Directly connect WDTV Live to WHS Server Options

[david123]

I have an Intel SS4200 WHS server with gigabit and wireless G adapters. It connects to my router over the G adapter. I want to directly connect the gigabit adapter to my WDTV Live's NIC port so I can stream movies over a wire connection.

When I connected a regular (non-crossover) cable between the two with the WHS adapter's TCP/IP settings in automatic mode, neither side connects. If I set the WHS adapter to a manual IP address (using the same IP for gateway and DNS), both sides connect at 100 Mbs, but I can't see shares and the WDTV gives a DNS error.

How should I configure the WHS gigabit adapter and the WDTV to make this work? Do I need a crossover cable?

[david123]

Nevermind, I figured it out.

- You don't need a crossover cable, a regular CAT5/e/6 cable is fine.

- Pull up the network adapter properties in Windows. In Vista and 7, this is under Control Panel / Network Connections.

- Right click the wired adapter, choose Properties, then double-click TCP/IP.

- Use these settings (or others if you know what you're doing):

IP address: 10.0.0.1
Subnet mask: 255.0.0.0
(all other fields blank)

- On the WDTV Live, manually set the internet connection to use these settings:

IP address: 10.0.0.2
Subnet mask: 255.0.0.0
(all other fields blank)

It'll connect and then you'll be able to browse the server as if both had been connected through a router.

[WDUser]

Good that you managed to solve the issue, and thanks for posting back here as well! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[stevec]

I have the same issue David and followed your instructions - leaving Gateway and DNS settings blank like you say worked for you. However I cannot connect to my laptop (in this case) as WD TV Live is telling me that the DNS settings are incorrect? Any advice would be much appreciated. I have also tried copying the settings from my adapter but they also give me the same error message.

Once again trying to connect WD TV Live directly to my laptop using the ethernet cable. I think many others will be trying to do this as my router is in another room and not feasible to connect WD TV Live to it if I want it connected to my HDTV in the living room.

Thanks,

Stevec

[Rev Drew]

you could try setting the DNS and gateway on both devices the same as the laptops IP.

it should work, in theory anyway..

[stevec]

Don't know what I am doing wrong here guys? Copied the IP Address, Subnet mask, Default Gateway and DNS Server settings from the laptop to both the network adapter and the WD TV Live but still get the "Incorrect DNS server address" message from WD TV Live. Have been at this for 4 days now and cannot get it to work. Am about ready to take it back for a refund.

Any further advice?

[black wolf]

1. can never have two machines with the same ip. make sure they are different. ie 10.0.0.1 & 10.0.0.2
2. Make sure you use the same gateway on both machines. ie 255.255.255.0
3. leave dns completely blank on both machines (as you are not using dns to connect these two machines directly)

Hope this helps.
Black Wolf