Help with MVP setup???

[PGPfan]

Ok guys,

I trying to get my buddy's mothers system up and running with Sage. He is visiting her in CA and I'm trying to do support from Idaho so that is one challenge. Her system is the dreaded VIA chipset (but luckily it works Sage just fine) with a PVR-500 and Charter cable (next step above basic, but NOT digital). She is trying to use a MVP for exclusive viewing.

The network is setup like this:

Cable modem>cheap switch>computer and MVP.

Seems to be toggleing between "contacting DHCP server" and "Loading boot application" or something like that.

Tried unplugging MVP for well over 15 minutes, restarting the Sage system (the entire PC, not just Sage)

I'm assuming that the cable modem is acting as DHCP server, true? If so, could the modem be unable to supply more than one IP address?

If this configuration is incorrect, what would be the correct way to hook this system up?

Many thanks for any help on this one, guys!

-PGPfan

[ke6guj]

the easy way would be to replace the "cheap switch" with a router.

What is most likely happening is that the computer is getting a "real" IP address directly from the Cable company. The DHCP server is at the CC and they do keep track of MAC addresses. Even with a router, you may have to clone the MAC address, or else, wait until the DHCP lease expires for the router to get an IP address from the CC.

[MrApollinax]

if your buddy opens a command line (dos) window and executes the following command string:

ipconfig /all

what is displayed? It may be that the cable modem isn't acting as a DHCP server. Usually the cable modem is just a bridge through the CMTS up into the ISP where the ISP handles all DHCP requests.

[Para]

I believe you will need a router after the cable modem instead of the "cheap" switch. The cable modem can normally supply one address (I believe) so the problem is that the MVP is fighting with the PC for an address.

You want: cable modem>>router>>pc&mvp to make it work correctly.

Most cable companies recommend a router whenever there is more than one PC connected to the system.

Having said that....

MAYBE you could set the MVP to a fixed IP???? It really depends on the IP ranges assigned by the cable modem. If it is in the 192.168.x.x range or another non-forwardable (or whatever those network guys call it) range, you may be able to assign an IP address (fixed) to the MVP that will work with the address assigned by the Modem. BUT there is a good chance that it will still cause problems when the PC is initally trying to connect to the modem (say when rebooting).

I recommend a Router...

EDIT ***CRAP - do I take too long to type???

[PGPfan]

Thanks for the help, guys! I'll touch base with him tomorrow morning and forward the info. I suspect I'll need more advice then as well. I suspected that the IP address thing might be the problem, we're just trying to do this a cheaply as possible hence the 'cheap switch'. If he put in a second NIC card in the system and turned on 'Internet Connection Sharing' to give an IP address to the MVP do you think that might work?

I'd hate to get a router (even though it is cheap) since the ONLY things in her network are: 1 PC, and 1 MVP. Seems like a router would be 'overkill' with such a simple system configuration.

-PGPfan

[ke6guj]

I think most of us will still recommend a router, for a couple reasons.

easier to configure than ICS, and it does add in a layer of protection with the router's 'firewall'.


I do remember hearing about some guys getting ICS set up, but that may have been with Matt's plugin, dunno about the Sage solution.

[gplasky]

In the long run, the simplest,easiest way will be putting in the router. CompUSA had refurbished units for $14.95. Plus with the added benefits mentioned above it's a no-brainer. Plus you don't want your Support job from Idaho to become a full time job.

Gerry

[PGPfan]

Ok, I have him getting a router after all. When he did an ipconfig /all it returned some address like: 66.243.94.04 which isn't right, to me anyway. I was expecting to see the typical: 192.168.1.01 so it looks to be network related.

Thanks for all the help guys!!!

-PGPfan

[MrApollinax]

yup, that is a real world IP. Getting a router will fix the setup and hopefully will get your buddy up and running