Internet connection

  I have three computers hooked to the internet thru a cable modem and router.
All works well. Using Win xp & Win 2000 pro. If I bypass the router and
connect a computer directly to the modem it won't connect. It has to be on
the network. Why?

Rudy

 
The computer is not getting an IP address from the cable modem. It could be
because of DHCP / static IP address configuration or a subnet mask could be
blocking it.
Maybe the configuration is correct but the cable modem will not connect to a PC
because it has an existing DHCP lease with the router.
Maybe you are using a crossover cable. Many routers will work with a crossover
cable, but the cable modem to computer connection probably won't work with a
crossover cable.

Rudy wrote:

--
                   Mike Walsh

 

    CABLE means you needs to connect to the main network in order to have an
IP for your internet to work.  If you use Dial Up modem or probably DSLR
which I never used one then you may not need connect to any network but the
PHONE line.

    IOW, your CABLE modem won't work if you connects it to PHONE line, and
your DIAL UP modem won't work if you connect it to Network cable.

 

Your ISP may be using MAC addresses to authenticate
users.  The MAC address of your LAN card is different
than your router's MAC address, therefore it can't
authenticate.  The best solution is to contact your ISP
and authenticate to your main PC's MAC address. Most
routers have MAC address cloning, so you can then
connect through the router using the PC's MAC address.
Then, if you ever replace the router, no problem.