need some networking help!

[Jamon Camisso]

On 05/11/2010 12:00 PM, Matt Price wrote:
> Hey folks,
> 
> I'm hoping there's someone out there who can help me with a networking
> problem; I kind of doubt the issue is linux-based byt i suppose it's
> possible.
> 
> Here's the deal:  I am building an ubuntu-based computer centre in the
> basement of a social housing building in Kensington Market.  The
> internet here comesi n via dsl to an 8-port router and is farmed out
> from there to various computers and I believe a wireless outer
> somewhere else in the building. I was hoping to connect a donated hub
> (thanks PlanetGeek!) to the router and use the hub to serve out
> internet service to the computers in our little cluster,but try as i
> might I can't get a dhcp connection to work.
> 
> here's a little more info:
> 
> the hub is a D-link DES-1024R 10/100 switch. there's no serial console
> & nothing in the manual about setting the switch up.
> (manual is here:http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CBIQFjAA&url=ftp%3A%2F%2Fftp.dlink.co.uk%2Fswitches%2Fdes-1016r%2Fdes-1016r_manual_v.02.pdf&ei=V33pS8ytDIP68Aahw9TmDg&usg=AFQjCNG9XxOyyCFBtkqn7JP5wZnVJJtFqA&sig2=EE4ha-MwDs8kkOZCU_Ep6g)
> 
> Attaching a straight-through cat-5 cable from the router to either the
> uplink or one of the standard ports, I get solid green on both lights
> for that port, indicating an active link.
> attaching another cable from one of the other ports to my laptop, i
> get two more green lights on that port, again indicating an active
> link.
> 
> unfortunately, network-manager fails to connect (this is under ubuntu
> lucid, so a recent n-m).
> 
> the same cables work fine for me if i hook my laptop directly into the
> hub, so i know that's not the issue.
> 
> logs indicate that i'm getting a dhcp timeout; i've attached a sample
> output from /var/log/daemon.log so you cna see what I mean.
> 
> Anyway, if anyone can help i'd be really grateful.  This is a
> volunteer project, too -- if you feel like volunteering some time --
> or if you think my switch is broken & you havea  better one -- by all
> means let me know!  thanks much,

Not sure I understand the topology you're describing. In one place you
refer to an 8 port router, another hub, and another switch. Technically
those are 3 separate pieces of hardware. However, the 8 port router
likely combines switch+hub for you so I think your network looks like this?

         |
       DSL In
         |
         |
   8 port router
         |
        / \
       /   \
     WiFi   |
            |
        DES-1024R

So, my suggestion would be to first figure out where clients that do get
a DHCP address are receiving it from. Put tcpdump or Wireshark to work
on a system that is attached to each of the router/wifi/switch to see
how the traffic flows through and is broadcast on the network.

Also, to test the functionality of the DES-1024R itself, disconnect it
from the uplink and run a DHCP server of your laptop etc. and see if
another system on one of the switch's ports receives an IP (again, use
Wireshark to capture the traffic).

Just some things to try, good luck!

Jamon

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