Setting up a router with a Mac

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Level 1

1 points

Setting up a router with a Mac

I required an Apple laptop for school so I ended up with a MacBook.

To use the internet at home without plugging in, my dad gave me an old Linksys (Cisco) WRT54Gs G Router. Here is what I did:

Plugged the computer into the router into the modem into the wall.

Plugged in the power for the Router.

Launched Firefox to access 192.168.1.1, but it failed. After following this tutorial: http://garrickvanburen.com/archive/how-to-set-up-a-linksys-router-with-mac-os-x

Now, it was very vague about where to plug in the settings it gave me in the Network pane, but I found where those headers were: in TCP/IP of Built-In Ethernet.

So when I got to that pane, I found out that those areas did not have boxes to be filled in. After many tick box and drop down adjustments, I managed to make those boxes appear when I changed it to Manual. Trouble now was that PPPoE had to be disconnected to do this. I connect with a SpeedStream DSL modem with PPPoE, so that could not do. Reticking the box that allowed me to connect to the internet through cable/PPPoE, the TCP/IP area changed to some random IP numbers and a even more random Router number.

At no point either was I able to connect to the internet normally WHILE the router was in between the modem and the computer.

Internet works fine without the router.

All 3 lights on the modem are on, and all 4 lights on the router are on.

Linksys says that their product is no longer in warranty and would not help me set it up... it also did not help that their customer service was in India when their main customers were in North America and Europe, so they refused to help me and instead pointed me back here because 'its a Mac problem'.

So I also tried a D-Link DIR-615 N Router, and it too produced the same problem. It is not the router, it is the computers settings.

How on earth do I get it to recognize that a router is there, functioning?

The host computer is a PowerBook G4 running 10.3.9.

Thanks!

MacBook White, Mac OS X (10.5.5), Sucks.

Posted on Dec 16, 2008 3:48 PM

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Answer 1

roam

Level 6

13,637 points

Dec 16, 2008 5:21 PM in response to Pande1234

Launched Firefox to access 192.168.1.1, but it failed

Try 192.168.0.1 to access the router.

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Answer 2

Dec 16, 2008 6:47 PM in response to Pande1234

Download the utility MacStumbler at http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14746
This utility will allow you to "see" if your Mac can detect a router (yours or others nearby).

 Cheers, Tom 😉

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Answer 3

Pande1234 Author

Level 1

1 points

Dec 18, 2008 11:07 AM in response to Texas Mac Man

The program won't launch because I don't have an apple Airport card...

Also, 192.168.0.1 doesnt work either. I have also tried 1.2, 1.5, 0.5, 2.5, and many other things. I have also tried adding my port, :27960, as if I was trying to connect to a server.

Any tutorials anywhere on setting up a Dlink DIR-615 with 10.3.9? Really, I have been unable to find them, but someone with the same problem might know?

Thanks.

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Answer 4

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Dec 18, 2008 9:24 PM in response to Pande1234

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Answer 5

Pande1234 Author

Level 1

1 points

Dec 19, 2008 7:40 AM in response to rccharles

Reseting didn't do anything. Also, I am now using a Dlink DIR-615, sorry if there was a muddle.

Are you saying I can configure it on another machine and then just plug it in? So I could configure with Boot Camp XP on my laptop and then attach it to the home computer? Hm.. then I could use Network Magic... thats an idea..

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Answer 6

Kurt Lang

Level 9

58,380 points

Dec 20, 2008 8:37 AM in response to Pande1234

Plugged the computer into the router into the modem into the wall.

No offense, but "Huh?"

First, is this a broadband router? There should be one WAN port and usually at least a few LAN ports for wired connection, besides the wireless capability. Let's ignore the wireless for now and set up a standard wired connection to see things are working correctly.

1) If you have DSL, plug a phone line into the modem. If you have cable, plug in a coaxial cable.

2) Plug in an Ethernet cable between the modem and the WAN port of the router.

3) Plug in an Ethernet cable between the Mac and any of the open LAN ports of the router.

4) Turn on the modem first and wait for it to come to a ready state. Turn on the router next and wait for it to do the same. Turn on your Mac.

4) Open the System Preferences and click on the Network icon. Change the pull down menu to "Built-in Ethernet". If necessary, change the pull down menu to "Using DHCP". For the "Configure IPv6:" field, it should be on "Automatically". Click the Apply button and close the System Preferences.

You may need to restart, but it should work at this point.

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Answer 7

Dec 21, 2008 2:16 AM in response to Pande1234

Pande1234 wrote:
I required an Apple laptop for school so I ended up with a MacBook.

To use the internet at home without plugging in, my dad gave me an old Linksys (Cisco) WRT54Gs G Router. Here is what I did:

Plugged the computer into the router into the modem into the wall.

OK, so the house is not wireless already ?

And the Linksys WRT54G (which is a first rate wireless router) is to be connected to the family's DSL or cable service. Is there any router already connected to the family cable / dsl service ?
I would presume so, as this is the "old" router. How does the current router fit into the setup ?
And what make and model is it ?

And how did you plan to use the WRT54G ?
To provide wireless throughout the house ?
or to provide wireless for you to connect to the current house wireless router ?
or to act as a wireless repeater - to bridge between your room and the current house wireless router ?

Like Kurt has described, getting a wired Ethernet connection working first is really going to help you configure the WRT54G router for wireless.

Post back your IP address (something like 192.168.x.x), also your subnet mask (something like 255.255.255.0) and the router address (something like 192.168.x.x) from the Network System Preference when you select Ethernet. Turn the AirPort card off for now to stop confusion. It's this Router address that shows up in Network SP that you'll want to use to try to configure the router for wireless. Again, configure it while connected by Ethernet.

There's a whole list of settings you'll need to decide for wireless, but we'll cover those once you've got the wired Ethernet connectivity working. You sound clever enough to know what these should be but we'll pick up any questions you may have.

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Answer 8

Kurt Lang

Level 9

58,380 points

Dec 21, 2008 8:12 AM in response to Simon Teale

Is there any router already connected to the family cable / dsl service?

Very glad you mentioned that, Simon. Made me remember something else.

If you're hooking up another router in a different part of the house, you cannot use a second (or third, or more) modem. Only one can negotiate a connection to the service at a time.

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Answer 9

Pande1234 Author

Level 1

1 points

Dec 21, 2008 11:27 AM in response to Pande1234

Ok here is the setup: Sympatico internet w/ PPPoE, no current wireless internet, wireless host-to-be computer is a G4 PowerBook laptop with a broken screen so its a home computer now. It is running 10.3.9.

SpeedStream modem connected to the wall and to the computer, internet works fine like this.

I add in a DIR-615 'N' Dlink router (please forget about the WRT54Gs 'G' Cisco Linksys router) between the modem and the computer and the internet stops working. However, all four lights on the router and all three lights on the modem that should be on are working. I can also access the routers connection through my laptop, because it has broadcasted a signal, however there is no internet still, nothing works on the network.

Using XP on bootcamp on my laptop, I accessed the D-Link page with 192.168.0.1 (surprisingly flawless, lol) and set the connection setting to PPPoE, set a password, and cloned my MAC address.

I connected it to a the home computer and still no signal. 😟

Getting ****** off, I took a sledge hammer to both the D-Link router and the Mac and...

Ok I didn't but really, why is it so hard to make it work. Also, what is a gateway IP and how do I explain to Sympatico that I need it? (We are sorry, we can not provide you with this information: LOL. But they gave me my IP and stuff)

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Answer 10

Kurt Lang

Level 9

58,380 points

Dec 21, 2008 2:19 PM in response to Pande1234

I can also access the routers connection through my laptop, because it has broadcasted a signal, however there is no internet still, nothing works on the network.

A likely possibility is the Ethernet cable. Some connections between the modem and the WAN port of the router require a cross-over cable. Others don't. If you have one, try a cross-over Ethernet cable. The modem probably came with one. If it already is a cross-over, try a standard Ethernet cable.

If you're not sure which it is, there's a couple of ways to tell. One, the wire is marked as such along the sheathing. Second, look at both ends of the cable through the clear connector housing. On one end, two of the wires will literally be crossed over from their position on the other end.

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Answer 11

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Dec 21, 2008 9:11 PM in response to Pande1234

Here are your configurations.

Modem-- PowerBook
works
Mac is configured with PPPoE

modem--router -- Mac running Windows
works
router is configured with PPPoE and Windows is configured using the
DHCP or a fixed IP address

modem--router--Mac running Mac OS 10.3.9
not working
How is your Mac computer configured?

You need it to be configured using the
DHCP or a fixed IP address

--------------
Ok here is the setup: Sympatico internet w/ PPPoE, no current wireless internet, wireless host-to-be computer is a G4 PowerBook laptop with a broken screen so its a home computer now. It is running 10.3.9.

SpeedStream modem connected to the wall and to the computer, internet works fine like this.

This means that you have configured your computer PPPoEe.

I add in a DIR-615 'N' Dlink router (please forget about the WRT54Gs 'G' Cisco Linksys router) between the modem and the computer and the internet stops working.

it would.

Did you reconfigure your computer to use DHCP?

However, all four lights on the router and all three lights on the modem that should be on are working. I can also access the routers connection through my laptop, because it has broadcasted a signal, however there is no internet still, nothing works on the network.

Using XP on bootcamp on my laptop, I accessed the D-Link page with 192.168.0.1 (surprisingly flawless, lol) and set the connection setting to PPPoE, set a password, and cloned my MAC address.

how are you using boot camp. Boot camp only works on leopard, 10.5, Mac computers. You're saying you have 10.3 which is panther. Click on the Blue Apple then click on about this Mac to see the version.

I connected it to a the home computer and still no signal. 😟

Getting ****** off, I took a sledge hammer to both the D-Link router and the Mac and...

Ok I didn't but really, why is it so hard to make it work.

Also, what is a gateway IP and how do I explain to Sympatico that I need it? (We are sorry, we can not provide you with this information: LOL. But they gave me my IP and stuff)

when you connect to the mac to the router the Gateway would be an IP number on the router. I do not see the word Gateway in the the Apple network panel I assume you mean router.

Use DHCP. The information should be copied from your router to your Mac.

IF you're still having trouble you should go back to your Windows configuration. When all is working look in the Windows networking panels and see what is configured. Copy to the Mac.

Robert

Message was edited by: rccharles

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