IP addresses in a LAN.

[ffish]

Are the ip addresses of all computers in a LAN same to the server's ip if the LAN connects to the internet through the server, or each has an unique ip address?

[EzyStvy]

each MUST have an unique ip address or you'll a nasty little message about a conflicting address.

[Floppyman]

If your clients are using DHCP than you won't even have to worry about all this as the IP's will be assigned automatically be the server.

HTH

[pc_gecko]

All PCs on a LAN must have a unique IP address or else like EzyStvy said there would be a conflict and those PCs with similar IPs won't be able to access the LAN let alone browse the internet through a server...

First of all a simple explanation on IP addresses:

An IP address is made up of 2 parts: the Network part and the Host part.

The Network part represents what LAN a PC is on and should be the same on every PC on a particular LAN. While the Host part should be a unique number or set of numbers which represent a particular PC on that LAN. They are made up of 4 numbers seperated by periods.

There are different types of IP addresses Classes A,B,C,D,and E. We will concern ourselves with class C addresses for this brief lesson.

Here's a sample Class C IP: 192.168.0.1

They start with any number from 192 to 223

Now in a class C IP the first three sets of numbers - in the case of our sample IP, '192.168.0' - represents the network part, while the fourth number - '1' represents the unique Host Part of the address.

I am sharing all of this ffish, so you may now understand my reply to your post which is :

In order for all the PCs to access the internet through the Server all of them on that LAN must have the same Network Part and a unique Host Part.

Example if your server IP is 192.168.0.1, then your other PCs should have IPs like 192.168.0.2, 192.168.0.3, etc. and configured with 192.168.0.1 (the server IP) as their Default Gateway.

IP addressing is a lot more complicated than this and there are other things you need to know like Subnets, which is beyond the scope of this simple lesson. HTH

[ffish]

Thank you pc_gecko!

[tvpincdoc]

Ok, since you seem good at this, I have a question.

I have mine all set up. Three computers: this one has access to my entire network and the internet (GOAL). 192.168.0.100, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, address type assigned by DHCP.

The second hard-wired PC can access the network, but not the internet. It can ping the router, but not yahoo.com, etc. It cannot access the router's configuration page. It is 192.168.0.110, 255.255.255.0 and address type assigned by DHCP.

The third is a Compaq notebook that is connected via D-Link DWL 650+ wireless card. It can also only browse the network, can ping the router but cannot ping or browse the internet. It also cannot access the router's config page. It is 192.168.0.98, 255.255.255.0. Address type assigned by DHCP.

There is no firewall software running to my knowledge (Windows firewall turned off, McAfee uninstalled last night).

This was working last night until it just stopped working this morning. Linksys and D-Link have no ideas (Linksys cable modem, and previous router. D-Link is the current router).

What is it that tells internet explorer to access the broadband connection? D-Link is telling me to return the router and get a new one. I would think that accessing the network would suggest that this is a software/config problem in Windows XP home.

Any ideas? This is driving me crazy...

[bob]

192.168.0 would best be changed to 192.168.1 for the workstations.

Where is your proxy or NAt - you know that the 192.168 address range is only for private networks - to access the internet you must have a valid internet ip address.
Proxy will share your current valid address.
Nat will translate your private address to an internet address but you need to have a valid internet address to use.

Think of a 192.168 address as like a phone extention and you will get it clearly.