hub vs. router - 3com Superstack II DS Hub 500

[HPMCommander]

I just obtained a 24-port 3com superstack ii dual speed hub 500, but I'm having trouble getting it connected.

I've always used routers for my networking. What's the difference connectivity-wise with this device?

I already tried configuring my IP address manually, and I can ping myself, but nobody else.

If I tell it to obtain the IP automatically, it says I have "limited or no connectivity", I would imagine because the hub does not function as a DHCP server.

What am I doing wrong and what can I do to get them to connect?

[HPMCommander]

I've read up a bit more.

Would it help if I put the switch/router through to the hub too?

[Slipdisc210]

Enable DHCP wait 3min then reboot each workstation. what?

[HPMCommander]

I don't think DHCP is an option on the hub, but it is an option on the router/switch.

[thechitowncubs]

You need to manually assign IP addresses:

goto the preferences on your NIC card and goto TCP/IP, change the settings on that and assign IP addresses like so...

192.168.1.x(xx)

[HPMCommander]

I tried that.

I still cannot ping the router (or the other PC's) plugged into the hub.

[HPMCommander]

Still banging my head on this, any ideas anyone?

[farmeunit]

You using the uplink or regular port?

[HPMCommander]

On the hub?

I don't see an uplink port.

On the router, there's only four standard ports and then an "Internet" Port

My router is a Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port Switch Model BEFSR41

[farmeunit]

I have same router. My last Linksys had an uplink port. But this one doesn't. I used a hub for while on mine. I ran from regular port to regular port, but for the life of me can't remember if I assigned IP or not. I think I did. Wish I could be of more help.

[HPMCommander]

Are you supposed to be able to ping the router through the hub?

[+M2Ys4U Subscriber¹]

Yes, you should be able to.

I assume your network is setup like this:?

[HPMCommander]

I'm not trying to get internet connectivity just yet.

This is what I've got for right now.

[+M2Ys4U Subscriber¹]

hmm... well I can't see why you can't ping anything :s

You're not duplicating IP addresses, are you?

And was there any manual or something that came with your hub?

[HPMCommander]

No, and no, I got this from a stack of them that my company was no longer using.

[+M2Ys4U Subscriber¹]

I see...

Have you tried other ports on the hub, to make sure that the ones you are using aren't faulty?

[HPMCommander]

Yes I have.

Also, there are two options on the hub, MDI and MDIX.

I'm pretty sure it came as MDI, but i've checked both.

[HPMCommander]

Any new ideas?

[+M2Ys4U Subscriber¹]

Have you checked that all of the cabling is working as exected? (i.e., can you connect PC -> router -> PC rather than PC -> hub -> PC?)

[HPMCommander]

Yes, I can.

[Vlad]

K, I'm going to assume that the 3com is a hub/switch and that the other device is a router. There is a huge difference between these devices. In ye olde days, hubs put data on ALL the lines. This posed a security risk as it allowed you to "spy" on computers sharing your hub. Switches came along and solved this by only sending data down channels that they know a device is on. A router is an entirerly different beast capable of moving data between different subnets. I highly doubt the 3com device you have is a router. This means it wont do the nifty tasks your mom and pop linksys/belkin/netgear/etc cable/dsl routers do, which are actually route and then some. More likely it is a switch. I will henceforth call your internet cable/dsl thing "router" and your 3com device "hub".

First, if you're going to connect the router to the hub, you either need to use a crossover cable (if using two ethernet ports) or a patch cable (if you use one uplink and one standard port). Without this you'll never be able to connect the router to the hub. This should allow you to recieve DHCP data from the router.

Assuming you still can't get a DHCP address from the router, try manually setting the ip address on all the pcs. They will, of course, all have to be on the same subnet. Once that's setup see if the computers can ping eachother. If they can't something is very wrong.

[HPMCommander]

It's a hub, not a router.

I'm going to try to make a crossover cable.

[randy_tho]

  HPMCommander said:

It's a hub, not a router.

I'm going to try to make a crossover cable.

585269002[/snapback]

Yeah a crossover might be what you need between the hub and switch port of the router.

You might be able to test the hub out by plugging a cable into two ports of the hub and see if you get a link light on both. I'm thinking a straight through won't get one while a crossover will.

I just realized thats a manageable switch. Not some old crappy regular hub. :p

[randy_tho]

http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail....&sku=3C16611-US

This may provide you with some info.

Look on page 3 of the manual. The button specifies an uplink. You need to use port 12 or 24.

Edited January 10, 2005 by randy_tho

[jamend]

What happens when you do:

ipconfig /release

followed by:

ipconfig /renew

on the PCs? Also, do you only have 3 PCs or are you leaving the others out of the diagrams for convenience? If you only have 3, stick with the router only. Using the hub would just slow things down.