all the numbers, but nothing...

Andrew P

Within DHCP you can specify what information is provided when an IP address is issued. In addition to the IP Address you would provide; Subnet Mask, Gateway (or Default Router), DNS Servers, Wins Servers, Domain Name, etc

Under Microsoft Windows you can override some of these value while still being provided with and IP address. As glenn_1984 has suggested, visiting a working machine is a good way to gather the information.

Worst case could be that there network is only allowing these machines out onto the internet because the IP Addresses have been specifically allowed through the router or maybe even a firewall.

It could also be that the a Internet Proxy server is in use. 1) To restrict access, maybe by userid or 2) just to cache web pages. You could check internet explore for these settings. If you get the proxy setting and it prompts for a user id and password then option 1) is in use.

There are so many things that could be causing the issues you are having. Some are easy to get round. some are not. If you have the access to change things then you are in luck.

GC

Andrew P

Sorry, got the other message type beofre you reply...Still applys.. but try the bit below.

Note down the IP address, Gateway, and subnet mask from one of the machine and manual enter these on your machine. Remember to switch off or disconnet the machine you have "Borrowed" the IP infor from.

GC

annkeat

ASKER

I entered all the IP addresses, default gateway, dns servers, etc. Still nothing. Proxy servers are not in use.

One thing to note - I entered in the other computer's IP address and when I restarted it, it immediately gave me an error saying there was a conflict with its IP address. That computer is set up to have its adresses automatically assigned, so why would it be looking for the exact same address over and over???

bubz0r

First off, try creating a network setup disk on a working Windows XP machine and using that on the broken machine:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/hnw_create_network_setup_disk.mspx

-----
If the above does'nt work:
-----

Go to the computer that is'nt working and type:

ipconfig /all > C:\output1.txt

Go to a computer that is working and type:

ipconfig /all > C:\output2.txt

Copy the contents of C:\ouput1.txt and C:\output2.txt here.

Also try matching the "Control Panel > Internet Options > Connections tab > Lan Settings" of a working machine to the broken machine.

annkeat

ASKER

I've tried the setup disk many times....

The one that's WORKING:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : debbie
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100+ Management Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-90-27-BC-5D-9D
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.168.5
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.168.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.168.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 199.0.216.22
205.177.10.10

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 24, 2004 7:48:10 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 24, 2004 8:48:10 PM

NOT WORKING:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : pat
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : mixed
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 3:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NEATGEAR FA411 FAST ETHERNET PC CARD
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-40-F4-22-1B-C5
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.168.11
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.168.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.168.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 199.0.216.22
205.177.10.10

SOLUTION

bubz0r

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SOLUTION

ntnsystems

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annkeat

ASKER

There's at least 4 hubs/routers/splitters running off the internet connection.

I can successfully ping the local host and default gateway, but DNS servers don't pull anything up.

Route print pulled up a bunch of zeros for the first row destination and netmask.

Could it be a firewall somewhere?

ntnsystems

The 0.0.0.0 is normal to see in a route print. The others are probably right with this MAC address filtering in the router or the router not accepting the IP address as a client. Spoofing the MAC address of a working Ethernet card while the real card is offline could help diagnose that part. Setting the IP address to a working IP address while the working computer is offline could troubleshoot the IP filter idea. The hub should not interfere with this problem, as it is basically dumb and will usally pass anything. Routers are usually capable of filtering on several levels, so this is definitely worth looking into.

bubz0r

(1) While troubleshooting, turn off the Windows XP Firewall in the Advanced tab of the Local Area Connection Settings

Its usually safe to assume the XP firewall was off due to him being able to browse file shares on the network.

(2) Ping localhost (127.0.0.1)... should be working already.

You'd assume so as its communicating with other PC's and the DHCP server just fine.

(3) Ping the default gateway (192.168.168.1)

The DHCP server he is getting an address from is also the gateway, same IP - so we can assume the ping would work just fine.

(4) Ping a DNS server (205.177.10.10)

The DNS servers are fine as the other machines are using them.

(5) 'nslookup 205.177.10.10' should return the hostname of the DNS server if you have reverse DNS. By the way, 199.0.216.22 is not resolving for me. Try using ns.cais.com (205.177.10.10) as the primary and ns2.cais.com (205.252.14.129) as the secondary DNS server.

199.0.216.22 might be a restricted server - as in only people with certain IP's can use it to keep speeds up for the ISP's customers. My response to (4) applies here also.

---

When you say the hubs/routers/splitters are all running off the internet connection, what exactly is the internet connection? Is it a server or a modem/router or just a modem?

Try setting the DNS server to 192.168.168.1

"Could it be a firewall somewhere?"

Maybe, I've already supplied a way to find out.

bubz0r

"Setting the IP address to a working IP address while the working computer is offline could troubleshoot the IP filter idea.

Routers are usually capable of filtering on several levels, so this is definitely worth looking into."

Could have sworn I already wrote that.

annkeat

ASKER

Thanks for everyone's help so far. I can't believe how frustrating this has been.

I tried entering the working computers addesses/settings into the non-working and then turning it off. I'm still not able to get the non-working to connect to the internet. When I start up the working computer again it errors and says there's a conflict with the IP address. When I run ipconfig again, it shows it has it original IP address again.

Last night while I as working on this, I brought in another laptop, ran the network setup wizard off another machine, and plugged it into the same hub. The same thing happens!!! It can see the other computers, but it can't get on the internet! Am I going crazy???

I've made a couple calls today to their former tech people. I just want to know how this was originally set up - I've replaced 3 other computers in the past with NO problems so I just can't understand why 2 different laptops won't work! I also tried moving them to different locations, but nothing works....

SOLUTION

wyliecoyoteuk

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Andrew P

Put the second DNS entry into you machine (205.177.10.10). Forget about the other one. It is not a valid IP address. Well I don't think so, correct me if I am wrong but I can't connect to it from my internet connection.

If you have both it could just be taking a bit of time to timeout the primary DNS entry and move to the secondary address.

Good luck..

GC

annkeat

ASKER

Wylie - thanks for clarifying some things.

I just found out they are using a SonicWall Soho/10 firewall. It was installed 5 years ago and no one's been administering it since. I pulled up some info on it and found out its a 10 user firewall. Could that be why I can't get any other computers online?

Andrew P

That will be the reason. Log on to a few machines and type IPCONFIG /Release. Then switch off.

Get the number to below 10 and try you machine.

GC

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Andrew P

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annkeat

ASKER

Thanks - I will try that tonight once people have gone home and will post my results...

annkeat

ASKER

Thanks for everyone's help. We're still having to manually enter the IP addresses, but now that we know they can't go over 10 users, it's working a lot better.

Of course, the past week of hell could've been prevented if anybody over there knew what they were talking about!!!

Andrew P

Thanks for the points and the Grade, glad to be of assistance.

GC

wyliecoyoteuk

I second that:)