Baric
join:2003-11-14
Hudson, NH
clubs:
| reply to phatoneusa
Re: Comcast HSI Structured Wiring - Router Needed?
The issue here is when you use a simple dumb hub or switch, each system connected to that hub/switch is exposed to the cable modem directly and unless you pay extra each month, you can only have one MAC address visible to the modem at a time. The solution is to use a router INSTEAD OF a hub/switch. A router exposes only one MAC address to the modem, no matter how many systems or other ethernet devices are connected to its LAN ports.
A little side note, if you ever change the device connected to the modem, you must also power down the modem so you can flush its internal MAC table. By default that table size is limited to one (hence the one device restriction), and the only way to flush the table to add a new entry is to power cycle the modem. Also note that some modems are built to withstand minor power fluctuations and some even have internal batteries now for VoIP service even in power outages, so you may have to do more than simply power cycle the modem, depending on what model you have. |
