Can not see web page in a workgroup when connected to ISP with rou

7 Sep 2006 7:54 PM

BP

I have several pcs I use as workstations that access a web page on an XP pro
laptop running IIS. It use to be a close workgroup but now I have a need to
access the internet. I hooked a router up to my ISP and gave them all the
same workgroup name. Now I can not see the web page but I can get out to the
internet when hooked up to the ISP? I think it is a DNS problem because in
the past I have had all static IP in the workgroup with the local webserver
IP as the DNS, but this time I tried dynamic from the router. What I need is
to be able to get to the internet and view my 'local' website from the
workstations? Help

8 Sep 2006 10:06 AM

George Valkov

I assume that the router is your property and you can configure it, else ask
your ISP to set static IP to MAC assignment.
I use RP-IP509 broadband router (it's for home use only, 4 LAN ports and one
WAN). In the MAC Control section for the DHCP server there's a table that
You can assign static IP address to client's MAC address.

The router also serves DNS queries, so all DHCP clients will register on it.
The clients will use the router as Default-GateWay and DHCP, the DSL modem
as primary DNS and the router as Secondary DNS.
^ In such configuration I can resolve DNS names to IP, from one PC to
another via the router. NETBIOS is not needed so (Computer Browser, Server
and Workstation services can be safely turned off).

If Your router serves DNS for You, eiter disable DNS server on the laptop,
or on the router (I'm not sure if this is a good idea) or configure one to
forward queries to the other. By the way, as far as I know Windows 2003
server can act as DNS server, but XP pro cannot, or am I missing something?
How do you configure an XP box as DNS server? Or are You trying to query it
with DNS requests, while it cannot actualy serve them?

You said You use a WORKGROUP, so I assume the Computer Browser service is
running on at least 1 computer, and the Worstation service on all computers.
So your computers will also use browser queries to resolve NETBIOS names.
Note: (if i'm not mistaking) - client will always query the First DNS
server, then the Second and then NETBIOS. Unless You open Network
Connections\Advanced\Advanced settings\Provider Order -- and move Microsoft
Windows Network to the top.

If it is DNS problem, then: You can access the hosts directly via IP. Also
check your IP configuration to see who is serving DNS queries -- type this
in Command Prompt:
IPCONFIG /ALL

Can host from ISP side (WAN side) access hosts on Your LAN? If your router
has built-in firewall and all incomming connections are blocked, then no.
May be you want to attach a workstation on the WAN side and try it by
your-self?

Good luck!

George Valkov