Router Issues

[Sharif]

Okay I got a Netgear RP614 router and I am sharing internet and files through it now. I have a few problems though: when my laptop is off, the light for connection 1 turns off right, but then if my brother's is off, his connection light is still on (connection 2), why does his one stay on? Also, how do I figure out the IP's for each computer? Thanks.

[Gizmo]

How are you both connected up? Are you using a cross-over cable between your system and your brother's system with your brother's system connected directly into the router with a standard CAT5 Ethernet cable, or are you both individually and directly connected into the router via a standard CAT5 Ethernet cable?

Not too sure on the IP figuring. I think you go to Start>Run, and then type in "ipconfig/all" without the quotation marks in the Run box and hit enter.

[Mesaeus]

Just start a command prompt (Start/Run... "cmd.exe"), and then type "ipconfig" and press enter. Running ipconfig in Start/Run would make the command window pop up and go away before you can read the ip numbers. The connection light remaining on is due to how a specific LAN card handles "Wake-On-LAN", this is a technique that allows traffic on the network to bring the pc from standby (perhaps even switched off but I'm not sure), and it requires the LAN card to get power even when the PC is switched off, hence the light stays on. It differs from LAN card to LAN card, and is nothing to worry about.

[Sharif]

Is it possible to turn off this "wake-on" thing? Also, this is the setup:

MY COMPUTER > ROUTER;
BROS COMPUTER > ROUTER;
ROUTER > Cable Modem.

All connected via a standard Cat5 table.

[glc]

Probably not. Even with "wake on LAN" disabled in the bios, most motherboards with onboard network adapters (is this what he has?) will still have power even if the computer is off - this is ATX by definition. You would have to unplug the computer from AC power completely.