IP Address Error Using Ethernet Switches

Grizzlyy

Reputable
Jul 4, 2014
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4,510
Let me first start out by saying that normally I can handle most tech/computer-related issues, however, I will be the first to proclaim that networking is my worst and most despised field. So, I'm just going to throw out everything that I have and hope that someone of greater expertise could help me out:

About a month ago I ran a 75ft CAT5 Ethernet cable from my modem (located in the basement) to the Xbox 360 in my room. Along with the cable, I had purchased a TP-Link 5 port Ethernet switch since my modem had only one port on the back (Understandably, I could have taken this whole fiasco of wires to the back of my router, however, it's far easier to snake wire from the modem's location). Nevertheless, I had run a small ethernet cable from the modem into one of the 5 ports on the switch and plugged the wire running to the wireless router as well as the purchased 75-ft cable into 2 of the remaining 4 ports. This plan had worked flawlessly and I had experienced unparalleled speeds on my Xbox and my wireless router still functioned perfectly.

With all of that in mind, my problem arose when I wanted to wire my desktop PC that is in the same room as the Xbox. Figuring that more switches was the logical answer as opposed to snaking yet another wire through 2 levels of housing, I purchased the same model TP link ethernet switch. In the first port of the switch, I plugged in the 75ft cable, and two other ethernet cables running to my Xbox and PC respectively. Initially, I thought that this plan was a success as well until I attempted to connect to the internet on both devices simultaneously. My PC had internet access through the LAN, however, my Xbox kept spitting back at me a troubleshooting error of "IP Address Error". I figured a simple reset of my modem would fix the problem so I unplugged the ethernet cable from my computer and left the one connected to my Xbox in. After the reset, my Xbox was able to connect to the internet through the wired network, however, upon replugging the computer's cable, I was receiving error messages that the network had an "Invalid IP configuration".

Frustrated by all of this, I attempted to reset the modem to no avail as well as assign manual addresses to each of the devices which continued to give me only network connection on one of the devices (whichever was plugged in first when the modem was reset). My question is "Is there anyway to rectify this problem given my setup, or am I inevitably going to have to run yet another wire to the computer from the first switch?"

I know this is all so lengthy, but I'm really hoping one of you could help me out. If the wording was a little confusing, I uploaded a simple diagram from paint of my overall setup.

Thank you so much for any advice you have to contribute!!!

PICTURE: http://i.imgur.com/eNZJDb5.png

PC Specs: Windows 7 Home Premium, 64-Bit
 
Solution
that's because switches are dumb, they don't hand out IP's or resolve DNS or anything. That's a routers job.

You should go modem->router->all other switches.

The router is smart, it knows how to "route" traffic, handle DNS names, give out IP's, what PC has what IP, etc. It should first directly after the modem, then all switches into in.

This will solve all your problems.
that's because switches are dumb, they don't hand out IP's or resolve DNS or anything. That's a routers job.

You should go modem->router->all other switches.

The router is smart, it knows how to "route" traffic, handle DNS names, give out IP's, what PC has what IP, etc. It should first directly after the modem, then all switches into in.

This will solve all your problems.
 
Solution