Too many hubs??

deejayG · 07-30-2005, 03:47 PM

Howdy,

I'm hoping some more enlightened souls can help me out with my home network. Here is what I have:

1) Wireless Router connected to ISP (Verzon Fios service)
2) Wireless Bridge connected to hub 1
3) PC connected to hub 1

So far so good...everything works well in this setup so far.

4) Hub 2 connected via cat5 to Hub 1
5) XBox connected to Hub 2
6) TiVO connected to Hub 2

My problem is that the TiVO and XBox won't connect. Nothing works that I connect to Hub 2. I get a DHCP error. It is not "seeing" the DHCP server that is set up on the wireless router. Is there a limitation on how many hubs can connect to one another? I have a wireless bridge connected to a hub that is connected to another hub. Is that too many devices? Do I need something else?

Any and all help is welcome. Thank you!!!

**johnwill** · 07-30-2005, 07:57 PM

That should work, my guess is the you have the wrong cable connecting the hubs. If the hubs don't have an uplink port or switch, you need a crossover cable to connect between them. If they do have an uplink port, ONE of the hubs needs to use the uplink port, and the other a normal port to connect them together.

volito · 07-30-2005, 09:21 PM

The 5-4-3-2-1 rule.
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/n...l/blfaq018.htm

Does Router have any switch ports on it?
Why not use a switch, would be much better? "no colision domian"
Speed of hub? 10 Mbit or 100Mbit
You might have a problem with NIC cards "xbox & tivo" using Auto-negotiation.

**johnwill** · 07-31-2005, 09:55 AM

Two hubs and a handful of machines should not come close to tripping over the 5-4-3-2-1 rule.

deejayG · 07-31-2005, 02:31 PM

They worked fine before when everything was hardwired w/ Cat5. I had a DSL line coming in to a router and Hub 2 was connected to a router before. Now I'm connecting it to another hub that is connected to a wireless bridge that connects via wifi to my router.

The problem has something to do with adding the wireless component to my network. The bridge and the two hubs are just not cooperating. The PC connected to the Hub 1 works just fine. So I don't understand why another hub with two more devices won't work either. There is some issue w/ the wireless bridge and the two hubs. I just don't know what it is yet. :-)

**johnwill** · 07-31-2005, 06:21 PM

Since the two hubs are connected directly, I'm not sure how the wireless stuff would affect it. What is the exact model of that wireless bridge? It sounds like it might not allow more than a single IP address...

deejayG · 08-01-2005, 05:44 PM

It is a D-Link DWL G810. I'll check into that. That isn't something I considered. The device itself has an IP address so I'm not sure why it would "care" how many other IP addresses pass through it. But perhaps it does limit it in some way. Thanks!

07-30-2005, 03:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
deejayG Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Mac os X	Too many hubs?? Howdy, I'm hoping some more enlightened souls can help me out with my home network. Here is what I have: 1) Wireless Router connected to ISP (Verzon Fios service) 2) Wireless Bridge connected to hub 1 3) PC connected to hub 1 So far so good...everything works well in this setup so far. 4) Hub 2 connected via cat5 to Hub 1 5) XBox connected to Hub 2 6) TiVO connected to Hub 2 My problem is that the TiVO and XBox won't connect. Nothing works that I connect to Hub 2. I get a DHCP error. It is not "seeing" the DHCP server that is set up on the wireless router. Is there a limitation on how many hubs can connect to one another? I have a wireless bridge connected to a hub that is connected to another hub. Is that too many devices? Do I need something else? Any and all help is welcome. Thank you!!!

07-30-2005, 07:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	That should work, my guess is the you have the wrong cable connecting the hubs. If the hubs don't have an uplink port or switch, you need a crossover cable to connect between them. If they do have an uplink port, ONE of the hubs needs to use the uplink port, and the other a normal port to connect them together. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-30-2005, 09:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
volito Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 18 OS: NT/XP/98	Check this rule out! The 5-4-3-2-1 rule. http://compnetworking.about.com/od/n...l/blfaq018.htm Does Router have any switch ports on it? Why not use a switch, would be much better? "no colision domian" Speed of hub? 10 Mbit or 100Mbit You might have a problem with NIC cards "xbox & tivo" using Auto-negotiation.

07-31-2005, 09:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Two hubs and a handful of machines should not come close to tripping over the 5-4-3-2-1 rule. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-31-2005, 02:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
deejayG Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Mac os X	XBox and TiVO Worked Before They worked fine before when everything was hardwired w/ Cat5. I had a DSL line coming in to a router and Hub 2 was connected to a router before. Now I'm connecting it to another hub that is connected to a wireless bridge that connects via wifi to my router. The problem has something to do with adding the wireless component to my network. The bridge and the two hubs are just not cooperating. The PC connected to the Hub 1 works just fine. So I don't understand why another hub with two more devices won't work either. There is some issue w/ the wireless bridge and the two hubs. I just don't know what it is yet. :-)

07-31-2005, 06:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Since the two hubs are connected directly, I'm not sure how the wireless stuff would affect it. What is the exact model of that wireless bridge? It sounds like it might not allow more than a single IP address... __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

08-01-2005, 05:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
deejayG Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Mac os X	Wireless Bridge It is a D-Link DWL G810. I'll check into that. That isn't something I considered. The device itself has an IP address so I'm not sure why it would "care" how many other IP addresses pass through it. But perhaps it does limit it in some way. Thanks!