hi,

so i recently ordered 4 additional IP's from comcast for about $28. the only problem is NOBODY at comcast seems to be able to tell me how exactly to make each computer have its own unique IP (not the IP a router assigns, but the IP that is visible on the internet to everyone else)


i have:

1 cable modem
1 Belkin F5D7230-4 router
1 LinkSys 5 port workgroup switch
currently 2 computers hooked up, 1 running vista, 1 running XP


how do i make each computer have its own unique external IP address? when i just use the switch by itself (and no router) only 1 computer is able to connect to the internet.. i have a lot to learn about networking stuff and could use some direction.


help!

My first guess would be to hard code the assigned ip addresses to each individual machine. Start off with getting the rest of the IP information from the first one, DNS, WINS, gateway, subnet mask, etc. then use this information to manually assign each of your four addresses to the additional machines.

Baring that I think comcast would have to get you a different modem, or additional modems?

apparently, comcast doesnt offer static ip addresses (at least to non-business accounts)... so i was not assigned specific IPs. theyre all dynamic i was told..



i was reading this thread earlier: http://www.msfn.org/board/Different-IP-in-...ro-t122682.html

pretty much trying to do the same thing but dont have a clearcut solution and MAN are they clueless at comcast tech support... everyone i talk to there is just silence for an enitre 10 seconds or so when i tell them what im trying to do.

Here's an easy one, drop the router.

did that, but when i use only the switch i can only get one logged onto the internet... the other(s) just stay in the status of 'limited or no connectivity'

I think the easiest router/firmware combination to have in order to accomplish this would be to use a Linksys WRT54GL router (or an older version of WRT54G) along with DD-WRT or Tomato firmware. There are tons of guides around to help you do this with this firmware.

All you need is a 1-1 NAT rule on your Router for each computer your have. As to whether or not that router provides this functionality im not sure. You would need a business grade router i would guess as most home customers have standard SUA Nat in place and therefore use only a single address.

If that's the case then one of three things is happening, a) your ISP did not give you your 2nd IP, your 2nd PC is not configured to automatically aquire an IP or c) your ISP is not delivering your IP through DHCP.

I would first check to make sure both PCs are set to aquire an IP automatically, then shut down both PCs, remove the power to your cable modem, remove the power to the switch, make sure that you cable modem is plugged one of the switch ports and the PCs are also plugged into the switch ports (do not use the Uplink port or the router). Restore the power to the calbe modem, then the switch, then turn on each PC.

If that still doesn't work, manually configure the IPs on each computer (still using the switch without a router).

Else, call your ISP and talk with support because something's wrong.

thanks for all your suggestions... i called my ISP and turns out my they did not give me my other IP's, as jcarle suggested might be the case.


the sales guy sold me 4 additional IP addresses, but they never got added to my account. also, nobody at comcast (besides the sales guy) has any clue what im talking about.. they just say "we dont sell IP's to residential accounts" and most of the tech support folks are a complete joke... it was painfully obvious 1 guy was pretending to know what he was talking about... he kept referring to my IP addresses as the ones my router assigns me.. i had to explain to one guy what an external IP was! when he finally understood i wanted each computer to have its own unique EXTERNAL ip i could hear his manager in the background say "why would he want that".... shortly after that i just had to hang up.

So is it working now? I am interested in doing this too.