What needs the ip first, the router or the modem?

Question

I had to know this years ago, but haven't the need anymore. My mother is having problems and needs to reset the ip's. I know this for a fact, but cannot remember what needs to be plugged back in first. The router or the modem..

Thanks all, I appreciate it.

Answer 1

If you are connecting a router to a cable modem then your cable modem needs the ip address first, Same thing if it's a DSL Modem, it needs the ip address first and then the router can DHCP out to all attached devices.

Hack on brotha, hack on.

Answer 2

Modem is normally provided by your ISP along with the Cable / DSL connection. so the modem gets the IP first. If you reboot the modem then it will automatically connect to the ISP and grab an IP then you connect the router. If DHCP is enabled on the Modem then the Router will automatically pick it up. Normally there is a setup CD that will walk you step by step, through the process as to how to setup your router with the modem. Once setup it does not matter what you boot and when.

As for me,every night when I am ready to go off to sleep, I turn off the Modem and the Router. Next time when I feel the need to use them, I turn on the Modem first then the Router. Every setting ( including security) remains same and exactly as before.

Answer 3

You can plug them all in at the same time. The router will be a DHCP client through the cable modem. Your PCs will be DHCP clients to the router. Your ISP may require some configurations on the router (authentication or hard coding some network values if not handled through their DHCP settings) but again, you can hook up all cables at the same time and run the configuration once the PC has an address on the router. This would only be necessary on initial setup or if you reset your router. After that, any startup order is fine. I've had no issues with rebooting either the modem, router, or PC in any particular order. In fact, my VoIP phone is generally the first device to connect to my router as the (SunRocket) "gizmo" doesn't include a power switch. Prior to having that though, any order worked.

** Edit **
To reset the IPs, you can actually do this in two places rather than using a power cycle. First you can use the router admin page (generally http://192.168.1.1) and "renew" the address from your ISP. Note that you may be assigned the same IP address though as ISPs tend to leave a fairly long lease period (you may need to leave it off for over a week or more to get a different IP). To reset the IP on the client workstations, you can flush the clients through the router admin page or you can open a command prompt on the client and use the "ipconfig /renew" command and flag. Chances are that you'll still get the same IP again but this is pretty much due to only having a limited number of devices on your network rather than lease periods for addresses.

Oh, for whoever gave the thumbs down, please give the reboot in any order a try before discounting it.

Answer 4

it shouldn't matter, the modem will deal with the service providers IP address (the public address) so resetting this will reset the internet connection between you and the service provider.
the router is the bit that controlls your network, so resetting this will reset the IP information for your PCs, printers etc. and the private side ip address of your router. (that is if you are using DHCP) if your devices have static addresses set then resetting the router won't have any effect.

a lot of people use single devices that incorporate both the router and modem in one device.

Answer 5

Unplugged the Modem for 10 seconds and the Router for 30 seconds then plug in the Router because it gives Dyanmic IP Addressing then plug in your Modem. Problem Solved. For the kid above Your Dumb. Get your Facts Straight.

Answer 6

If you have DSL or cable modem, then the modem first. The router second, since the router grabs the IP info from the modem.