Win XP -DSL Internet Access Problem - 2nd PC on LAN 2

[hafod]

Hi
I have a simple 2 computer peer-peer Win Xp Pro network in my home. The 'primary' PC connects to ISP via Broadband router fine to my ISP using IE 6. The network also works fine locally - file sharing etc. I can successfully ping in either direction between 'Primary PC' and 'client'. Fixed LAN IP settings (Home Network).
Primary PC: 192.168.0.1 Subnet:255.255.254.0
Client PC: 192.168.0.2 (same subet)
No DNS server settings.
Checked Workgroup settings - HAFOD! - OK

I have disabled firewalls on both PC's to test connectivity of the 'client'- still no success! I have tried all (i think) combinations of settings at both PC' s to no avail. (File-Internet Options). Any suggestions please? I feel the solution of this one must be simple - isnt it? Whilst I can program - I do have problems with the hardware stuff!!
Many thanks
Hafod

 

[bcastner]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q309642

 

[stduc]

Set the router to be a DHCP server. Turn off any DHCP services in the PC's
Set both PC's to obtain an IP address automatically
re-boot PC's
See if you can ping an internet address from each machine (212.58.224.36 is a good one to use - the BBC!)
Check your browser settings. I have no connection defined in mine.
BTW I hope you meant a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0
NB as far as the router is concerned - neither PC is 'primary'.

 

[hafod]

Hi stduc/bcastner,
Many thanks for your reponses. Perhaps I confused the situation somewhat through incorrect terminology in my post. I hope I am using correct terms now after reading the ICS set-up article! The ICS host computer connects to the Internet via a **DSL Modem** to my ISP. I followed the suggested MS knowledge base article to the letter - but still to not avail. I have tried, re tried etc checking settings - hence delay. Client still responds 'page cannot be displayed'

(Both PC' s Win xp Pro)
**** HOST Settings: Host file modified to add new line iaw rules TAB line spacings (hafod - lowercase is the host pc full name)
Full Computer Name 'hafod' - Added Line reads:

192.168.0.2 hafod.MSHOME.NET

Static IP: 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway:192.168.0.1
Preferred DNS Server: 192.168.0.1
Append DNS Suffixes: MSHOME.NET
DNS Suffix for this Connection:MSHOME.NET
Two tick Boxes checked (Register etc)

*****CLIENT Settings
Full Computer Name: 'TONYREFAIL'
Static IP: 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway:192.168.0.1
Prefferred DNS Server: 192.168.0.1
Append DNS Suffixes: MSHOME.NET
DNS Suffix for this Connection:MSHOME.NET
Two tick Boxes checked (Register etc)

****ICS Client Browser Settings (TONYREFAIL):
Tools-InternetOptions-Connections-LAN:
'Automatically Detect Settings' ticked
(although I have tried all permutations - resetting client after each change)
As I said before - client host connectivity fine, and host (only) connects to the Internet.

Hope you can help - please!!
Many thanks in anticipation
Hafod

 

[eyec]

when you set it up did you select to allow one of the machines to connect to the internet thru another connection?

do you have a single dsl modem?

are you using one machine to connect directly to the dsl modem to the internet?

if this is the case then you may be trying to masquerade your network, i.e. i have one XP machine connected via usb directly to the dsl modem and the other ME machine connected via cat5 from nic to the XP nic, with the ME machine connecting thru the XP machine to the internet.

 

[hafod]

Hi eyec
Thanks for response.
**Only ONE Modem - the host PC (only)connects via DSL Modem
**Cant recall original setup - many months ago - how can I now retrospectively check that one was configured to connect through the internet?
**My Configuration
Host PC --> DSL Modem via USB I/F
Client PC --> Host via Cat5/NIC's TCP/IP as per my earlier post.

Sounds like your configuration same as mine, however both my PCs are XP OS's.

Hope this helps.
Regards, Hafod

 

[eyec]

go to your network places & disable the machine connected via cat5.

while still on that machine (the one with the cat5 connection) go to network wizard and use the set up a home office.

remember to select the option that says "this machine conects to the internet via another network machine" or something like that.

you may have to tweak your firewall to allow both machines to see each other but that will be minor.

 

[bcastner]

I should have been more affirmative in my first post, but it was a guess that you were using ICS.

I do not recommend using static IP assignments with ICS. Let XP figure it out, so begin on both Host and client by setting the networking connetion properties sheet for Internet protocl (TCP/IP) from your current static assignments to "Obtain an IP address automaticly." Reboot.

XP misjudges the settings needed for DSL. In particular, it misjudges the MTU required for DSL:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;319661

What I do in my consulting practice for DSL is two steps:

. test the connection. While 1492 is often the value, it is not always true. I use:

http://www.dslreports.com/tweaks

. then use the freeware DrTCP utility, again from the BroadBandReports site:

http://www.dslreports.com/drtcp

Make sure you do this for all clients, and make sure you reboot before testing the connection again.

 

[hafod]

Hi eyec and bcastner,
eyec first:
Tried reccomended solution - unfortunately still get 'This Page Cannot Be displayed' in Browser - Rechecked everything - rebooted Host and Client (more than once) and disabled firewalls during the testing. Would I expect to see 'Under construction' page in browser if I use '

http://192.168.0.1'

as a URL - is there a glimmer of hope, or is this misleading connectivity???

bcastner:
Will also try your solution.
Regards
Hafod

 

[hafod]

Hi Bcaster
Article: Seems pertnent to XP stations whose OS Version is less than SP1. I have SP2 installed on host and client is this still an issue?
Testing: Is there a comm line switch for ping to show on screen status for a 'visible' period of time? - results not viewable - command Line I/F on screen for fraction of a second.
'ping -f -l MTU_size default_gateway_IP_address'

Downloaded Test Aid Dr TCPial Up MTU 1400
Client taking inordinate time to'acquire IP Address'still in progress - is this normal?
Best Regards
Hafod

 

[bcastner]

Start, Run, cmd (this opens a persistent CMD window)
ping -f -l MTU_size default_gateway_IP_address

"Downloaded Test Aid Dr TCPial Up MTU 1400
Client taking inordinate time to'acquire IP Address'still in progress - is this normal?"

I am not sure of your connection. XP should correctly guess a dial-up MTU of 573, but certainly not 1400.

If the DSL provider is AOL, or you have a VPN Client installed, it is possible and likely desirable to set the MTU to a value of 1400. I quite frankly use 1423 for both cases, although your results may differ.

 

[eyec]

back to square one

first disconnect the second machine's cat5 from your first machine's nic.

delete all previous network connections.

get the first machine set up so it can surf without error.

reboot

connect the second machines cat5 to the first machine's nic.

if the first machine autodetects this connection - use the network wizard to set up the network.

if it does not, use the network wizard on the second machine to set up the connection as described earlier to connect thru another machine on the network.

use the get ip address automatically.

make sure that you have ICS enabled on the first machine.

 

[hafod]

Hi eyec/bcastnerEureka! at last. Deleting LAN connections - on both machines and using the wizard to make settings resolved the problem. Now I have internet connectivity on the 2nd, client PC. Interestingly, the second COULD NOT acquire an IP (despite the wizard having successfully completed) It was taking an inordinate - I gave up after 20 mins! When I rebooted this PC, I forced its IP to 192.168.0.2 and DNS to 192.168.0.1. Then all worked OK.

Using Ping the max I could use with
Ping -f -l 1475 192.168.0.1
But is set to 1400. I use btInternet.

Many thanks for your invaluable help
Hafod