LarryB wrote: Hi Larry, > I have been working on the problem noted below and I have a few > questions that maybe someone can answer. > > Let me explain the situation first. > I have computer one which is my shop computer with XP on it. > > Computer 2 is used only for a NV 3000 4 camera surveillance system and > also has XP. > > I was told that to watch the DSS (Digital Survaillance System) on the > internet I must have a Static IP which comes from Bellsouth my ISP. > The instructions say that 6 ports must be opened. I also found out > that due to the ports being opened I would not be able to access the > internet from computer 2. (This was my original problem and I did not > know I would not be able to use the internet.) I find this very odd in that on a Windows machine all ports are already open. It is the router or firewall that closes ports. Windows has all it's ports available and open for either inbound or outbound connections. The thing that blocks or closes ports is either a firewall or a router. A router typically closes ports to inbound connections due to its using NAT (Network Address Translation) A firewall will usually close outbound and inbound ports, but ask if it should allow inbound or outbound connections to specific ports you then decide to allow or not. In addition it seems strange that you would not be able to access the Internet unless it is being specifically blocked by the DSS software.
> > > Both computers are behind a linksys router, (WRT54G)and then connected > to the BellSouth Westell DSL modem. The connections are with cat 5 > cables. > > My question are as follows; > > 1. Should my computer 2 be assigned the Static IP of 74.xxx.xxx.xx? No this would muck up the works it just would not work. Let the Linksys assign an IP to all computers via DHCP Your Linksys router has an IP of say 192.168.1.1 the next computer to ask it for an IP will most likely get 192.168.1.2 and other computers will get an incremental IP 192.168.1.3 up to the maximum number of IP's available as set in the router configuration. > > 2. When I open the ports of both the modem and router must I be on > computer 2? Or are these ports open to both computers? Opening ports on the router makes them available to any computer connected to the router. But the router doesn't know where to send the inbound connection. You must tell the router which computer's IP is listening for connections on that port. This is done in port forwarding setup in the router configuration. I don't know about the Modem and frankly don't think it has the capability of opening or closing ports maybe I just don't know. > > > 3. At present for some reason my router is connecting to the > 74.XXX.XXX.XX now and when open my browser and type in 74. number I go > to the setup for the router! That does not seem correct to me. I agree don't seem correct to me either. This is what I would do. On the WAN side of the router (this is the side that connects to the modem and is seen from the Internet) configuration set it for a static IP as provided by your ISP. You will have to specify a subnet mask (get this from the ISP) and the DNS server IP's (get these from the ISP as well) use at least 2 server IP's more if they are available. In addition set up any user name, number to dial, keep alive, protocol etc. as directed by the ISP On the LAN side leave this at default settings typically Linksys has a LAN IP range of 192.168.1.1 for the router and 255.255.255.0 for the subnet mask and incremental IP's from there. Use router as DHCP server should be enabled and starting IP should be 192.168.1.2 Ending IP should be 192.168.1.xx where xx is the number of potential machines that will be connecting. If this is a wireless router and you are not using the wireless feature turn off the transmitter or enable best security for it. On both computers set TCP/IP settings as given in previous post and below. >From the CMD window type ipconfig /all this will give you information about your DNS servers IP address. If the IP is not listed or is incorrect for the DNS servers. Check the adapter configuration in Control Panel, Network Connections, Local Area Connection, Click Properties In the Local Area Status window. In the Local Area Connection Properties window Click once on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to select it then right click to get the properties for TCP/IP ensure that obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically are checked. After this is verified reboot the computer or do an ipconfig /renew you should have an IP in the 192.168.1.xx range. I would turn off the DSS temporarily till I had that computer up and connected to the Internet. Once this is done and you can connect to the Internet on BOTH computers begin the DSS configuration. Rather than open ports on the router I would move the DSS computer in to the DMZ as a temporary test. To do this get it's ip as assigned by the router and in the router configuration under DMZ setup enter it's ip there. This has the effect of opening all ports on that computer to the Internet. Turn off all firewalls on the DSS computer. This will leave this computer vulnerable to attack but it is only temporary, just be aware. Start the DSS server and type the IP, as determined previously, of the computer running DSS into your favorite browser on this computer or another computer. I am assuming the DSS server excepts connections on port 80 this is the default http port. There may be a separate port to configure the DSS server just follow the instructions. After DSS is working remove it from the DMZ and open the ports it needs using the router configuration for that. Turn on the firewall and open any ports needed there as well. Do this one thing at a time so you know what you did last if something goes wrong. One thing to remember is that you may not be able to connect to the DSS computer using your WAN IP of 74.xxx.xxx.xxx since most home type routers don't allow loop-back connections yours might and it may need to be configured to do so in the router's configuration. There is a way around this if you need it let us know. I hope this helps good luck t0m > > > Hope this is understandable as I am very new at this. > > LarryBrowning > K & L Electronics > > > > Ben Moore wrote: >> Hi Larry, >> I've read your responses and I'm still a little hazy on your setup. >> Does >> your modem plug into the router or into your main computer? What >> type of >> modem is it? Is it just a straight modem or is it one of those >> modem/router >> devices that plug into your network router? Be more specific about your >> physical hardware arrangement. >> No matter what you are running you need to be able to establish an >> internet >> connection first with the computer that has the DSS software on it. >> >> Ben Moore >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On >> Behalf Of LarryB >> Sent: Friday, September 29, 2006 11:47 AM >> To: PC Questions >> Subject: PCWorks: DNS questions >> >> I just got off the phone with a tech with Linksys. It boils down to a >> DNS problem according to the tech. >> >> I have a Digital Surveillance System (DSS) using Windows XP and I >> have acquired a static IP address for the computer with the DSS >> installed on it. I am using bellsouth DSL and have their modem and a >> Linksys router. >> >> I have my normal shop computer and it gets to the internet just fine >> using the same system as above. ============= PCWorks Mailing List ================= Don't see your post? Check our posting guidelines & make sure you've followed proper posting procedures, http://pcworkers.com/rules.htm Contact list owner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Unsubscribing and other changes: http://pcworkers.com =====================================================
