Pinging problem with specific IP addresses

[Onezentide]

I have been trying to set-up Windows XP remote access feature from my home machine to my machine at a different location, but am always unable to connect to the machine because of a timeout error.

So, I tried to ping the remote machine (it has a fixed IP address), and could not even go through.

Then, after playing around a little bit, I noticed one strange thing:

At the remote location, some machines are connected directly to a linksys 24 port Hub (which is itself plugged in into the DSL Modem), whereas some other machines (including my remote machine) are themselves connected on to a Netgear Hub, which uplink port is connected to the linksys.

To summarize:

It would seem that the machines connected directly into the linksys are pinging fine (I could only verify that with one of them I know for sure is on, but it runs Windows ME)

Sonehow the machines connected to the "sub-hubs" (the netgears) are timing out.

Is it the reason? Does it make any sense? Is that also why I have a speed issue when trying to browse the network under W-XP?
Is it something else?
How can I fix that to be able to finally use W XP remote connection?

Thank you for anyone's precious help.

Frederic

 

[Garion]

Static or dynamic, it shouldn't make much difference how the PC gets it's IP address, and if the hub is uplinked properly to the switch, there should be no difference in pings and how it gets an IP.

Try this.. On your ME box that works, do a "ipconfig /all" (or use winipcfg). All of your static IP settings should TOTALLY be identical, with the exception of the IP address - Gateway, subnet mask, DNS servers, etc.. If you do this right, you should be good.

One other note - When assiging static IP's, people frequently just pick one, often the next one that seems to be available - This usually a bad idea. Try and go at the other end of the network - IE, if you have a 255.255.255.0 network mask, you can use the IP's from .2 - .254 for your computers (usually - most DHCP pools start at .10, for safety). You should start the ranges you use for a static IP at .200 or something, to make sure you don't use a static IP that your DHCP server might eventually give out to another PC, causing an address conflict.

- G