Network Switch question

Tuvoc · 12 Dec 2013 at 13:17

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-011-TP

I want to run a single cable downstairs from my DLink DIR-615 router upstairs, to a device that I can then plug my Sky box into as well as two PCs, so all three have the internet available, and the two PCs can share files. (Virgin internet goes into the DLink)

Is the above what I need, i.e. a simple switch ?

Deleted member 77746 · 12 Dec 2013 at 13:20

That will be fine.

Tuvoc · 12 Dec 2013 at 13:22

Great, thanks for your help.

Tuvoc · 16 Dec 2013 at 20:30

Internet access is perfect on the two PCs and the Sky box. I'm very happy about that. But although the two PCs can see each other, they can't access each other. Grrr !! "Windows cannot access \\PCNAME" is the message I get from each.

In the past pre Windows 7 (Vista and XP) I've never had issues accessing shared folders on PCs on my network, but this is the first time I've tried in Windows 7 and 8, and so far I've failed.

KIA · 17 Dec 2013 at 17:47

Temporarily disable the firewall.

Can the machines ping each other?
Can you access the other machine using \\IP_HERE?

Tuvoc · 26 Dec 2013 at 17:55

KIA said:
Temporarily disable the firewall.

Can the machines ping each other?
Can you access the other machine using \\IP_HERE?

I changed some settings but now the computers can't see each other at all. What is confusing me is that they both seem to have the same ip address behind the switch, which I thought was impossible. Or perhaps that is how the switch works, the router only sees and manages one IP, and the switch handles the rest. I'm going to revert to having the 2 boxes connected wirelessly to the router (i.e. take the switch out of the equation temporarily) and see if that makes a difference. If I can get it working like that, then I can bring the switch back into the picture. Do HomeGroups need to be set up ? They aren't at the moment but I can easily do that if it makes things easier.

EDIT: yes I disabled the firewall on the W7 box, that didn't help the W8 box to access the files.

Psy-Blade · 26 Dec 2013 at 18:05

The fact that they both have the same IP is probablc your issue here.

Every device behind a switch still has it's own unique IP address. Is the router configured to hand out IP addresses (DHCP)? If so, go on to command prompt on one of the machines and run 'ipconfig /renew' that should ask the router for a new IP address.

Or you could try manually assigning addresses to all the machines.

Personally I've had issues with windows 7/8 finding network devices when they think they're on an untrusted network. To check this, what does it say in the network and sharing center underneath the name of the network you're connected to. If it's anything other than 'Private' then you may run into issues sharing stuff around the network.

(Apologies if that's not the best written - boxing day beers

)

Tuvoc · 26 Dec 2013 at 18:10

Yes DHCP is enabled on the router. I'll look at your suggestions, many thanks.

Tuvoc · 27 Dec 2013 at 10:57

Right, I put one machine back onto the wireless network, leaving the other connected to the switch. File sharing works perfectly !! With both connected to the switch, it doesn't. And furthermore with the switch I can no longer use Teamviewer to log onto one machine from the other, it takes forever to make a connection and then fails straight away, or doesn't connect at all. Over wireless it was fine.

ipconfig on both machines shows the same IP address when they are connected to the switch. On the DLink router, only one connected device is shown not two (ignoring the phones etc which are also connected). So I don't know where to go from here. Internet sharing is working perfectly but file sharing isn't and neither is Teamviewer. Could it be a faulty switch ? The router is a DIR-615 and DHCP is enabled, all wireless devices or devices connected directly to it are fine, it is just the switch that is the problem.

Danny091 · 27 Dec 2013 at 11:02

Try launching command prompt and doing

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

on both computers if that doesnt work try giving one of the machines a static ip address that is different.

Tuvoc · 27 Dec 2013 at 11:14

Danny091 said:
Try launching command prompt and doing

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

Thanks, they still both get the same address. I'll now manually assign an IP address to one of them and see what happens.

Tuvoc · 27 Dec 2013 at 11:35

I manually set one IP address, but still only one machine shows as connected in the router, and file sharing still doesn't work :-(

But internet does work still.

EDIT: and the machines can't ping each other.

Psy-Blade · 27 Dec 2013 at 11:52

What did you manually assign it to? Are you sure that address isn't being used elsewhere? (By a phone or tablet etc on DHCP?)

Personally, I'd start again, and disable all DHCP devices. I'd reconfigure the router to assign DHCP addresses from halfway through the range onwards and statically assign any none portable devices in the house... ie:

192.168.0.1 < Router (set on router)
192.168.0.2 < Main PC (set on PC)
192.168.0.3 < PC1 behind switch (set on PC)
192.168.0.4 < PC2 behind switch (set on PC)
192.168.0.X < any other none portable devices (consoles, wifi radios etc)
...
192.168.0.100 < configure the router to assign DHCP from here upwards, maybe cap total assignable addresses at 100 or so.

This should get you up and running with a fairly solid network, it's how I tend to configure all of mine.

Tuvoc · 27 Dec 2013 at 12:15

I have now assigned manually to both PCs - 192.168.0.140 and 192.168.0.150
And yes I'm 100% sure they aren't already being used. The phones are getting the low addresses.

In the DLINK page, neither machine shows as being connected. Only the phones are showing. But yet they the PCs are are using the internet connection.

This is really bizarre. I'll try what you suggest, but I doubt it will make any difference.
I've got an old Netgear router, perhaps I'll connect that up instead of the DLink and see if I get any joy there. Otherwise, it could be a faulty switch.

Tuvoc · 27 Dec 2013 at 13:28

Well, I think I've found the issue. Both PCs have the same motherboard, and when I look in the properties for the realtek adaptors, both display the same MAC address. I thought that was impossible as well. I thought MAC addresses were unique.

Psy-Blade · 27 Dec 2013 at 13:32

Edit: just seen your newer post.

That's really weird! Never seen that before. Can you run 'ipconfig /all' on both machines and copy/paste or screen shot the results here??

Edit2: Have you messed around with MAC settings at all? Some software (although rarely) will allow you to spoof mac addresses... maybe double check any realtek software for spoof settings. Other than that, I'd RMA one of the motherboards? What board is it?

Tuvoc · 27 Dec 2013 at 13:33

The network type is private currently. Should I change that ?

Danny091 · 27 Dec 2013 at 13:37

Tuvoc said:
Well, I think I've found the issue. Both PCs have the same motherboard, and when I look in the properties for the realtek adaptors, both display the same MAC address. I thought that was impossible as well. I thought MAC addresses were unique.

That most likely definitely is your problem, switches work at layer 2 which is where mac address' are used. If they are the same one it is most likely confused!

Easy way to change your mac is go into device manager, right click properties of your network adapter, advanced, network address and change the value to a new mac address. (WITHOUT any seperators! : - .)

e.g. 84D8A3804678

use can use http://www.miniwebtool.com/mac-address-generator/ to get one yourself

Should only have to do this on one of the machines.

Psy-Blade · 27 Dec 2013 at 13:40

Tuvoc said:
The network type is private currently. Should I change that ?

Nope, that's good!

Easy way to do this is go into device manager, right click properties of your network adapter, advanced, network address and change the value to a new mac address. (WITHOUT any seperators! : - .)

Didn't know you could do it from device manager, +1 on this advice.

Tuvoc · 27 Dec 2013 at 13:48

Sorted !!

Modified the MAC address on one machine in the registry, as per a youtube video that I found. Now both machines show as connected in the router screens with separate IP addresses, and file sharing works perfectly.

Thanks for everyone's help with this. A really bizarre problem, and duplicate MAC addresses was the last thing I would have expected :eek:

I've never messed with MAC settings before. The only way I can think that this may have happened is that at one point in the past I swapped hard drives between machines, so the W7 machine became the W8 machine and vice-versa.