More fun with modems
Apr. 19th, 2005 08:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
peterbirksOK, so I took the new computer out of its box and reorganized the office so that it would fit in. Something had to go, and it was the amplifiers and speakers connected to the TV/DVD/video. I never used them any more, now that I have a stereo system.
Then I moved the office desk, disconnected everything, cleaned the whole lot of dust, and put it all back together.
Result, three computers and four monitors on the desk. Good.
Sockets in use: 16. And, no, I can't be bothered to work out what the 16 electrical items are.
So, now it was time to try to install the DSL modem/router. This Belkin had been reviewed as "simplicity itself" to install. So, I not only got the Quick start sheet, but I also fired up the PDF "User Manual". I followed the instructions TO THE LETTER. Result, success. Well, so I thought. I was online, I could get to various web sites. Life was good.
And then I tried to connect to the office via the VPN (virtual private network?). The right screen came up. I filled in my password, and waited. And waited. Eventually, I was told that the connection had failed. So it goes. I knoew that a connection would only work if all the latest Windows and anti-virus updates were in place, so I decided to reboot the machine after installing any required updates.
After rebooting, I couldn't get online AT ALL. I mean, all the right lights were on on the Belkin. Clearly the modem thought that I was online. But the Dell did not. And I couldn't even get anywhere with the 192.168.2.1 entry. Nothing, nothing at all. And what of the "troubleshooting" section in the User manual? Not a whisper of this problem, and, therefore, no solution provided. I haven't got the faintest idea what to do.
So at the moment the machine sits there staring at me mournfully. I'm not even disheartened, to be honest, because I had never expected things to work in the first place. OK, it's a bit of a bummer for it to lead you into a false sense of security by getting you online once, just once, but then refusing to connect the next time you turn on the machine. But, I can live with it. Eventually an IT person will come in, get it working, utter something utterly incomprehensible along the lines of "ahh yes, your DHCP wasn't formatted to pick a floating ISP address in the LAN connection interface. Obvious, really", and I shall just shrug my shoulders and say, "this is what I expect an IT person to say. Does it work now?" And he will say "yes" and go away. And then the next problem will start, which will be to get the laptop and the desktop to be online at the same time as the Dell.
Cunningly, I have kept the old modem system (which I understand, what with its "Speed Touch Dial-Up") on the old desktop. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be able to get online at all. I guess this is one of the reasons that I am not disheartened. I SAW IT ALL COMING.
But I did go into Maplins and buy an "Easy Network PCI Card" (yes, that is its name. "Easy". HAH!) so that I can put an Ethernet 10/100 (whatever those two numbers mean... is it like blood pressure?) RJS-45 (here we go again) connector between the old Desktop and the office desktop. I also have a wireless netowrk USB adaptor that theoretically flies at 54mbps, which I hope to use for the laptop. Will it ever all be functioning? Well, when the IT person arrives, I shall *try* to get all three done at once. But I know that it won't happen. Our IT people want to do the bare minimum before walking out of the door. This will be no exception.
Then I moved the office desk, disconnected everything, cleaned the whole lot of dust, and put it all back together.
Result, three computers and four monitors on the desk. Good.
Sockets in use: 16. And, no, I can't be bothered to work out what the 16 electrical items are.
So, now it was time to try to install the DSL modem/router. This Belkin had been reviewed as "simplicity itself" to install. So, I not only got the Quick start sheet, but I also fired up the PDF "User Manual". I followed the instructions TO THE LETTER. Result, success. Well, so I thought. I was online, I could get to various web sites. Life was good.
And then I tried to connect to the office via the VPN (virtual private network?). The right screen came up. I filled in my password, and waited. And waited. Eventually, I was told that the connection had failed. So it goes. I knoew that a connection would only work if all the latest Windows and anti-virus updates were in place, so I decided to reboot the machine after installing any required updates.
After rebooting, I couldn't get online AT ALL. I mean, all the right lights were on on the Belkin. Clearly the modem thought that I was online. But the Dell did not. And I couldn't even get anywhere with the 192.168.2.1 entry. Nothing, nothing at all. And what of the "troubleshooting" section in the User manual? Not a whisper of this problem, and, therefore, no solution provided. I haven't got the faintest idea what to do.
So at the moment the machine sits there staring at me mournfully. I'm not even disheartened, to be honest, because I had never expected things to work in the first place. OK, it's a bit of a bummer for it to lead you into a false sense of security by getting you online once, just once, but then refusing to connect the next time you turn on the machine. But, I can live with it. Eventually an IT person will come in, get it working, utter something utterly incomprehensible along the lines of "ahh yes, your DHCP wasn't formatted to pick a floating ISP address in the LAN connection interface. Obvious, really", and I shall just shrug my shoulders and say, "this is what I expect an IT person to say. Does it work now?" And he will say "yes" and go away. And then the next problem will start, which will be to get the laptop and the desktop to be online at the same time as the Dell.
Cunningly, I have kept the old modem system (which I understand, what with its "Speed Touch Dial-Up") on the old desktop. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be able to get online at all. I guess this is one of the reasons that I am not disheartened. I SAW IT ALL COMING.
But I did go into Maplins and buy an "Easy Network PCI Card" (yes, that is its name. "Easy". HAH!) so that I can put an Ethernet 10/100 (whatever those two numbers mean... is it like blood pressure?) RJS-45 (here we go again) connector between the old Desktop and the office desktop. I also have a wireless netowrk USB adaptor that theoretically flies at 54mbps, which I hope to use for the laptop. Will it ever all be functioning? Well, when the IT person arrives, I shall *try* to get all three done at once. But I know that it won't happen. Our IT people want to do the bare minimum before walking out of the door. This will be no exception.
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No all you need.....
Jargon Watch
Date: 2005-04-21 11:53 am (UTC)RJ 45: Type of socket normally used for ethernet
The problem with the new gear shouldn't be talking to the ISP, since that is the router's responsibility. I'd guess it's either a software update blocking network traffic, your network settings are screwed, or the modem has gotten upset (rebooting the belkin would rule this out.)
If you open a dos prompt, and type "ipconfig", you'll find out what your network settings are. If your IP address is 192.168.2.x, then this likely isn't the prob, and your update is probably responsible.
Re: Jargon Watch
Date: 2005-04-21 04:07 pm (UTC)We also now know why the hang is occurring. McAfee Virus Scan 7.1 (supplied by Informa) is screwing up Checkpoint VPN-1 (supplied by, er, Informa). Which is why the Gateway at Informa is not responding. So I have to pick up a CD from work tomorrow, uninstall McAfee and then reinstall the CD that they give me. Will this work? Well, their record isn't exactly top-notch so far...