You are correct. DSL comes in to multi-port DSL router (the phone company's router).  We feed off of the DSL router to an 8-port hub.  There are presently two desktop machines working fine from the hub, another three (this Inspiron is one of them) working off of a LinkSys wireless router that is plugged into the DLS router.

How many ethernet ports on the router?  Most routers have 4 port switches built into them.  If this is your case also, I would suggest connecting the two desktops and the wireless device into the wired router.

You keep mentioning a hub.  Is it a hub or a switch?

You mention a wireless router.  Is it a router or an access point?  You can not have two routers on the same LAN without special configurations.

I think I know what your problem is but please answer these questions.

Message Edited by jmwills on 02-03-2004 08:48 PM

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@MCPI wrote:

Thanks, Jim.  The hub (not switch) is separated from the DSL router ("cable modem")is this a modem or a router?? by about 100 feet -- two offices using one DSL connection (for now, cable connection coming soon!) so hooking the desktop machines up is not an option. Plus, we have a server and other machines to hook up; we presently have the 8 port hub filled with one wire hanging off to the side waiting for our 12 port DSL/Cable router to come in.

The wireless router is the access point, hooked into the DSL router and positioned 100 feet away through about 5 walls and an elevator; hence the poor connection.    We have the wireless router hooked into the DSL cable modem. Our hub is hooked directly to the DSL cable modem, not the wireless router. 

As stated, the desktop machines are working fine from the same hub that the laptop is having problems with. We think it might have to do with the bridge software or lack thereof? or the fact that since the wireless connection has been used, the laptop is trying to get at the wireless connection instead of through the hardwire.

Thank you for all your help!

Message Edited by MCPI on 02-04-2004 08:24 AM

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Again I ask the question, is it a modem or a router at the initial connection?  There are combo modem/routers but I don't like them.  You also mention the use of a wireless router within the LAN.  Is this right?

Ideally, I would setup your Lan like this:

DSL or Cable Modem>Wired Router>Desktops

                                    >Wireless Access Point from the Wired Router to the laptops.

Now it is possible to configure the Wireless Router to be used just as an access point and I think this is wehere your problme is coming from.  If you are splitting the sognal from the modem by the use of a hub, there is no DHCP translation happening (process by whihc each machine receives a unique IP Address).  I think it may be happening by some alternative method from the wireless router on the LAN.

You could also use the wireless router at the origin (connected to the modem) and use a 12 port switch (different from a hub) to connect all the wired devices.  Your topology is close but just a little flawed.  Just my .02

Thanks, Jim.  The hub (not switch) is separated from the DSL router ("cable modem") by about 100 feet -- two offices using one DSL connection (for now, cable connection coming soon!) so hooking the desktop machines up is not an option. Plus, we have a server and other machines to hook up; we presently have the 8 port hub filled with one wire hanging off to the side waiting for our 12 port DSL/Cable router to come in.

The wireless router is the access point, hooked into the DSL router and positioned 100 feet away through about 5 walls and an elevator; hence the poor connection.    We have the wireless router hooked into the DSL cable modem. Our hub is hooked directly to the DSL cable modem, not the wireless router. 

As stated, the desktop machines are working fine from the same hub that the laptop is having problems with. We think it might have to do with the bridge software or lack thereof? or the fact that since the wireless connection has been used, the laptop is trying to get at the wireless connection instead of through the hardwire.

Thank you for all your help!

Message Edited by MCPI on 02-04-2004 08:24 AM

Are you dsiabling the wlirless card before plugging the laptop into the wired side?  Have you updated the Broadcom drivers?  Just exaclty what is happeing when all heck breaks loose?  Address conflcits or what?

John

We think we're disabling the card. Don't know if the Broadcom drivers are up to date; will check on that next.

The heck that breaks loose is that the machines on the hub lose internet access, the incoming DSL line port on the hub and the line connected to the rogue laptop both start flashing constantly until it is unplugged.

Jim,  the DSL router is the cable modem provided by the phone company. Technically, it's a router; that's what its function is on a base level. Commonly, it's called a cable modem.

Here's the two ultimate paths:

A. DSL CABLE MODEM -> HUB  -> DESKTOP MACHINES (working just fine)

B.DSL CABLE MODEM -> WIRELESS ACCESS POINT ROUTER -> Wireless laptops (working just fine)

The problem comes when we try plugging one of the wireless laptops, the Inspiron 8500, into the hub in path A above via it's Broadcom card. That's when all h-e-double-hockey-sticks breaks loose on the hub shutting down access for all other machines on the hub and no machines work.

Again, everything is working just fine in it's present state except for this one machine. All indications are pointing at this machine having some configuration problem, some conflict between the wireless card and the wired card and/or the bridge connection.

RLS

Yep, sounds exactly like IP Address conflicts.  Are you sure that modem has routing capabilites?  Try an ipconfig /all from the two wired machines and see what addresses you get along with a gateway address and please post back.

Start>Run>cmd>ipconfig /all

IPCONFIG RESULTS:

Machine 1: Hardwired desktop
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.10
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Machine 2: Hardwired desktop
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.13
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Those results look fine.  Try disabling the wireless card and then conect the laptop with a cable and see what happens.

Also, look in the device manager to see if there is a more current driver for both adapeters on the laptop than what is installed.

Thank you. We'll try that today.

I appreciate all your help!