Need Ethernet IP address

[Imme]

Hello. I hope someone can help.

I have two computers, both Mac. Mac 1 uses wireless, Mac 2 needs ethernet. The wireless works fine. I can't get Mac 2's ethernet going. I am only attempting to run one computer's internet access at a time plugging in directly from the cable modem for Mac 2. The problem is the IP address in my network preferences is blank.

I used the IP address from Mac 1 to try to configure Mac 2, but no luck. Then I accidentally deleted the IP address -- and accidentally applied the change -- from Mac 1 and nearly sobbed, knowing I would need to call the dreaded tech support to get it back. So I called tech support and was screamed at -- yes, screamed at -- so he could finish his 'unplug this then uplug that then blah blah blaaaaah' routine without my interruption. Which I tried to interrupt to explain I'd already done this and have been through the routine countless times...

When he finally finished reading from his 'unplug everything' instruction card, I finally got to explain that I just need a !@!$@##@!#$ IP address... to which he tells me contradictory things: That my computer doesn't need one, he can't give me one, and that if I would just follow the unplug everything routine, the IP address would come up automatically. I told him I'd already done this, and no it did not come up, and that's why I am calling him.

He told me in that case something is wrong with MY COMPUTERS (yes, both of them) that a technician should come out.

Does anyone have any suggestions for getting the mysterious IP address reinstalled? Apparently they are very very rare and you only get one per lifetime.

I swear this company is going to make me jump off the roof. It's always something.

[Stuart]

Imme, how are you connected to the network? Set Top Box or Modem?

Also, how do you connect wirelessly? Via an Access point or Router?

[Neil]

All you shoul need to do is power the PCs & the modem off for 30 secs, power the modem back on & let it lock on then power on the PC that is connected to it via ethernet & it should just pick up an address.

[TheBlueRaja]

You do only get one IP address from NTL, which is quite likely to be your problem, what you need is a router in between your cable modem and your MAC's.

If you do already have a router in between them (you say you have wireless so you might) then you need to set up the ethernet MAC to accept an IP address via DHCP.

The single IP Address from NTL is then assigned to the router and the router then assignes both MAC1 and MAC2 an IP address from a different, probably 192.168.x.x range and "routes" your private 192.168.x.x range out to the Internet via your NTL Ip Address.

[Stuart]

Oh, and make sure that all networking stuff on the Mac is set to automatic. To do this, go to "System Preferences", then "Network". Change "Show" to "Network Status" and double click "Built-in ethernet".

Change the top line (Configure IPV4) to "Using DHCP", then apply. The Mac should pick up details automatically.

Do the same for the Airport (wireless) connection, but click on "Airport" instead of "Built-in ethernet".

[Imme]

Thanks, everyone.

I do have a router as I have wireless, but I wasn't trying to run both at once. I was plugging directly into the cable modem for Mac 2 and turned off Airport in Mac 1 so it would not interfere. I have tried the powering off/on to receive the ISP on Mac 2 and it still does not work. I'll try again today.

When we signed up we specifically said we wanted both Macs to be able to access the internet at the same time. We were told we wouuld be able to. When I called, Tech Support said we are only set up for one computer to be online at a time. Typical.Unless both can operate online at the same time, this internet is worthless to us.

I did power off Mac 1 to see if Mac 2 would receive the ISP but server settings noted "no ISP, not connected via ethernet." To experiment, I turned on Mac 1 and turned on Airport, and Mac 2 gave me the warning that the ISP was already in use.

[Stuart]

if you have an actual router, you should be able to run both at once. NTL will only ever issue you one IP, but the router should take that, and then issue it's own IPs to your Macs.

What router do you have?

[Imme]

Stuart... I did try the server settings using DHCP before I saw your reply. It still didn't work but maybe my other settings were incorrect. I'll try that again too.

I do have my server settings set to "automatic" on Mac 1.

Mac 2 though was previously set to another ISP on "automatic", so I preserved that as it was and created a new location. It sounds like this could be my problem and I need to reconfigure the "automatic" setting. Yes? I thought "automatic" was just a default name to a favorite or most-used location...

I'm glad I have this forum as I really am not savvy with these things. Thanks very much for any other help you can offer.

---------- Post added at 08:36 ---------- Previous post was at 08:35 ----------

It's a Linsys router...

---------- Post added at 08:43 ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 ----------

Oh for heck's sake. I've been saying "ISP" all along instead of "IP." I told you I wasn't savvy with this!