Troubleshooting Invalid IP Configuration

[GEC1227]

Hello,

I recently built two PCs. The master uses an ASUS p9x79 Deluxe mobo; the slave uses an ASUS p9x79 mobo. Both have an Intel 82579V Gigabit LAN Controller. I connected the two with a crossover cable and was able to share data via Remote Desktop, but I was unable to identify the "unidentified network". I have tried changing the network location to both a work location and a home location, but neither attempt successfully allowed me to properly identify the network (i.e. change the name, change the icon, etc.) Then, I had a so-called IT specialist come over. He scratched his head for an hour and couldn't figure out the problem either. He suggested that I buy a switch, which I did. I bought a Cisco five-port Gigabit switch. Each computer connects to the switch with a CAT 6 patch cable. Unfortunately, this did not resolve the issue. I am only trying to connect these two PCs to each other; not to the internet, and not to anything else. When I use the Win7 troubleshooter it has informed me that there is an "invalid IP configuration". An automatic IP assignment as well as a static IP assignment has yielded the same result (i.e. an "unidentified network") The static IP addresses that I used are as follows: Master = 192.168.5.10; Slave = 192.168.5.11; both have a subnet of 255.255.255.0. The firewall has been turned off on both computers, and I do not have the Bonjour software installed. Could it have to do with the slave computers certification? The slave computer has never been connected to the internet. I appreciate the help of this forum and look forward to learning more about the subject of networking.

Thanks

 

[UsernameIssues]

Welcome to the Seven Forums.

Since no one has answered your post - I'll take a stable at it.

It seems that W7 wants to see (communicate with) a gateway IP address. I've not actually tried this (hence my hesitation to post in your thread) but you can try this:

Master = 192.168.5.10 and a gateway of 192.168.5.11

Slave = 192.168.5.11 and a gateway of 192.168.5.10

That might let you change some of the things you want to change - or maybe not.

 

[chev65]

Why purchase a switch when you could have purchased a router and eliminated all problems.

ICS is not a reliable network set up and has many drawbacks.

 

[GEC1227]

Thank you for your advice. I have an interesting update. I configured my static IP address according to UsernameIssues suggestion and my problem was solved. Both computers shared the same identified network! I then checked to see if the connection would remain identified after I shutdown and rebooted. Unfortunately the problem returned, but this time the master computer had an identified network and the slave computer had an unidentified network; the converse of my previous situation. After leaving my HomeGroup, disabling my network adapters, and unplugging my ethernet cables, I then rebooted, enabled the network adapters, and plugged in my ethernet cables. This fixed the issue, but once again failed the shutdown/reboot test. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Get a router - then there will be a gateway IP when each computer starts.