Today I was trying to setup shared internet for someone and was having lots of problems with it. They are using AOL DSL and had their ISP's modem. They have a Linksys router (forgot what model...WRT something) and I tried almost everything I can think of to no avail.

Here is the problem. The modem connects to the computer using USB ONLY. It has an ethernet adapter in the back of the modem but it will not work (needs the USB either way). After playing around more for over an hour, I came to some "conclusion" that the other machines need the modem to be connected via ethernet and not USB.

Does anyone know how to make this setup work? The current computer is connected to the modem directly using USB. This computer will not be wireless. But they have a desktop and laptop that they do want to be wireless. Both computer wireless cards work since I had another setup upstairs and they can go online without a hitch there. Upstairs is using cable modem (ethernet) connected to another Linksys. No problem there.

I want to add that I tried to make the locally connected computer to some kind of "gateway" and see if it will connect that way. But couldn't even get the other computers to ping its IP address. This computer also requires signing on AOL to access the internet. I have never seen DSL requiring this before, but that's how it was setup here. Not sure if they may play a part in this big mess.

I just want to know if this USB connection can be causing the problem in case I meet another similar situation next time.

Thanks.

USB is not an issue. These is the step you need to do:
1. Check that the pc directly connected to the modem is working, let's call this the PC A. If not, you just need to make it work first, then proceed

2. Then you need to check that you can ping the PC A from the other pcs, the laptop and desktop. If you can't, then you need to check the router's settings like IPs, DNS and stuffs

3. Then if all those 2 above is working, you then can start sharing your internet. You have 2 option, one, enable internet sharing on PC A. This one is a bit tricky. Just go to the connection of your USB modem, then look under internet sharing, just enable it. I don't have a valid shareable connection to see, so can't show you the exact terms.

4. The second option is to bridge the 2 connection. The USB + LAN, just select the 2 then select bridge. This one might not be available all the time, but you can give it a try. After doing that, the IP of the 2 interface will become one.

5. If the above 2 still doesn't work out, you can try internet sharing program, but i don't really recommend. E.g. Wingate.

After you nail down your issue, then we can discuss further on it, it's easier to solve problem that way

Good Luck

1. PC 1 connects without any issues at all. It will connect perfectly if using the USB cable.

2. Yep, I actually tried to do that initially. For some odd reason, I got the second PC to ping PC 1 without any problems at first. Then I played around with it more and couldn't ping it anymore. The problem still was that it couldn't go online. It couldn't ping outside (like yahoo.com).

3. I think I know what you mean there. Are you actually referring to the file and printer sharing option in network properties? I don't recall ever needing to do this before (even in my home setup). It was pretty straight forward for most of the home networks I dealt with.

4. I never did this before, but it's good to know. Will keep this in mind next time I encounter a similar situation.

So to sum it up, it definitely can't be the USB connection causing this problem? I had my doubts because I just set up their wireless network upstairs (using cable modem...ethernet cable instead of USB) without much problems. How about the AOL login? Will this interfere with whether or not the other computers can connect to it? The user needs to sign into AOL to go online (on a DSL line...don't ask me, I usually see DSL lines that are on 24/7).

For (2), you'll need to get the other 2 pc to ping PC A, not outside IP. Solve this one first, then you move to teh next step. Try check the IP of all the PCs, make sure they're under the same subnet. Like 192.168.0.x. or 10.0.0.x. 192.168.0.x won't be able to communicate with 192.168.1.x because they're under a diff subnet.

The main thing is that, in your home setup, your modem is a router type (with ethernet connection), thus the internet can be shared by just connecting the modem to the hub/switch. Where as the USB modem, you'll need to turn PC A into a router. Windows by default will not be a router unless you bridge the 2 connection, or do internet sharing. Then it start to behave a bit like router, thus the internet can then be shared to the other 2 PCs. Without this step, you can never access the internet from the other 2 pcs.

I think I got what you're saying now fault.lee. If I go back to their house, I will try the bridging method you mentioned. I'm sure that was the problem since I never dealt with this kind of setup before. Even my co-worker who I called for backup couldn't figure it out. We both knew that PC A has to act as some kind of gateway/router since it's connected via USB...just didn't know how. Until now

Thanks.

I tried the same thing and it didn't work. The way to solve this is to use only ethernet cables to connect both computers from the router. Connect the cable modem to the router via ethernet cable. If a computer does not have an ethernet port, you must buy a ethernet usb adapter (which costs about 25 dollars) to connect the ethernet cable to the computer through the usb adapter.

Don't use usb cable from modem to computer directly because this will switch the ethernet port from the cable modem off.

Was just going to ask how to set it up with the cabling. faulty.lee, can you confirm that this does work though? If it does, how would I connect the cable? From computer (ethernet) to WAN port on router?

Do you mind to list out all the connection available on each pc and network equipment, so i have a clearer idea of how it should goes together. For example, PC A - Ethernet, Cable Modem - USB & Ethernet, AP - Ethernet x 1 & Wifi, bla bla bla.

I was a bit confused on the exact setup. As mentioned by demolaynyc, AOL cable modem does have Ethernet connectivity, that would have save you a lot of time to setup.

I have had some hands on with this sort of situation. Something you can try if you have not already.

The USB should be a separate connection from the Ethernet. Meaning you should be able to connect a device to each or either.

If you are using a router as you mentioned, I would think that simply connecting the router to Ethernet port of the modem should do it. Then, connect any and all computers to the router via Ethernet.

The trick will be the configuration and port forwarding.

NOTE: The Linksys by default uses 192.168.1.1 as its LAN IP, you may need to change this to match, or change the modem. Just put the modem and router on the same subnet. Tis best if the are both 192.168.SAME.whatever

The modem can be configured as the Gateway for the router.
Most likely a LAN address of 192.168.0.1 (or 192.168.1.1).
For our example, lets assume it is the prior.

The WAN address of the modem is in no way a part of this puzzle.

The router should have a WAN address to mate with the LAN address of the modem.
Modem LAN = 192.168.0.1 Router WAN =192.168.0.2
So now the modem sees the router as a legal device on its LAN side

The router should have its gateway IP set to the modems LAN IP (192.168.0.1)
Now the router knows where the WAN/Internet is.

If the modem has a firewall or is using NAT, The modem should pass (In and out) all ports and communication to the router (192.168.0.2). Then use the routers firewall.

All computers are connected to the router via Ethernet/Wireless.

Now, here is the only part you will have to trial. If the router is set to use DHCP, which assigns addresses to all computers connected to it, everything should work. However if it does not, you may need to assign static addresses (192.168.0.3, 4, 5 so on) to each machine and experiement with the gateway IP setting on those machines. I think if the systems know the gateway is the router (192.168.0.2) this should work. However, You may need to tell each system the modem address (192.168.0.1) is the actual gateway. Thus the router will forward correctly to it.

Give this a try, and get back to me if ya like.

This post has been edited by Dr. Moonglobe: Feb 2 2007, 06:48 PM

I know connecting via ethernet will be a piece of cake, but that's exactly the problem. It will NOT connect using ethernet. I connected the modem directly to the first computer using ethernet and nothing. It won't allow the user to sign in. But once I plug in the USB (with or without ethernet), signing in is no problem.

OK, here is what they had:

PC 1 - connected to AOL modem (via USB, but also has ethernet port - but not sure if it works or how to make it work)...this PC will be connected via cable

PC 2 and laptop - both of these will be connected wirelessly to the Linksys wireless router...both connected to another working router in the house already, but need them to connect to this AOL modem (via router)

@Dr. Moonglobe: I'm not sure how to configure what you suggested because the modem itself does not have the LAN IP address (192.168.x.x). It has a public IP address shown when I did ipconfig on it.