EllenK
join:2008-05-07
North Hollywood, CA
| DSLExtreme, US Robotics 9108, internet access but no network
When I first signed up for DSLExtreme I only had one desktop that I wanted to go online with. I used the DSL modem they sent me. It stopped working and because I couldn't be without connectivity while waiting for a replacement I went to Fry's, where I discovered that simple DSL modems are no longer sold. So I spent a little more and got a USR 9108 Wireless MAXg ADSL Gateway, figuring that when I would get a laptop I'd be able to create a home wireless network. The DSLExtreme folks helped me set it up.
Now I bought a laptop and while I succeeded in getting the laptop on the internet via the 9108, the laptop and desktop can't see each other, so I can't really call this a "network".
Blabla, after going through multiple calls to DSLExtreme, US Robotics and Dell support and pestering my hardware- and connectivity-knowledgable friends, I learned that the problem was due to the fact that the 9108 was set up in bridged mode and therefore
A) my computers are really directly on the internet; and
B) I have no internal IP addresses.
Armed with this knowledge, I called back US Robotics and spent about two hours (this is not a typo) with a Tier 2 guy there. We successfully reset the 9108 and got internal IP addresses going, but could not get to the internet. The ADSL light on the 9108 was lit up, but not the globe icon (internet) light. So after at least securing the wireless network (which previously was not possible because without internal IP addresses there was no way to get into the 9108), we put it back in bridged mode.
This does not seem reasonable to me. I think a DSL signal is a DSL signal, and I should be able to use the 9108 in accordance with its design, i.e. to have a network and to access the internet.
The desktop is a Dell Optiplex 240 running W2K Pro SP4 with McAfee security, and the laptop is a Dell Vostro 1500 running XP Pro SP2 with AVG security.
Thanks in advance for helping me get my network functioning. |
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financetech
Premium
join:2006-05-29
Irvine, CA
| EllenK,
In case you ever need to get a replacement DSL modems in a hurry, the Motorola 2200 DSL modems ($69.99) at Best Buy (for AT&T Yahoo) will work fine with DSLExtreme. As with most DSL modems, you will need to set it up in bridged mode (new D-Link and Motorola units will autodetect VPI 0 / VCI 35). I am currently using the Motorola 2200 series modem (purchased via online retailer). It's the same device but not pre-configured with AT&T Yahoo preferences. It is more reliable than the fairly new D-Link DSL modem that malfunctioned after 2 months of usage. The new Motorola series are the successor to the Netopia line after its acquisition by Motorola.
When a DSL modem is in bridged mode, it is acting as a modem only with no routing functions. DSLExtreme with dynamic IP plans, by default allows one dynamic IP address. In bridged mode, with no router in between, you will not be able to more than one IP device connected.
You will need to log into your DSLExtreme account and increase the number of DHCP connections. Part of the reason why you are having problems connecting to the Internet is because the DHCP lease is probably still assigned to the laptop or desktop MAC address and hasn't been released yet.
I am not familiar with the US Robotics ADSL gateway you mentioned. But in general, you would like to have the following:
modem --> router --> computers/end devices
Sometimes people enable Wi-Fi capabilities at the router or after the router with access points. |
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EllenK
join:2008-05-07
North Hollywood, CA
| Hi financetech,
Thanks for your interest.
I do not need a replacement modem, the USR is happily working fine and anyway the replacement one from DSLX arrived a few days after the original one broke.
Thankfully I am NOT having any problem connecting to the internet.
My problem is that because the router appears to have to be configured in bridged mode to work with DSLX, I am unable to have a normal network where the computers can see each other.
I cannot create a setup like
modem-->router-->computers
because the router already has the modem functionality built in and therefore does not have any way to connect to the modem. It has one ADSL port which fits a phone line connector, and four cat 5 ports for computers.
Hope that clarifies my situation.  |
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Col_DH
join:2004-03-28
Northridge, CA
| reply to EllenK
Working on teh assumption (usually bad idea) that it's still not working and you are now getting internal network IPs from your USR:
The last part of what Financetech was saying is how to correct your problem, and why it is occurring.
See at first you IP address supplied via DHCP was tied to teh MAC address of you computer cause your modem was in bridge mode, thus passing the broadcasts to your computer.
Once you got your USR modem to hand out internal IP addresses, that is a key sign it is not acting as a router.
Being that is now a router, DSLX's DHCP server will be giving that router the IP address and binding it to teh USR's MAC instead of your computer.
But DSLX's DHCP server still remembers you Computers MAC address, and is holding that only IP address for you computer only.... for now.
So if you log into your DSL Extreme account via their web site as mentioned above. The step listed will cause teh DHCP server to 'un remember' you computers MAC address and except the next device it sees on your DSL Line.
Of if you know how to and your USR gateway will do it, you can clone your Computers MAC and use it on the USR.
You are absolutely correct about your DDL working with you USR, it should be able to work. And I have no doubt that it does. It just needs this little fix. Or after a certain amount of time, it will fix it self after the lease time expires.
...................|-USR GATEWAY-|
--DSL LINE--> Modem -> Router-> Computers
--
Check 6 |
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EllenK
join:2008-05-07
North Hollywood, CA
| I'm not sure I understand your post. After we observed that with the router configured with pppoe there was no internet access even though it was getting the ADSL from DSLX, we changed it back to bridged mode. Now I again have internet access on both machines, but they again can't see each other. |
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DSLX_Zak
Premium
join:2007-01-04
Salt Lake City, UT
| HI ELlenk,
CoL_Helmet is correct. Putting it in simple terms. There is nothing on DSLE's network preventing you from using the US Robotics 9108 as a modem and router. If it didn't work it was because it was not configured properly and not do to a restriction on our end.
One thing I have noticed with some all in one modem/router's (2wire comes to mind)is they don't assign DNS servers properly. You may want to try configuring the modem as a router instead of a bridge again and specify Static DNS on you're NIC and see if you are able to browse.
Also, Make sure you have at least 3 DHCP addresses available to you in the account section of our website so that you will be able to get an IP on the modem when switching from bridged mode to router mode.
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Zak
Tech Support
DSLExtreme
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mikesc
join:2008-06-18
| I worked with Ellen to try to configure this -
- Her dslextreme account is configured for 5 dynamic IPs.
- We tried again, and after selecting PPPOE, there were a number of detailed protocol choices, which we left at default. The modem was not able to obtain an IP address. I searched the KB and internet, but I couldn't find anyone else using the USR 9108 on DSLextreme. I searched the KBase on dslextreme.com, but couldn't find this modem. The KBase articles for other modems indicates that it is normal to select PPPOE and everything else should work.
Is there a complete protocol specification with all the sub-parameters that DSLExtreme expects, or is this configuration not likely to work on the USR 9108?
Thanks, |
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DSLX_Zak
Premium
join:2007-01-04
Salt Lake City, UT
| PPPoE-LLC
NAT should be enabled.
DMT
VPC- 0
VCI- 35
If theres an option to keep alive VS manual connect you would choose to keep alive.
I assume you confirmed with our tech-support then that you are supposed to be using PPPoE? If the account is configured for 5 dynamic IP's you would use DHCP(dynamic IP) in the USR and not PPPoE as the correct account setting.
--
Zak
Tech Support
DSLExtreme
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financetech
Premium
join:2006-05-29
Irvine, CA
| reply to mikesc
Mikesc,
I have never used the USR MAZg ADSL Gateway, but here's the link to their web configuration support guide.
»www.usr.com/support/9108/9108-ug···rnet.htm
There is nothing in the specs that would prevent someone from connecting successfully with any standard North American DSL implementation. I think this is a case where the device configuration complexity is not a good match for the user.
It looks like the USRobotics unit uses what they called "MAC Encapsulated routing (MER) to have the unit perform as a DSL modem and as a router. Bridging in this case would be the wrong option. PPPoE or PPPoA are incorrect choices for your account type.
MAC Encapsulated Routing
ATM PVC configuration: VPI/VCI = 0/35
Category: UBR (unspecified bit rate)
Connection Type: MAC Encapsultation Routing (MER)
Encapsulation mode: *should be LLC* *I can't see the choices*
In your WAN setup summary you should have:
IP Address: Automatically Assigned
NAT: Enabled
Firewall: Enabled
In the WAN IP Settings, follow everything in the MAC Encapsulated Routing (MER) example given. It is setup for DHCP lease from the WAN (DSL) provider.
In the Network Address Translation Settings, follow everything in the example. It is setup to enable the "Router" within the USRobotics unit. Service name, you can name it anything or just DSLExtreme.
You shouldn't have to do anything with the ADSL modulation settings.
On the Default Gateway, it should be using automatially-assigned default gateway from the WAN IP lease.
On the DNS Server, it should be using automatically-assigned DNS from the WAN IP lease.
Make sure access control - IP address is disabled.
On your LAN DHCP Server, make sure you assign a private IP address for the LAN interface and enable the DHCP server. You can follow the example on the webpage exactly if desired.
I don't think there will a need for you to add additional static routes in the routing section for a small home network. |
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mikesc
join:2008-06-18
| Thank you very much for the replies. Requiring "MAC Encapsulated Routing" would make sense and fit this situation - all my research had indicated that I would need to use PPPOE. We'll give it a try with MER and verify the other parameters. If that works, I should be able to configure the rest (which will probably automatically configure). |
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mikesc
join:2008-06-18
| reply to financetech
Success! The network and NAT worked as soon as MER was selected.
This setup has defeated techs from Dell, DSLExtreme, and USRobotics. The setup section of the USR manual didn't define what Mac Encapsulated Routing was, but after much Googling I finally found a definition in another 3com document. Briefly, it appears to add NAT features to a bridged connection.
None of the DSLExtreme kbase articles that I could find describe this setup. It seems pretty clear that multiple computers which need to share resources should be located behind NAT or a firewall. Hopefully this thread will add enough googleable tags to make it easier for someone else. |
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financetech
Premium
join:2006-05-29
Irvine, CA | Mikesc,
Glad that you were able to help your friend get up and running. Now you can add this DSL modem to the list of compatible modems with DSLExtreme... |
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