DNS Server IP ???

[ValeWhale]

hi,

Just connected my three home PC's for the first time using a fast ethernet hub. PC1 & PC2 run XP, PC3 runs Windoze 2000 !! As a configuration excercise I decided to try and share PC1's dial up Internet connection over my new LAN.

This works fine on "auto" - ie TCP/IP Properties - Obtain IP Address Automatically and all machines can see the ISP home page.

Problems arise when I try to configure my IP addresses for PCs 2,&3 as you are required to enter an IP address for the DNS server. (preferred and alternate)

I tried the ISP DNS Server IP obtained from PC1 using IPConfig /all while connected to the Internet but this did not work. When attempting to log in to my ISP on PCs 2 &3, I kept getting a DNS Server error in the bottom left of my browser window (IE6) although I was able to ping PC1

Any ideas as to where I am going wrong would be much appreciated

Cheers

ValeWhale

[pave_spectre]

It depends on what you are using to share the connection. If you are using windows Internet Connection Sharing(ICS) then you will not normally be able to use statically assigned IP addresses. You might try setting the machine sharing the modem as the DNS IP for PCs 2 and 3 but this didn't work for me in 98 using ICS so it probably wont work in XP (If I understood correctly one of the XP boxes has the modem connected?).

When you manually assign IPs what are you using? since ICS sets the servers network address to 192.168.0.1 and cannot be changed you would need to make sure PCs 2 and 3 have IPs in the range 192.168.0.* for it to even have a chance of working.

Unless there is a particular reason you want static IPs I would suggest leaving the other two as dynamically assigned or else you will need to find some third party proxy software.

[ValeWhale]

I forgot to mention that I am using ICS in XP Pro to share PC1's Internet connection (dialup). My choice of IP Address just happened to be network 192.168.0.0 quite by accident although I didnt realise that ICS only uses this IP and no other. I tried your suggestion of entering the DNS Server IP as that of the default gateway (ie PC1 with the modem) and guess what - it works !! Both PC's 2 & 3 (192.168.0.2 & 192.168.0.3) now both support DNS and log into any URL I enter without problems - Thanks for that idea -it works really well in both XP and Windows 2000 and I am grateful :)

[pave_spectre]

Happy to be of assistance.

[ValeWhale]

UPDATE !!

Using Internet Connect Sharing (ICS) in XP Pro I decided to try changing the IP address of all machines in my LAN from the 192.168.0.0 that XP usually uses as default.

As all machines are required to be on the same network I chose 180.168.0.0 allocating the first three useable IP addresses and it WORKS (XP, Win2000 & Win 98SE) :) :) :)

Next logical step will be to introduce a few Cicso routers using different subnets for the three machines and then see if I can still use ICS :confused:

:) :) :)

[PrntRhd]

The networking pros here will comment, there are two "private network" schemes of which the 192.168.xxx.xxx is one. I would re-address in the last two octets of the 192.168.xxx.xxx or the other "private network" rather than create a possible conflict with a network device or someone's real IP address.
I would refer you to ixl's "The TCP/IP Guide" for guidance.
:)

[ValeWhale]

Having satisfied my curiosity I immediately resumed the use of private IPs. There are actually three private address ranges 10.0.0.0, 172.16.*.* to 172.31.*.*, and 192.168.*.*

Thanks for your input :)

[PrntRhd]

Cool, I just wanted to keep things in normal networking standards to avoid potential problems.