Default Gateway Number

[lots]

Ethernet and network cards are the same thing. There is no difference.

Since she is in college, chances are the network connection runs on DHCP, in which case, you just set all her options to auto, and it will automatically pick up anything that she needs (IP, netmask, DNS, gateway). You shouldnt have to do anything.

[iest-rob]

Hi lots, thanks for replying. Yeah i thought they were both the same too, but when i type in ipconfig i don't get the Default Gateway number, which is strange. I think all her settings are on auto (i havent changed them) but whenever we try to log on, we get the page cannot be displayed thingy. Do you know of another way of getting the Default Gateway number?
Thanks
Iest

[grogoreo]

hi

I may be a bit off here, but shouldn't your girlfriends college give out their gateway IP? Ask somone who has got internet access to do an ipconfig and write it down. Like lots said, it should come up automaticaly if they use DHCP but as it doesn't, it looks like you'll have to set it up yourself which (I think) means you'll have to give yourself an IP address which would lead to the college giving them out, because two or more people may choose the same IP and there may be problems. So then this all leads to them using DHCP! Just to make sure your not trying to go on the internet with an empty gateway address and IP will you copy what it says on the ipconfig command be do: ipconfig /all

I'm on Linux and can't remember what dialogs to go to!

[selden]

She needs to reread the introductory networking documentation that was provided when she registered for classes. If she's lost it, she should contact the university's resnet computer helpdesk.

These days, most universities do not want you to set anything manually.

If you open a browser window on an unregistered system, it usually gets redirected to a special registration Web server. That server usually will run a security scan to make sure the new system has all of the current security patches installed and isn't running any malware. Once the system has passed all those tests, it finally will be given its final IP address and the address of the gateway to the public Internet.

Some universities have been doing this for several years. Others have only just started using procedures like this. Others are planning to do it soon. It's the only way they can keep their networks running. Otherwise, viruses and spambots just take over.

[iest-rob]

Hi. We have read the instructions they supplied us with, and followed them, but when we type in ipcofig/all, we don't get a Default Gateway number, which is strange, so that why i thought she might need a new Netwok card. Could anyone explain what the Gateway number is?

Thanks a lot for your help,
Iest

[Valkyrien]

It should be automatic with XP, and the school should provide documentation of it as well. Geez, ours was so well-documented I still know it off the top of my head! :p

[grogoreo]

The gateway is bascially what every computer on the network connects to. For instance in a home situation, if you have an ADSL router you will have a gateway IP of 192.168.1.1 which your computer will connect to. DHCP will search for anything to connect to. When it finds the gateway IP the gateway will send a free IP address to your machine to use, so 192.168.1.15 etc.

[selden]

Most network routers broadcast their addresses over the network wires. Computers that already have their IP addresses set, and which have addresses associated with the router's network, see that broadcast and set it as their default route. If their IP addresses and network masks are set to the wrong values (e.g. they're plugged into the wrong network), they won't see the broadcast and won't set the default route.

In contrast, most DHCP servers provide the address of the default route as one of the many values that they provide to their client systems. Usually the router is at the lowest address (.1) of the subnet, e.g. 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.222.1.

Without knowing the details of how the system is *supposed* to be configured it's almost impossible to help. If you're willing to provide the name of the school, someone could look up the relevant information for you. Or you could type in all of the instructions.

[lots]

Working for a university computer services, I can tell you that selden is exactly right. That is how we do things here.

The default gateway (the gateway that the DHCP server will provide you with) is not something you should be setting. It should automatically be set by the DHCP server.

Here is what we do here, to connect to the internet.

1) boot up the computer and set all ip configurations (in Network Connections on windows XP and 2000) to automatic (DHCP)

2) open your web browser and try to go to any webpage.

3) you should be redirected to a school login page, where in most cases you will be forced to download some sort of program that will keep an eye on your updates and virus definitions, and require you to update them as they become out of date.

4) login to the webpage the school redirects you to. You will be granted access to the internet, assuming you've got all your updates. If you do not, you will need to run the virus scanner's updater, and go to windows update to install patches (most schools allow you a connection to windows update even if you're not patched).

After all of this, you should be set and on your way.

[iest-rob]

Hi, the instructions were something like, run command prompt, type in ping (then this number ending in 0.0.1 can't remember the first few digits sorry) then type in ipconfig/all, and note down the Default Gateway number. And this is where we get stuck, because we have'nt got a Default Gateway number on screen. I really apprechiate you help on this guys, we spent a lot of money on this, so were gutted it's not going to plan, were in panic mode at the min.
So do you think that she might have plugged the cable in the wrong port or what?
Hi lots, thanks for the breakdown, but i've allready tried this, and does'nt work, when we 'connect' to the internet we get that white page with the black wrighting. Hmm, there must be something wrong someware?
Iest

[lots]

Since I dont know exactly how your college sets the network up, it is difficult to say what to do. The best option would be to ask them. Doing ipconfig /all should list the gateway. In most situations, the gateway should be exactly the same as your IP except the last number should be 1

So if your IP is 192.168.0.55, your gateway would be 192.168.0.1. This is the normal way of doing things, but it sounds like the college is a bit backwards in its setup :P So it may not work.

Can you give ALL of your instructions?

[selden]

The ping command probably is contacting the DHCP server.
It should respond with several lines that look like this:

ping 192.168.0.1

Pinging 192.168.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=225
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=225
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=225
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=225

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss)
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

If you don't get all four Reply lines, then you have a bad network connection. Contact your resnet helpdesk.

[iest-rob]

Hi selden, yeah we get those lines, but when we go ipconfig/all we dont get the next step. It orks fine on this computer at my home, but not at my grilfrends computer, her computer is new also.

[selden]

Unfortunately, I don't think I can help any more. I think you really do need to contact the local helpdesk. They're familiar with their network configuration and doubtless have seen this problem in the past.

Sorry.

[lots]

What do the instructions say to do?

[iest-rob]

Hi guys, sorry for the delay, i had to go out last night.

She's gonna try and talk to the helpdesk tonight so well go from there really. You don't think that she might need a new Network Card do you?
Thanks
Iest

[iest-rob]

Hi all, iv'e found the exact tutorial i was working from, i got this from the help desk, and i'm suppose to follow it. Now, i get stuck on Step 2, because i don't get the list that is shown on the right, there is no Default Gateway number there at all, i only get about 2 lines (sorry can't remeber what they are now).
Here's the link : http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/cis/connectLJMU/67381.htm

What do you think i should do? Get a new Network Card?
Iest

[lots]

A couple things to check.

1) Are you sure you are using the right cable? Ethernet/networking cable works on RJ-45 (also known as cat5 or cat6, depending on its rating). This cable is similar in shape to RJ-11 (phone cable) but slightly wider on the plug, and thicker on the cable.

2) Ensure you are plugging the cable into the right plug in the wall. I know in our dorms there are usually several places where you can plug RJ-45 in, but usually only one of these plugs will work.

3) Check your network card settings to be sure you have properly configured them for DHCP. It may be different depending on which version of Windows you are working with, but generally here are the steps you need to take.

a] Right click on My Network Places and click on properties. The "Network Connections" window should appear, with a list of devices.

b] One of these devices will say something similar to "Local Area Connection #" where # is some number. If your computer is properly plugged into a network, there should be no red X over the icon. It should simply have two blue monitors as an icon, with a T shaped image in the corner. It may also have a small ! mark in the corner, depending on proper configuration.

c] Right click the Local Area Connection icon and click properties. A new small window will appear. Double click the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) on the list. Its properties window should pop up. On this window check and make sure that both IP settings and DNS settings are set to "Obtain automatically." This will enable the DHCP client.

4) It is possible that the network plug in the dorm room is simply broken, in which case you need to have thier tech come out and fix it.

I doubt very much you'll need a new network card.

[iest-rob]

Hi lots, thanks a lot for replying, really apprechiate it.
I will go through your list when my girlfreind comes home later on. But one thing i know, is that the Local Area Connection has got a red X through the little logo. I'll tell her to try and connect the cable to another socket. I will let you know how she gets on, again, thanks a lot.
Iest

[grogoreo]

Hi lots, thanks a lot for replying, really apprechiate it.
I will go through your list when my girlfreind comes home later on. But one thing i know, is that the Local Area Connection has got a red X through the little logo. I'll tell her to try and connect the cable to another socket. I will let you know how she gets on, again, thanks a lot.
Iest

It sounds like it is disabled! When your on the properties pane look for a check box for disabling the network card.

[iest-rob]

It sounds like it is disabled! When your on the properties pane look for a check box for disabling the network card.

Hi grogoreo, what do you mean by this? How do i check the check box?
Thanks
Iest

[lots]

If your network card is disabled, the icon will be grey. If the network card is enabled, you will see blue squares on the monitors insted of the grey, disabled, squares.

The fact you see the red x is an indication that the connection to the school network is not present. This could be because the cable is bad, the port is bad, or something is wrong with the network card (I doubt this one, but its possible).

The simplest thing to do would be to call up computer services and see if they can come out and test the port in her dorm room. Ports go bad, especially in dorms where the wear and tear is fairly high. Also ensure that you are using working network cable. You can do this by testing the cable on a setup that already works.

[grogoreo]

Hi grogoreo, what do you mean by this? How do i check the check box?
Thanks
Iest
Hi

Sorry, as lots said the red cross is to do with the lack of a connection. Ignore what I said!

[iest-rob]

Hi guys, thanks a lot for your replies, i've managed to get the Default Gateway number, so i am now able to connect to the Uni! At last! It involved making everyhting on automatic etc, so thanks a lot for your help guys, much apprichiated.

However, now that i'm able to get to the University's home page, i am not able to get anyware else, e.g Google, Yahoo etc etc, does any one know what this could be then?
Again, thanks a lot a for your help guys.
Iest

[grogoreo]

Hi guys, thanks a lot for your replies, i've managed to get the Default Gateway number, so i am now able to connect to the Uni! At last! It involved making everyhting on automatic etc, so thanks a lot for your help guys, much apprichiated.

However, now that i'm able to get to the University's home page, i am not able to get anyware else, e.g Google, Yahoo etc etc, does any one know what this could be then?
Again, thanks a lot a for your help guys.
Iest

Now that, I think, is your uni! It sounds everything you've done is allright but maybe you'll have to do something like lots said about having to download some things to be secure.

Lots, you say on your network you have to download some updates from Windows update - but what if the user had linux or something other than Windows?

[lots]

Without going into much detail about HOW our network checks your operating system. Basically when you first connect your computer to the dorm network here, you will be forced to a special login webpage whenever you try to use the internet to view webpages. It does not matter what OS you use. Any other attempt to access other services on the internet simply will not work. From the login webpage, the network will determine what OS you use and will act accordingly. Since our security software is only for windows, any OS that is not windows is automatically allowed onto the network once the user provides thier login. If you are on a windows machine, once you log in there will be additional software for you to download and install. This software will check to ensure you have all virus definitions and windows updates installed on a regular basis. If your system becomes out of date, it will disconnect your computer from the main campus network. You are then rerouted to a secure temporary network in which you will only be able to download virus definitions from the campus server or windows updates from Windowsupdate.com.

Its unfortunate that it has to be this way, but no one takes care of thier computers and viruses run rampant across university networks quite easily without systems such as this in place. Its especially disturbing that "monitoring" software has to be installed on students' private machines to ensure network security.

[selden]

According to the Web page you listed, your GF needs to contact her Hall Network Administrator to resolve the current problem (not being able to get off-campus).

Apparently LJMU will disable the network port entirely if it detects viruses or other malware problems. In that case you wouldn't be able to get to their home page at http://www.liv.ac.uk/

It could be something as simple as not getting a nameserver response. Have you tried using the numeric address of an external Web site?

e.g. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ (http://www.bbc.com/) also can be reached by specifying http://212.58.240.110/

[iest-rob]

Hi guys, thanks for replying again to this bitch of a problem i've got here. On Step 4 of the link i've showed you guys it tells us to type in http://cwis.livjm.ac.uk, this address works fine, no problem what so ever, but when we try http://www.liv.ac.uk - we get that annoying white page 'Page cannot be displayed', strange ey? Anyone know what's up with this?
We have'nt tried the numeric address yet, because my GF is out at the mo (i phone her instructions on what to do you see) but if it works, how can you get it back to normal (this being the www.bb.co.uk (http://www.bb.co.uk) instead of those numbers). Do you think that she might have to make shure her Antivirus is properly setup for her to Access the sencond page?
Thanks guys.
Iest

[iest-rob]

Tried the number thing selden, but no luck with that one im afraid.

Iest

[grogoreo]

Without going into much detail about HOW our network checks your operating system. Basically when you first connect your computer to the dorm network here, you will be forced to a special login webpage whenever you try to use the internet to view webpages. It does not matter what OS you use. Any other attempt to access other services on the internet simply will not work. From the login webpage, the network will determine what OS you use and will act accordingly. Since our security software is only for windows, any OS that is not windows is automatically allowed onto the network once the user provides thier login. If you are on a windows machine, once you log in there will be additional software for you to download and install. This software will check to ensure you have all virus definitions and windows updates installed on a regular basis. If your system becomes out of date, it will disconnect your computer from the main campus network. You are then rerouted to a secure temporary network in which you will only be able to download virus definitions from the campus server or windows updates from Windowsupdate.com.

Its unfortunate that it has to be this way, but no one takes care of thier computers and viruses run rampant across university networks quite easily without systems such as this in place. Its especially disturbing that "monitoring" software has to be installed on students' private machines to ensure network security.

Could a windows user immitate a linux user through changing the browser info (assuming thats how you do the check?). Like you can get a plugin for firefox that makes the browser appear to be Internet Explorer.

Sorry to defere from the origional post topic.

[iest-rob]

Does anyone know how i can resolve the problem of not being able to view external sites?

Iest

[lots]

Talk with the school's computer services. They know thier network best, they know what problems there have been and how to fix them. Chances are they have had this problem on dorm machines before. They will know how to deal with it, and what needs to be done.

Call them, and get them to fix it. That is what they are paid to do.

[iest-rob]

Hello, just like to say thanks for your help on this. I've got the net to work now, it was the Proxy settings under the LAN Settings that was throwing me off course, it had the wrong server address in a box there.

Thanks again,
Iest

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