Help Installing a Router

LilCerberus · September 09, 2008, 07:41:17 PM

I got a router over the weekend. I've never messed with one of these things before, because I only have one computer.
I can't get the darn thing to install.

What I got was a LYNKSYS EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port Switch, which I have connected to a Linksys ethernet card.

The problem I keep running into, is that the setup wizard keeps saying it can't find the router.
Sometimes, it does this when I first start the setup software, but a couple of times, I've managed to get to the second step, configuring my internet connection, but either way, I keep getting the same "router not found" message.

Anybody know how these thing work?

Andrew · September 09, 2008, 08:28:18 PM

There are a lot of possibilities. Something you might want to check is to make sure that your ethernet card is pulling a DHCP (dynamic, given out by the router) IP address. That can cause problems.

Also, was the ethernet card working correctly with your old router?

LilCerberus · September 09, 2008, 10:24:10 PM

Quote from: Andrew on September 09, 2008, 08:28:18 PM
There are a lot of possibilities. Something you might want to check is to make sure that your ethernet card is pulling a DHCP (dynamic, given out by the router) IP address. That can cause problems.

Also, was the ethernet card working correctly with your old router?

The setup I've been using is the ethernet card, connected to a Westell 6100 DSL modem from Verizon.
I think the problem is that both the modem & the router are fighting over the IP address, 192.168.1.1

ghouck · September 09, 2008, 11:33:19 PM

Connect the computer to the router without connecting it to the modem, and see if you can configure the router to use 192.160.1.2

If you can do THAT, connect it to the modem and you might be in business.

ulthar · September 10, 2008, 12:36:32 AM

Wow, like Andrew says, there are lots of possibilities.

First of all, the router needs TWO IP addresses. That's what a router is...a device to connect two networks.

Chances are, your DSL modem is configured to act as a router and also a DHCP server, assigning your computer's IP address when you log on. If you are using a separate router, you need to make sure the DSL modem is in "bridge" mode...not necessary, but MUCH easier to get things configured (that is, why deal with three networks when you can deal with two).

This is why your LinkSys router and Westel modem are fighting over the same private net address...if you go to bridge mode on your modem, you won't have that problem anymore.

Once the modem is in bridge mode, you need to know whether the modem was pulling an IP address via DHCP from ITS upstream server. If you are not paying for a static IP address, chances are that this is the case. If so, the router OUTSIDE IP address configuration needs to be set to DHCP or something equivalent (I think PPPoE does it this way, but with username and pw authentication). Verizon probably gave you a username and pw to enter into your modem...with it in bridge mode, you won't need it there. You will need it on the router, however.

Then you'll probably want to use the router's default internal IP address and set it to be DHCP server for whatever computers connect. This is the least hands-on approach to setting up your internal network.

Hope this helps.

LilCerberus · September 10, 2008, 12:45:19 AM

When I use the setup wizard, I seem to be able to get into the router without the modem, however, the next step requires I plug the modem back in to verify internet connectivity. That's when I get the "router not found" message.

According to Verizon's help pages, I need to reconfigure the modem first, from PPPoE to Bridged.
http://www22.verizon.com/NROneRetail/NR/rdonlyres/D50F2DA0-1AB1-4DD8-BD82-B6660C9B8DA8/0/Case21508WiredLinksys6100.pdf

However, when I try to access the modem, I'm prompted for a username & password, which I assume means my Verizon account, but I keep getting redirected to the 401 Not Authorized page. I've tried this with several addresses.

Here's what I've been able to find so far:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : none-bzoopmw7ur
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : myhome.westell.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 6:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : myhome.westell.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys NC100 Fast Ethernet Adapter
#2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1A-70-15-C1-CF
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::21a:70ff:fe15:c1cf%4
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
192.168.1.1
fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, September 10, 2008 1:13:5
6 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Friday, September 12, 2008 1:13:56 A
M

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 80-00-3A-4E-B8-09-6E-A8
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e50:8000:3a4e:b809:6ea8

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::ffff:ffff:fffd%5
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : myhome.westell.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C0-A8-01-64
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.1.100%2
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

ulthar · September 10, 2008, 08:19:33 AM

Quote from: LilCerberus on September 10, 2008, 12:45:19 AM

According to Verizon's help pages, I need to reconfigure the modem first, from PPPoE to Bridged.
http://www22.verizon.com/NROneRetail/NR/rdonlyres/D50F2DA0-1AB1-4DD8-BD82-B6660C9B8DA8/0/Case21508WiredLinksys6100.pdf

Sounds familiar.

Quote

However, when I try to access the modem, I'm prompted for a username & password, which I assume means my Verizon account, but I keep getting redirected to the 401 Not Authorized page. I've tried this with several addresses.

Okay, I'm assuming that you are trying to access your modem with the router still in the stream. Is this the case?

If so, disconnect the router from both your computer and the modem and connect the modem directly to your computer. Go back to square one, in other words. See if you can log into your modem and change it to bridge mode.

If you are already at this stage and are still having trouble making changes to your modem configuration, the username and password you need for this are the 'admin' username and password for modem itself, no the Verizon network username and password.

If you've never set those, they are set to some default settings - probably something like "admin" and "password" or even "admin" and leave the password blank. I've configured your model modem for a client, but unfortunately, I don't recall the default username and password. Google can help you, IF you can get on the 'Net.

Once you've got the modem being a bridge instead of a router, then put the router inline between the computer and the modem. Things should work hunky dory, after you enter the Verizon username and password.

Hope this helps.

LilCerberus · September 10, 2008, 07:22:30 PM

Yup! That was the whole problem right there!
Once I managed to change the admin settings, the rest went according to the instructions!

Thanks, everybody

Quote from: ulthar on September 10, 2008, 08:19:33 AM
If you are already at this stage and are still having trouble making changes to your modem configuration, the username and password you need for this are the 'admin' username and password for modem itself, no the Verizon network username and password.

If you've never set those, they are set to some default settings - probably something like "admin" and "password" or even "admin" and leave the password blank. I've configured your model modem for a client, but unfortunately, I don't recall the default username and password. Google can help you, IF you can get on the 'Net.

Once you've got the modem being a bridge instead of a router, then put the router inline between the computer and the modem. Things should work hunky dory, after you enter the Verizon username and password.

Hope this helps.