AC - preventing connection to my router

[DavidNZ]

Hi everyone

I'm stumped on something. I used to know how to do this, but it's slipped my memory.

I have a Dlink wireless router (and separate ADSL modem). I want to connect via ethernet to the router to update some settings (security) and then re-start. They say that doing these things wirelessly is not a great idea.

When I plug an ethernet cable to my X40 and the router, restart, I can't access the web management panel of the router itself (i.e., 192.168.0.1). If I use AC to connect to the router wirelessly, I can easily acces the panel with that IP address.

What am I doing wrong? I even tried setting up a new profile under AC (obtaining DNS and IP addresses automatically), but still didn't work.

I know my ethernet card works as I use it at the office on a daily basis.

Colour me stumped.

David

[egibbs]

Guess - your settings for the office are not letting you connect. You may have a different IP range or subnet set up for the ethernet connection - you have to be on the same subnet as the router or you won't get there.

Ed Gibbs

[DavidNZ]

Hmm...i didn't think that would matter because when I set up a new profile in AC, i told it to get the ip addresses automatically. And once that new location profile was set up, when i tried to connect to the router that way (i.e., just establish a connection that would allow me to use the web interface), it always hung on getting the ip config.

I know there will be a really simple explanation to all this...it just eludes me!

D

[jdhurst]

When you connect with the ethernet cable, run (from a command shell) ipconfig. (Start -> Run cmd).

If you get an IP (192.168.0.x), then there may be a firewall in the way (XP's somewhat automatic firewall).

If you get an IP like 169.254.x.x, then you did not get an IP from the router.

Either of the above two would prevent you from getting to the router settings. Try ipconfig and let us know what you see.
... JD Hurst

[DavidNZ]

ipconfig returns 169.254.x.x, so I'm not getting an IP address from the router it seems.

To be sure, I've tried two different RJ45 cables.

?

[jdhurst]

OK, that sure narrows it down. You can stop worrying about the router, and probably the cables (since you tried two). There is either a problem with the NIC (or its physical connection - had that before), or TCP/IP is improperly installed. You could try removing the NIC (Device Manager) and let Windows re-install it to see if that corrects anything. ... JD Hurst

[DavidNZ]

Interesting, when I was in the UK last week, I actually used my X40 to set up a friend's wireless network. She bought an all-in-one Dlink router/modem and I connected it to it using an RJ45, went in to the web management panel, set it all up, and it was done.

How do I let windows re-install NIC (Network interface controller? is that right?)?

Thanks JD -

D

[jdhurst]

Given the last post:

1. I'm not sure it is your NIC since it worked somewhere else. However, in Device Manager, right click on the NIC and uninstall it. Shut down. Restart and let Windows install it. *Note* Before you do this, find and download the driver for your NIC from the IBM Support site for your machine. Run the file, which will explode it to C:\Drivers or some such. Note well the location. Then, when Windows wants to know where the driver is, point there.

2. Recheck your firewall and make sure it is temporarily disabled to see if that is the cause for not finding an IP address.

3. Look at the lights on the NIC when you try to start and connect. Is there two way traffic (sometimes hard to tell). But what you want to check for is to see if the actual connector in the NIC is bad.

4. Have you got MAC filtering enabled in your own router? And if so, is the MAC for the wired connection in that table? My router demands all MAC's be registered (wired or wireless). Some routers only register wireless MAC's.

... JD Hurst

[DavidNZ]

Aw hell. It was the [censored] MAC filtering. I'm hardwired right now as I type this.

Boy do I look (and feel) like a pinhead!

Thanks JD, for your help (as always!). Now, do you know anything about BMWs? I've got a loose parking break handle that I'm trying to fix.

David