Home-networking - bridged connections?

[The Butler]

First of all I'd like to apologise if a) This is an inappropriate place for this post or b) if this has been covered many times or I should be looking elsewhere, just im not too sure where to look so I thought id give it a go.

Im trying to create a home network between a WinXP and Win98 machine using a Mercury K0B BR4P (I think) router. I can get it all working but so that both computers can see each other and access the internet no problems. However as soon as I turn the machines off and reboot them the WinXP machine loses the NTL BB connection. Win98 machine doesn't though and works fine.

I think the problem may be due to the fact that when I set-up the newtork on XP it creates a new "Bridged" connection combining "1394 Net Adapter" and "NVIDIA nforce MCP Networking Controller" protocols. (The reason I came to this conclusion is that if I tried reinstalling the NTL BB CD with this bridged connection created then it tells me it cannot continue for TCP/IP settings aren't enabled for the adapter and there's nothing I can do to change this for the bridged connection and it's both enabled on the other two adapters.)

The only half solution I've reached is that if I disable the "1394 Net Adapter" when creating the home network WinXP doesn't create an additional "bridged" connection and broadband works fine on both computers. However the home network doesn't and neither computers can see each other.

Is this a known problem with NTL? Any help would be appreciated and if this is posted in the wrong place some advice on where to go for more help would be very helpful.

Cheers guys.

[Stuart W]

You can safely dissable the 1394 Net Adapter.

There should be no need to use a bridge in basic peer-to-peer networking between 2 machines.

Have a look at THIS guide.

Oh, and welcome to

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Stuart W

You can safely dissable the 1394 Net Adapter.

There should be no need to use a bridge in basic peer-to-peer networking between 2 machines.

Inless you are using your firewire for video editing or connecting an iPod or other device, then disabling it will cause problems with those devices.

The 1394 does not need to be in the network you are creating though.

[The Butler]

Thats what I thought so I disabled the 1394 and then made the network. This time I got NTL BB working on both machines through the router but neither machines would talk to each other. The XP machine could see the 98 machine and itself but the couldnt access the 98 machine. The 98 machine could only see itself. Both could access the internet no worries.

Anyway I tried going back to using USB connection from the cable modem to the computer running XP and just using the router for the LAN connections and everything works fine. It just seems to be when I plug the cable modem into the router that things go flaky. Don't understand it. Even tried plugging it into different ports (which aren't the appropriate ones) and using a different cable but to no avail.

Does NTL not like routers?

[SMHarman]

The only services you need running are TCP/IP and Windows file and printer sharing. Disable the rest, they are probably confusing matters.

Don't go back to USB, it adds another layer of complexity and confusion into the setup. Especially as the router undoubtedly does not have USB connectivity on it.

1 remove all other services from both machines
2 turn everything off.
3 Power up the Cablel MOdem (you are using a modem not a STB right)
4 Once the RDY light stops flashing power up the router
5 Once the lights on that indicate it is oprerational power up the PCs

What happens now?

[Stu038]

Originally Posted by The Butler

Does NTL not like routers?

Having had quick nose at the specs and setup instructions for your router there shouldn't be any problems with compatability on the ntl network provideing you have followed the router setup

What I did find when I set up my network (XP Pro desktop, 2K desktop and 98fe laptop) was that I had to change the router DHCP ip range from class C to class A (192.168 to 10.10) before I could see my laptop properly. Any one with any suggestions as to why is welcome

[SOSAGES]

routers are funny animals you could spend all year wondering whats a matter and find out on some remote forum that that router has issues with win98 ...update the firmware see if that helps if not try another router they are all the same to setup really