LAN help

[Burble]

DHCP = Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It's the thing that dishes out IP addresses to devices that are set to get their IP automatically.

My thinking is that the DHCP scope (range) you have is small enough that when you connected the additional machines the DHCP server didn't have any IP addresses left to dish out.

Ignore the stuff about NAT, that's not relevant to this problem.

Assuming that your router is acting as your DHCP server, log into the web management of it and look for DHCP settings (possibly under LAN settings or similar) and look to see what range it is going to dish out.

[Mark]

DHCP scope.

Your router hands out IP addresses to any PC that wants one. But the sound of things, the router has been configured to give out a very small number of those addresses. You need to find where the DHCP settings are in your router and change them. Post the current ones here if you're not sure what to change them to.

[Burble]

Originally Posted by Garp

DHCP automatically assigns IP addresses to the computers.

I'd personally suggest just allocating and putting in a number yourself, if you can. It'll save a lot of hassles.

Static's are less hassle than DHCP? Get outta town.

[Dr. Z]

Originally Posted by Burbleflop

Static's are less hassle than DHCP? Get outta town.

In an environment where people dont really know wtf they are doing, manually assigning each IP address is the way to go.

Of course, if you are a techie/want to learn then setting up your own DHCP/DNS/etc server is the way to go

[Burble]

Nope, I disagree. If people don't know wtf they're doing, what could be easier than leaving the TCP/IP properties of their network card as default (ie, use DHCP)? The vast majority of SoHo routers will already have a DHCP server enabled with a suitable scope configured so the DHCP settings on the router won't need to be touched.

Compare that to telling them to set an IP address, subnet mask, default gateway & DNS servers. Then tell them to keep a note of all the settings and to increment the last octet of the IP address by one for each additional device but being very careful to not use the same IP address twice or you'll get conflicts.

Nah, DHCP is a no brainer IMO.

[Will]

Originally Posted by Burbleflop

Nope, I disagree. If people don't know wtf they're doing, what could be easier than leaving the TCP/IP properties of their network card as default (ie, use DHCP)? The vast majority of SoHo routers will already have a DHCP server enabled with a suitable scope configured so the DHCP settings on the router won't need to be touched.

Compare that to telling them to set an IP address, subnet mask, default gateway & DNS servers. Then tell them to keep a note of all the settings and to increment the last octet of the IP address by one for each additional device but being very careful to not use the same IP address twice or you'll get conflicts.

Nah, DHCP is a no brainer IMO.

Agreed 100%.

You can have complete control over the scope and the subnet that gets allocated if you need to.... for different vlans, networks and general network seggregation - but DHCP is the easiest way to sort it all out for the most part. The only things that I ever set to static, are printers, APs, routers and managed switches, and servers (though the latter is less cruicial with modern networks to an extent).

KK - you migh thave to log onto your router and see if you can increase the IP range that the DHCP server is giving out. E.g. 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.200 (gives you more than enough addresses) of course this IP address could be completely different on your router especially if it's set to default values. Once the scope is larger, you can plug any old cheapo switch or even a hub if you want, into the router and you should be fine as long as all the machines are set to automatically acquire and IP adderss.

To set your PC up to be like that go to control panel -> network connections -> right click on you LAN connection -> properties -> double click on TCP/IP -> make sure it is set to "obtain IP address automatically" (though make sure you take down the details first if it has any).

That should be all you need to do. The important thing to understand is you cannot have the same IP address on more than one machine on the same network.

[killerkebab]

Damn, that must be the problem. We couldnt' log in to our friend's router because he didn't know his access password, and I am willing to bet his settings were something made for the home without bigger LAN in mind.

We also tried without a router (just straight plugging into hub) with the same problems. Bear in mind this was a few months ago and not even using my switch nor router.

However if all I needed was a router that I can actually change settings to to sort it all out for us, then I guess I'll be buying this switch as it seems to be a half decent use of £20

[Garp]

Originally Posted by killerkebab

Damn, that must be the problem. We couldnt' log in to our friend's router because he didn't know his access password, and I am willing to bet his settings were something made for the home without bigger LAN in mind.

We also tried without a router (just straight plugging into hub) with the same problems. Bear in mind this was a few months ago and not even using my switch nor router.

That definately won't work Each machine needs a unique way of identifying itself to a network, an IP address in this case. Either you assign it automatically (most home routers will do this), or you choose one yourself. If you've not got a router or dhcp server you have to do the latter

However if all I needed was a router that I can actually change settings to to sort it all out for us, then I guess I'll be buying this switch as it seems to be a half decent use of £20

Probably would do the trick I imagine, certainly for what you're trying to achieve.

[Daz]

Originally Posted by Garp

Either you assign it automatically (most home routers will do this), or you choose one yourself. If you've not got a router or dhcp server you have to do the latter

Not strictly true with APIPA, but it'll never create a reliable network.

[/pedant]

[killerkebab]

So guys, in closing:

I will need one router with DHCP functions.
One FS608 switch.
One to seven gamers with a computer each.

Tell the router to assign adresses 192.168.0.x for x between 2 and 254 and plug everybody into the switch, with the router in the final port.

Yes, no?