My WIRED network isn't working

[KLC]

At Christmas we got an Asus WL-500gp V2 router and created the following network:

AT&T DSL modem
Asus router
1 Win XP computer hard wired to router
1 Win XP Pro computer connected wirelessly
1 HP C7280 all in one hard wired to router
1 xbox 360 connected wirelessly to router and with HDMI to 52" Samsung LCD TV

It worked flawlessly for three months, not a single problem, not a single need to reboot.

A few weeks ago we decided to set up a media center pc and use the xbox as an extender. I bought an HD Homerun digital tuner that is wired to the router and allows tv access on networked computers. HD Homerun suggests using wired connections for best performance. So, in the last few days I've created the following:

AT&T DSL modem
Asus router
1 Win Vista Home Premium computer hard wired to router with cat 6 patch cord
1 Win XP Pro computer hard wired to router with cat 6 patch cord
1 xbox 360 hard wired to router with cat 6 patch cord and connected to TV with HDMI
1 HD Homerun digital tv tuner hard wired to router with cat 6 patch cord and connected to outdoor antenna with rg6 coaxial cable
1 HP C7280 connected wirelessly to router

I'm pretty new to networks but it seems that this wired setup would be simpler yet ever since assembling the above I've had repeated connection problems.

If I reset modem and router and start the xbox it usually connects to xbox live. But when I start up the computers they are linked locally only. In other words, the printer works wirelessly but there is no connection to the internet. If I reset the modem and router and start up the computers I usually get internet connection but when I start up the xbox there is no connection. I've done the above with the HD Homerun connected and unconnected, it doesn't seem to make a difference. I say the above usually happens because I have had all connections working and then the next time I turn them on they aren't working; I've also had none of the connections work after resetting everything. And, if we disconnect the cable from the xbox and stick the wireless connector back on the xbox has connected every time...

I've switched cables and nothing changes. Ever since hooking everything up with cables the whole thing is unstable and unusable. I've spent hours trying to figure this out, can anyone help me?

 

[kevnich2]

You need to do some troubleshooting. It sounds from your post like the wired xbox may be causing the problem so you need to troubleshoot. Disconnect the ethernet from the xbox, reboot all the devices and test connectivity. If you plug the xbox ethernet back in and things start acting up again, then guess what, the wired ethernet nic on the xbox is causing problems. You need to find out if it's getting DHCP IP or if for some reason someone set it up as a static IP and it's conflicting with other devices on your network. You can't just say everything is now having connection problems but don't try and troubleshoot anything. Something is causing a problem in your network and you need to find out what it is and what the potential problem is. I don't think it's your router at all, it's a device in your network that is either faulty or isn't configured properly. You need to make EVERYTHING configured for DHCP (if it's set to static, change to DHCP and then reboot)

 

[KLC]

Thanks for the help, I'll work on it this afternoon. But could you give me a little credit? I didn't just say I'm having connection problems and leave it at that. Like I said, I've spent hours on this, rebooting in different configurations, swapping in new ethernet cables, etc. I would call that troubleshooting, wouldn't you? But I'm also pretty ignorant about networking, I had exhausted everything I could think of but I know there's lots that I'm not even aware of that could be causing problems, thus the appeal to Anandtech forum members. But again, thanks for replying, you've helped me get started on some new approaches.

 

[kevnich2]

I personally think there's something going on with the xbox. Try disconnecting that and rebooting your equipment and see how everything works. If it works ok (I think it will) try plugging the ethernet back in and then continue using it and see if things drop off. Also give us more information as far as what your meaning by connection issues (ping yahoo.com, ping another computer, etc). We need more information as far as what's actually happening with the computers. Can the computers not ping each other, not ping the internet, not getting an IP address, etc.

 

[KLC]

so I've done a few things.

first I found out that on my XP Pro computer I had never installed the Marvell Yukon gigabit drivers when I built the box a year ago. Since this was the wireless box before it apparently didn't make a difference. So I downloaded the latest driver.

Then I discovered that the XP box was in its own workgroup, meaning that I had two separate workgroups, one for each pc. So I put the XP box into the same workgroup as the Vista pc.

Then I shut down the modem, router, pcs and xbox; restarted the modem, waited 5 minutes, restarted the router, waited 5 minutes and restarted the pcs. I had internet access on both pcs.

Then I unplugged the network cable from the xbox and started it. Then I plugged in the cable, nothing happened, no live connection, no message, nothing. I went to network settings and did the network test. It showed connection from console to network but gave me a big red x on the connection from network to internet. It said the console could not get a DNS (the TV is on American Idol right now, I can't go back and write down exactly what happened)? I went to xbox.com/networkhelp and clicked on the DNS error message. It told me to check my network settings to see if they are manual or automatic. I checked, everything is on automatic. It told me I should try copying the PC DNS/IP settings into the xbox, but the pc is set on automatic too. And the website said if both pc and xbox are on automatic it "should work".

So what do I do now? Sorry if I'm not following all of the acronyms, I'm still not up to speed with networking lingo. For example, where do I find DHCP? On the computer, the xbox? I couldn't find any mention of it on any of the menus I saw.

I'm going to get yet another cable tomorrow and try that one more time, but other than that I'm stuck.

 

[KLC]

So I've kept working at this. I read some comments about Vista UAC causing problems if it is disabled. I also read about problems with Norton firewalls. I had UAC disabled so I enabled it. I disabled the Norton 2009 firewall and enabled the Windows firewall. Neither change made a difference.

I also went back and verified my original work. If I reset modem and router and then connect the xbox I get internet connection to xbox live. But when I start up my computer I get only a local connection, no internet access. Also strange is that once the xbox is connected the Vista network map does not show it as part of the network.

If I reset modem and router and start the pc I get LAN and WAN connection but then the xbox will not connect to the internet.

Those results indicate to me that it isn't a cable and it isn't the xbox. But if it's the router I have made no changes to it. It worked flawlessly in wireless for 3 months.

I really don't know what else to do at this point.

 

[Rafael]

Do you know if the ADSL modem is set to bridge mode or router? To check that go in your router and see if the WAN is set DHCP or PPPoE. If it is PPPoE the ADSL modem is set to bridge, other wise if it is DHCP it is set to routing mode.

To solve the DNS problem as you said, you might set in the router, on the LAN part, probably this configuration is near the DHCP server settings, set the DNS servers, you can put the ip from OpenDNS (208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220).

Also check if your router has upnp and if it is enabled.

 

[KLC]

thanks Rafael, I'll do some more work on this tonight.

 

[KLC]

Rafael,

Here is what I've found out:

1. the router WAN is set to PPPoE. But DHCP is not one of the options in the menu, the other options are Automatic IP, Static IP, PPTP, L2TP and Big Pond. When I got the router I called AT&T and they told me I had to set it up as PPPoE.

2. DHCP is a separate menu, DHCP Server is enabled.

3. UPNP is enabled.

4. DNS Server is set to automatic.

I'm going to leave the PPPoE for now and input the DNS servers you wrote down. I'll be back, I hope I can log on again, to report how it works.

 

[Rafael]

OK KLC!

On the DNS set to manual or something like that, and set the IPs I told you.
Your ADSL modem is set to bridge, so that is what you want. So leave in PPPoE.

I don't know how the xbox connects to the internet, but I think it is very similar to a computer.

BTW, are all your computers and xbox, and other stuff set to automaticaly obtain an IP address?

Good luck and report back!

 

[kevnich2]

The problem the OP is having isn't DNS or even an ISP issue. There is something on either the PC or the xbox that is causing a conflict. Boot up your equipment with the xbox on first, then turn on your PC. After that, do an ipconfig and give us your IP, subnet & Gateway and then run a ping test to your gateway, to 4.2.2.1 and then maybe to a local machine on your network and also post those results.

 

[KLC]

I think I got this working, not sure if it is the best solution but at least I now have internet access to all computers and the xbox at the same time.

I set static IP addresses for all of the network components. I called AT&T DSL service at 10 pm last night and got right through to a very helpful tech. He gave me the DNS names and I used them. He also gave me some ports numbers to forward that he said are known to AT&T as causing problems with the xbox.

After I did that the xbox then wouldn't recognize my LAN. So I checked my numbers and then reset the router to original factory conditions. After entering the basic PPPoE information everything worked. I checked it again this morning and things are still OK.

I found some really helpful step by step info on setting static IP and port forwarding at www.portforward.com. I'd recommend that site to anyone who is new to networking and need some simple, illustrated information.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to help me out. I'm going to keep reading up on routers, networks, etc so I can understand what is going on better the next time something stops working.

Next step is setting up the media extender with the media center pc. Which brings up one question someone may know the answer to, although I'm going to post this on xbox.com as well.

Now that I have things working the network map in the Vista PC shows the xbox, the HD Homerun TV tuner, the router and the other PC. Everything is identified. But in the xbox configuration there is a test for checking the xbox to PC connection. That test still fails, it doesn't recognize any PCs on my network.