Expert: Carolyn Meinel - 3/23/2006

Question
I'm not using a Linksys Router.  I'm using a Linksys 5-Port Workgroup Switch EZXS55W to connect my computers.  It has no software. Thanks again.
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Followup To
Question -
I'm not sure if you can help me or not.  It sounds like a security setting of some sort.  I have 3 computers on a wired network with a Linksys switch. I am running Windows XP on all of them. I have Zone Alarm Security Suite on my main computer. I also have AIM Instant Messenger on my main computer and on the other computers on my network. AIM works fine on my main computer all the time. It also works fine on the other computers when I exit out of Zonealarm. When it is running the AIM service can not connect.  I even turned the ZoneAlarm firewall off while ZoneAlarm was running and it still won't connect. Everything else connects fine as far as mail and internet access, etc.  I have all the program access allowed for AIM in ZoneAlarm. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to open up a port in ZoneAlarm? If so what one(s)? Please help if you can! Thanks.

Answer -
Here's possibility #1. On the Linksys admin program, click the Access Restrictions tab and see if the router is blocking access to AIM from those other computers. If you don't know how to access the Linksys admin program, email me at carolyn.meinel@techbroker.com and I'll tell you how to determine this without your having to ask tech support at your Internet provider and wait hours on hold until the guy in India can take your call:)  

Possibility #2: Click the Applications and Gaming tab on your Linksys and see if there is something set up for port forwarding for AIM, but only for your computer that is able to use AIM. If you see that in place just for that one computer, add the IP addresses for the others. That assumes the others always have the same IP address. You can set static IP addresses with the properties feature (pick TCP/IP) on your network connection on each computer. Don't set a static IP address for the router itself (if it has already been set to be static by your Internet provider, leave it that way).  

Answer
Thank you for telling me more about your Linksys switch. I might be able to help you if could could tell me exactly how your network is set up, with equally exact details on each device. Most importantly, I need to know every device through which your Internet access flows to the computers that can't get AIM. For example, does your Linksys switch connect to the Internet through a NIC on your main computer so that the Internet connections of all your other computers are channeled through your main computer? Or do you have a stand-alone DSL modem through which the switch connects? A cable modem? Dialup phone modem on your main computer? Etc.?

There is also a possibility that your switch is not working properly. You could ask the tech support people about this by calling them toll free at 800) 326-7114.