Network Help Please!

[SureShot]

Hello all, I have question that maybe one of you could help with.

Here at our office we have Cable internet. It comes into the office, into a giant switch and then is routed to all the Cat5 connections (computers) in the office.

Well we had someone new start and there isn't an extra cat5 connection in their office. So what I did was buy a router. I plugged it in, fired up the computers and the internet worked great.

Problem is, neither computer is now on our network. When I check the workgroup from either of their computers it only lists the two of them and not the rest of the office.

I am wondering 2 things...

1. Is this easy to fix, and if so - how? Keep in mind we have a dynamic IP if that means anything to you.

2. Is there something else I could buy instead of a router that would be less hassle? Maybe a Hub?

Thanks for the help guys/gals, I really appreciate it!

[thoriphes]

The switch splits the direct connection to many, and adding a router to one of these connections splits it again, so from the switch's point of view, you two are seen as a single connection. What you can try to do is set the gateway IP to the two computers on the router to the router's IP on the switch's network. You follow? Also make sure that the IPs of the two outcast computers are not already being used by the outer network.

If all else fails, get a larger gigabit switch.

[grimdeath]

Just turn off the dhcp ip settings of the router and connect the cat5 cable to router on one of the ports not the internet port and all will be fine, you will be using the router as a hub ;)

edit: if its a wireless router you can also have it broadcast the wireless signal as well this way

Good Luck

[Ben H]

If you don't mind taking the router back, you could take it back and just get a switch instead :thumb:

[SureShot]

Thanks a lot for all the help guys - very much appreciated.

I did get it looked after and all is working great.

Thank You!