Desperate to get this network finished

[Canuk_Al]

This has to be the end of the road for this connectivity project that I have, I have been battling it for over one month now and am at the end of my patience.
Several people have made suggestions some seemed to work others well??

I am presently connected to the Internet with a TP-Link Modem/Router.
I have a Ethernet cable running to a Linksys Router in port #1 (Note this is a straight through cable).
I have a straight through Ethernet cable connected into Port #2 of the Linksys router and the other end connected into a NIC port in my computer.
I have a HTPC :Linux system (using Samba) wired using a Ethernet cable to Port #3 on the Linksys Router.
I am now running Windows 7 due to problems that where created by trying an assortment of fixed and none worked well.
In Windows 7, I can see I believe the Internet - Modem/Router and my workstation.
Under a heading titled: Network Infrastructure it shows the Linksys Router.

Notes:
The TP Link Router has an IP address of 192.168.1.1
The Linksys router is a wireless device and the IP address is 192.168.1.11
My workstation I believe has an IP address of 192.168.1.2
The HTPC PC has an IP address of 192.168.1.4

Important Notes:
The Modem to the Internet is a Modem/Router
The Linksys router is a wired/wireless router Model WRT54GL-AS
I contacted TP-Link and asked how to turn of the router portion of the device and they did not respond. I believe that the firmware on this device will not allow that.

Please try and assist me on this issue as it is very frustrating.

 

[theevilsharpie]

Your would get more help if you posted what the problem actually was.

 

[seepy83]

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that you turn off the DHCP server on your Linksys router so that it will act more like an Access Point and Switch.

I'm assuming that you're having problems with some internet access because both Routers are performing NAT.

 

[JackMDS]

1. If at least one Router's LAN port are Not MDX than Router to Router needs crossover.

2. Second Wireless Router acting as an Access Point should be configured like this.

Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

 

[serpretetsky]

whats the problem?

 

[Canuk_Al]

What a dumb ass I am by not being more specific as to the exact problem.

I am not able to see nor Ping the HTPC, the HTPC of course cannot see my home network.
I really like Windows 7 but from a networking point of view it is not as specific when it comes to networking specifics versus Windows XP.

DHCP is turned off on the Linksys router!

Jack, you mentioned: If at least one Router's LAN port are not MDX then Router to Router needs crossover.
How can I check if a port is MDX?
Regarding the Ezlan link, I have been there and done that. However I have always used a straight through cable versus a cross over cable.

Do I need to set up a Wins server for Samba to see the network?

 

[JackMDS]

The spec. sheet of each Router should state the type of the LAN ports.

In general, most Routers of the last few years should have such port.

Judging from your IP address if they are DHCP generated this aspect should be OK.

If all the computer can get to the Interent then the problem has to do with the Sharing configuration

You do need Samba to Share between Windows and Linux.

LOL Enjoy, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deb2jRm3c7g

 

[Canuk_Al]

Hello Jack;
The Linksys modem is fairly new and is still a current model sold here. I found an old cross-over cable that I put together about 11 or 12 years ago and installed it.
My Internet through put went through the floor, it might be the cable or maybe as you say the straight through cable works.
From all appearances when looking into control panel my Internet to my workstation connection is fine. It also shows my Linksys router with the 192.168.1.151 IP address.
You are correct my current problem is in my inability to connect to the HTPC running a Linux version with Samba. I will follow your link to Youtube and see where that goes.

Al

 

[serpretetsky]

So, just to be sure:
WALL||----||TP-Link||----||linksys||-----your pc
..........................................|
..........................................---------- linux HTPC

and you can't see or ping it from the windows?
can you get internet on the linux machine?

Whether or not you need a crossover cable is very easy to check, plugin the cable into both devices, if the light turns on in the ethernet port then you are good to go.

 

[Canuk_Al]

Hello All;
Sorry about the delay, have a crew in the house painting etc. and am not able to get the home theater system back in place. I expect in another day or so to be able to report back.
On a quick note the comment and diagram that Serpretetsky put together is correct.

This is the specifications of how my workstations NIC is set up.

For the TP Link Router:
DHC Enabled
IPv4 Address 192.168.1.1
IPv4 Default Gateway 192.168.1.1
IPv4 DHCP Server 192.168.1.1
IPv4 DNS 192.168.1.1
IPv4 Wins Server
IP Address Obtained by DNS


Alternate Configuration:
IP Address: 192.168.1.2
Subnet 255.255.255.0
Preferred Wins Server 192.168.1.4

The alternate IP's where set up within Windows automatically!

 

[alkemyst]

It's got to be a sharing issue like JackMDS stated or some other misconfiguration on the LINUX box.

 

[VirtualLarry]

The alternate IP's where set up within Windows automatically!

I've never seen Windows set up alternate IP settings automatically. Are you sure about that?

 

[Canuk_Al]

I believe that you will find in Windows 7 Professional (maybe other versions as well) that Windows 7 automatically inputs address that will work when creating a work group.

To recap, I have a Windows 7 system which is connected to the Internet via a Modem/Router. Connected to this router is a Linksys wired/wireless router. My computer as well as the HTPC system is then connected via Ethernet cable to the Linksys router.

My problem is that I am unable to establish connectivity between these two computers. The HTPC is running a Linux Operating System is called OpenElec. The connectivity to Networks is through Samba. With OpenElec, Samba is represented to the user with a graphical interface that should make it easy to work with.

My present IP address are as follows: (Note DHCP is turned off on the router)
192.168.1.1 Internet Modem Router
192.168.1.2 My work station
192.168.1.3 Unused at present
192.168.1.4 Referred WINS Server
192.168.1.11 Home Theater PC
192.168.1.151 Linksys Router


On Samba the following setting are being used or displayed.
Network:

Services:
Allow Configuration via HTTP (Yes)
Port 80
Username XBMC
Announce Services via Zeroconfig Yes

SMB Client:
Wins Server 192.168.1.4
Workgroup Eagle

Internet Access:
Use HTTP Proxy Service 192.168.1.2
Port 80
User Name (None Used)
Password (None Used)

Openelec Specifications:
Networking:
Host Name OpenElec
Network Technology Lan
Interface Eth0
IP Address 192.168.1.11
Network Mask 25
Network Gateway 192.168.1.2
DNS (None Provided)

The two areas where I was not sure about what settings to use, is with a DNS address and the HTTP Proxy Service address. If you have knowledge and or experience please assist me as it would be gratefully accepted.

 

[bobdole369]

I believe that you will find in Windows 7 Professional (maybe other versions as well) that Windows 7 automatically inputs address that will work when creating a work group.

Alternate Configuration:
IP Address: 192.168.1.2
Subnet 255.255.255.0
Preferred Wins Server 192.168.1.4

The alternate IP's where set up within Windows automatically!

No it doesn't. Alternate configuration is the secondary IP address you put in manually. By default the selection is "Automatic private IP" - which assigns you a link local address in the range 169.254.0.0/16. You have ticked the radio selection: "User Configured" and supplied an IP address in the same subnet as your main IP address. You still haven't listed your "workstation" IP address.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc725638.aspx

Please issue ipconfig /all on the windows 7 workstation and paste the entire results.

You don't need a WINS server in most cases. A WINS server simply provides netbios service name to IP address mapping. In nearly all cases - a single subnet doesn't require a WINS server as the address mapping is resolved via broadcasts.

In most cases in a workgroup, name resolution (notice the difference between this and WINS) is not needed for SMB/CIFS file sharing. Names are resolved by broadcasts. Internet names however need a DNS server. In almost all cases - the "internet router" provides the DNS server names to the clients via DHCP. Since you've disabled DHCP, manually insert your ISP's DNS servers, or use the public ones - 4.2.2.1, 8.8.8.8, openDNS, et al.

from a networking point of view it is not as specific when it comes to networking specifics versus Windows XP.

Yes it is. It's significantly better, and works significantly more reliably and without a lot of the XP issues we've all come to hate.

 

[Canuk_Al]

C:\Users\Al>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Als-System
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) Family PCI-E
Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20) #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1F-D0-27-AE-7B
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) Family PCI-E
Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1F-D0-27-AE-79
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::6870:7f6f:855e:5720%10(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.2(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : February-18-12 5:00:00 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : February-21-12 4:59:59 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 234889168
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-16-C6-3E-28-00-1F-D0-27-AE-79

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter isatap.{BE5D0A54-C104-41D1-A80F-C64B55292971}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{E70BE9BE-D1AA-421D-8DAA-F2C043435D88}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

 

[JackMDS]

On the Windows side.
-----------
Win7 when configured on peer-to-peer Network has three types of Sharing configurations.

HomeGroup = Works only between Win 7 computers. This type of configuration makes it very easy to Entry Level Users to start Network sharing.

Home Network or Work Network = Basically similar(and better) to the previous methods of Work Group sharing that let you control what, how, and to whom folders would be shared with.

Public Sharing = Public Network (like Internet cafe) to reduce security risks.

For best results log to each computer's System Screen and set all the computers to be on a with the same Work Group name while each computer has its own unique name.
http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/net_name.jpg

Make sure that the Software Firewall, AV, or other components of Security allow free local traffic on all Networked computers. If you use 3rd party Security On, Vista/XP Native Firewall should be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network IP numbers on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your 3rd Party Firewall instructions
http://www.ezlan.net/faq#trusted
Please Note that some 3rd party Software Firewalls/AV/Security suits keep blocking aspects of Local Traffic even it they are turned Off (disabled). If possible configure the Firewall correctly, or totally uninstall it to allow clean flow of local network traffic.
If end up with the 3rd party software uninstalled or disabled, make sure that Windows native Firewall is On .
------------------------------

Networking Win 7 with other version of Windows as Work Network (works very well if all computers are Win 7 too).
In the Network Center, clicking on the Network type opens the window to the right.

Choose your type of Network. Notice the check mark at the bottom, and check/uncheck it according to your needs.

http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/net_type.jpg

Win 7 - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Networking-home-computers-running-different-versions-of-Windows

Win 7 Work Network specific folder sharing - http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windows7/windows7_sharing.htm


When finished with the setting of the system it is advisable to Reboot all the hardware including the Router and all computers involved.
-------------

If you have Permission and Security issues with Vista/Win7, check the following settings.

Point to the a Folder that meant to to be share. Right click and choose properties.

In the properties
Click on the Security tab shown in the pic bellow to the right) and check that the users and their permission (shown in the pic bellow center and left) are correctly configured. Then do the same to the Permission tab.

This screen shot is from Win 7, Vista's menus are similar.

http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/Permission-Security.jpg

In both the Security panel, and the Permission panel you have to highlight each User/Group and examine that the Permission Controls are checked correctly.

When everything is OK, Reboot the Network (Router, and computer).

* Note . The Groups and Users shown in the screen-shoot are just an example. Your list will look the way your system is configured.

**Note . All users that are allowed to share need to have account onall the computers that they are allowed to connect to.

Everyone is an account, it means a group of all of the users that already have an account and been established as users. It is available to avoid the need of configuring permission to each on its own, it does not mean Everyone that feel that they would like to login.
-----------

 

[Canuk_Al]

Hello Jack;
Thank you so much for all of the detail, I will spend a lot of time digesting this information and do my best.
Please be patient with me as I am far from being as knowledgeable as you!

Thank you again

 

[ScottMac]

Make sure your modem is plugged into the WAN port, and all the LAN stuff (your PC and HTPC) are plugged into your LAN ports of the router.

Ports labeled #1-4 are nearly always LAN ports, with the WAN port labeled "WAN," or "Internet"

If the modem and your LAN stuff are all plugged into the LAN ports, then your router is only acting as an Access Point and a switch (no stateful inspection, no firewall, no NAT (address translation from LAN addressing to WAN addressing).

 

[Canuk_Al]

Hello ScottMac;
Please note that my TP/Link 2+2 Model 8817 Modem is both a Modem and Router.
I have been advised earlier not to use the "WAN Port" because of this.
It is because of this that the modem/router wants to use 192.168.1.1

 

[Canuk_Al]

JackMDS;
I had selected the basic "Home Network" option for this network.
Is that the best choice for a network with a Non-Microsoft workstation?

Regarding the Network name I had changed it to "Eagle".
Regarding network shares they had all been turned to on.
Regarding an anti-Virus package blocking access, I use Avast and it of course has an assortment of Shields which can block files, programs etc. I went through them and all seems file. Later today I will have some time and will turn on the HTPC then turn off all of the shields in an attempt to see if it is a firewall issue.

I still have a question regarding Samba and its configuration:
Services:
Allow Configuration via HTTP (Yes)
Port 80
Username XBMC
Announce Services via Zeroconfig Yes

SMB Client:
Wins Server 192.168.1.4
Workgroup Eagle

Internet Access:
Use HTTP Proxy Service 192.168.1.2
Port 80
User Name (None Used)
Password (None Used)

Openelec Specifications:
Networking:
Host Name OpenElec
Network Technology Lan
Interface Eth0
IP Address 192.168.1.11
Network Mask 25
Network Gateway 192.168.1.2
DNS (None Provided)


Based on the above Information you can see my network name is called "Eagle"
I am using Use HTTP Proxy Service 192.168.1.2 do you think that is correct, I believe it is the IP address for my workstation.
There are two fields which are "User Name" and "Password", do they need to be filled in?
My thinking is that the Modem/router configuration is providing that to my ISP.
Under the "Openelec Specifications:" area please look at Network Gateway 192.168.1.2 and the field for DNS. Do I need to set up in Windows 7 DNS for the HTPC?