About Kevin Webb Expertise Windows Network questions. Wireless network technology specialist. 802.11x, as well as proprietary 2.4 and 5 Ghz LAN and WAN hardware questions. Server administrator with 400 Windows 2003 server and quite a few 2000 boxes. 1000 XP workstations.
Experience 5 years as a wireless LAN/WAN tech. A year as a Lotus Notes Admin then two years in Desktop BackOffice Support. Currently an Application Server Systems Engineer for a large Southern based bank. MCSE/MCSA, CCNA, A and other obligatory lesser certs
Windows Networking - Netgear FVS318 router/firewall setup with Comcast cable modem
Expert: Kevin Webb - 6/8/2004
Question -------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I am connected to the internet through a Comcast cable modem and wanted to hook up a second computer to the internet through a Netgear router. During the setup procedure, it asks for account name (aka host name), domain name, and dns primary and secondary servers. I was not sure what to put for these and tried many different combinations. I also typed ipconfig/all at the cmd prompt and found what I think are dns server numbers. A lot of literature says I need to spoof the MAC address to give the router the same address as my computer, and I also tried that repeatedly. Do you know how to find Comcast's domain name or my host name, or could there be another problem I am missing?
Thanks for your help,
~Danette
Answer -
Your host name isn't relevant. You would need to talk to your provider to find that or ipconfig /all at a dos prompt might give it to you. It wouldn't stop internet connectivity. Your clients resolve internet names with dns, your host name doesn't matter in that process. Whether or not you need to spoof the MAC would also be something your provider would know for sure. I wouldn't. Your MAC is your physical address of the network card when the modem was first setup. Also you can get that from ipconfig /all at a prompt. I doubt you need to spoof your MAC though. That's not done very much anymore. You didn't mention it directly so I'd say read your manual very carefully if you haven't already. This "should" give you step by step instructions. It will tell you if you need the WAN DNS or the local gateway as your DNS IP's on your clients. I'd help more but I am no expert on Netgears equipment. Never used on. All the SOHO routers I've ever worked with, many, are very straight forward but that is to me of course. Follow what your manual says and tell me what happens. Do you get a local IP from the router or not? Can you ping the gateway etc.?
Yes we do get a local ip for the router. When I hook the router up, my ip reads 192.168.0.1 I don't know how to ping my gateway. This is what happens when I follow the manual: I hook up the router after first turning off the cable modem. Then I turn the cable modem on, wait a minute until it's sync'ed (lights stop flashing), and then I turn on the router. The test light turns on, then the test light turns off and the ACT light flashes. Afterwards, I turn on my computer, and go to the webpage http://192.168.0.1 and the router setup webpage loads. I go through the setup wizard, and it tells me that I have a fixed ip address (but on the side it says that i have a dynamic ip, which is confusing), and it then asks me for an ip address, subnet mask, and dns primary adn secondary servers. I got the dns server numbers by going through command prompt and typing ipconfig/all while only my cable modem was hooked up. I tried entering that, and also choosing teh option to match the MAC address with my computer. None of that worked. I called Comcast and they told me everything on their side was working fine, and that it's something with my router. I'm using the ethernet cord provided with teh router to hook the router up to the computer, and the ethernet cord provided with the cable modem to hook the cable modem to the router. When I go to load a web page, it tells me that there is a DNS server error or something. On the setup, it says that Comcast has a domain name, but I'm not sure what it is. (on the side it gives a description of domain names, and then says that comcast is an example of an ISP that has one). I've tried comcast.net, md.comcast.net (i'm in maryland), www.comcast.net, etc. Any ideas on what to do? Thanks for your time.
~Danette
Answer The domain name or host name does not matter to your clients. At all. Sounds like your doing what your supposed to. You can add your ISP's DNS manually into your network card TCP/IP properties. Beyond that, if your doing exactly what the manual says, you may try netgear support. Sorry I can't be more specific with any help but without being there and seeing what your doing or not doing I can't really tell you what to do. This process just isn't hard. Generally you plug it in and it works. To ping, type ping IP at a dos prompt. Ex. ping 192.168.1.1 etc.. DNS settings can be changed from the network connection properties. Good luck.
