Network Switch problem...

[cginzel]

I've had GB-PVR working with my MediaMVP for some time now. My latest issue is that I can't seem to keep a Xlink Kia (XBox Live type internet link server) session connected to the internet whenever someone watches a show. I have a single router (LinkSys WRT54G) with two wired computers, one wireless computer, and the MediaMVP wired. Xlink Kia runs on one computer and GB-PVR on the other. I suspected that either the router was being overloaded witht the media traffic or that Kia was snooping that traffic and was getting overloaded. My friend suggested I put a switch in connecting the GB-PVR computer and the MediaMVP. However, regardless of how I startup the lot (I've seen the other postings about startup order), the MediaMPV gets a DHCP address (according to the router log), but then cannot seem to find GB-PVR and keeps "Contacting MediaMVP Bootserver" and then gets another DHCP address and tries again over and over... Running the Hauppauge Media server does the same thing. I read somewhere else that the Hauppauge Media server will listen on port 16867 for a DHCP request and will respond, so that doesn't seem to be working either.

If I connect the MediaMVP back to my router leaving the computer on the switch, all works as expected... Can anyone tell me why the MediaMVP can't find the computer when they are both on the same switch? The swich is a LinkSys EZXS55W 5 port workgroup switch.

[sash]

curious, if you wire it directly to the computer does it work???
could try a static ips?? in the 192.168.0.x range..
but I know nothing about mvp. and it quirks

[cginzel]

Well, I've come to the conclusion that I don't know what a switch is for... Just for kicks-and-giggles, I movde my second machine to the switch, started everything up, both computers seem to work as expected, the both have internet access, this second computer was able to get a dynmic IP address, but low and behold... neither macine could see the other on the network! This explains why the MediaMVP doesn't see the GB-PVR server, but leaves me completely confused...

-Charles

[KingArgyle]

Don't know if this is going to help or not:

http://www.duxcw.com/faq/ics/diffrout.htm

[sash]

curious.. check the ip range of your computers on the switch. maybe they are given unusually ips and submasks. in the command prompt type ipconfig. it would list the ips and submask of the connection.. usually if it in a different ip range or the submask is of different range. then the windows firewall blocks any incoming info.. but you would still be able to surf.. maybe turn off your windows firewall or manually config it to accect a defining submask and ip ranges.. or a larger range of ips and submasks.. because since you can still surf suggest firewall problems..

[sash]

example: the stuff connect to the router are given the ip/submask of the range
192.168.0.X/255.255.255.0

and the stuff on the switch is given the ip/submask 192.168.1.x/255.255.0.0 if this was the case then windows firewall would block any incoming signal if either the ip or submask was in a different range then the what ever the network card of the window computer has.

So if computerA has 192.168.0.x/225.255.255.0 will not see any devices other then computer with the same ip/submask range.. and would ignore the ones in ip 192.168.1.X also it will ignore computers in the different submask. 192.168.0.X/255.255.0.0 wil also be ignored.. this is related to file and print sharing.. which I believe MVP needs to operate properly.

[cginzel]

Of the the two machines I'm testing with, one is configured with a static IP address, 192.168.1.101 with a submask of 255.255.255.0. The other computer is using DHCP and recieves 192.168.1.102 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Since they both have the same subnet mask, I figured they would be able to see each other...

Also, I'm not running any firewall software on the computers as I rely on the router firewall.

-Charles

[cginzel]

Curious, does anyone directly network their MediaMVP to the computer using a cross-over cable?

-Charles

[wtg]

Of the the two machines I'm testing with, one is configured with a static IP address, 192.168.1.101 with a submask of 255.255.255.0. The other computer is using DHCP and recieves 192.168.1.102 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Since they both have the same subnet mask, I figured they would be able to see each other...

Also, I'm not running any firewall software on the computers as I rely on the router firewall.

-Charles

With the same subnet masks and IPs on the same segment, there shouldn't be any problem at all with attaching the MVP and computer to the same switch. In fact, when you have them both hardwired to the router it's the exact same configuration. Your Linksys router isn't really anything more than a switch coupled with a WAP that also does routing.

The fact that the two PCs can't see each other on the switch is strange. I have two switches connected to my WRT54G and none of the PCs have trouble seeing each other, whether they exist on the same switch or not - a different story for those hidden behind my wireless bridge though (grrr!). Maybe it's just your switch.

[sash]

you say you can surf the net via the switch to the router. when both computers are on the switch.( can you ping each device from each and every device - computers ,mvp, router etc.. ??). I would say it has to be some form of configuation error.. either windows own firewall is blocking you.. or other configuation error.. that mere fact it connects to the internet tells you it connected and working in both directions. so it can not really be a switch problem.
you must be missing something..


wtg you should beable to see the wireless devices across the brigde if they are in the same workgroup and same network range.. I usally use a static ip on the wireless cards( the remotes) also prefere to use adhoc over infrastrusture. tend to get a better overall connection speeds. , also the added beifit of increasing the overal range when two or more are connected