Sanity Check

In the distant past I have connected a network device to a pc using a cross-over cable and it has worked fine.

Now fast forward to the present where I have a couple of pc's, two printers and other network devices and a router (Billion BiPAC 7800N) all connected to a network switch. Thus I can email, use the internet and print etc. (The router also connects directly to an Openreach VDSL MODEM.

Am I correct in thinking that I need the router to be connected in order for the pc's to be able to find and use the printers and the device?

The reason I ask is that recently I have been loosing connectivity to the printers and devices from the pc's and initially thought that it was the switch, now I am not so sure.

Hence my request for a "sanity" check.

Cheers!

Am I correct in thinking that I need the router to be connected in order for the pc's to be able to find and use the printers and the device?

I can't answer 100% yes/no....it depends on other factors.....
1) Is it a managed switch
2) Which device is your DHCP server
3) Which device is your DNS server
4) Do you use static IP addresses set on the devices themselves
5) Do you access the printers by IP address or hostname

I am sure there are a few more questions that need to be asked as well.

Ian

Thanks Ian

1) Is it a managed switch

No.

2) Which device is your DHCP server

I think it is the Router - based on The Router being in DHCP Server mode

3) Which device is your DNS server

On the Router Use as DNS Server is un-ticked

4) Do you use static IP addresses set on the devices themselves

Yes

5) Do you access the printers by IP address or hostname

IP Address.

The "devices" are 1) a Silex SX-2000U2 Virtual Link to enable the use of a USB device connected to my network and 2) a Kinetic SBS-1 a receiver which receives aircraft Mode-S/ADS-B transmissions.

Thanks.

Cheers!

I think it best to use fixed IP addresses for fixed devices such as printers, NAS, and PVRs so that I can always make contact. My desktop computer also has a fixed address but my laptops and mobile phones use DHCP as this is more convenient when I take them to other locations. I have though UPnP which devices sometimes use to find each other, to be a slightly flaky technology.

Analysing your replies to Q4 and Q5, I think that even without the router switched on the devices should communicate normally; although your USB devices seem a little esoteric.

All the best

Ian