DHCP client list

[oddjob]

Hello everyone.

First post. Hope you experts can help.

I have a Rangemax DG834PN, 3 XP PCs linked to it (two wired/cabled, one wireless card connection only).

For reasons I won't go into I came home from holiday and found the connection had been hijacked/used in our absence. All PCs were switched off but the router wasn't.

The router was originally set up on WEP not WPA (yes, I know, I know). My son has a Nintendo DS which won't connect under WPA.

Anyway that's all over now but I have a suspicion about the computers connected to our LAN. The IP addresses in the router's log look a little strange and I want to check. I have a feeling there is at least one computer in the list that shouldn't be there, i.e. the one that hacked into the connection.

On other routers I've seen if you open the router's control panel and go to LAN Setup > DHCP Client List ... you can see a list of all computers on your network connected to the router.

If you have a list of extra connections which you do not recognise then these will be computers which have hacked on to the router.

For example you may see entries such as :-

IP address: 192.168.0.10 - freds laptop

(there may even be a clickable link directly to the shared folders directory on their computer ... You should also be able to block the computer from here by ticking a box at the end of the line.)


However I can't find this list of connected computers in my router.

Can you point me in the right direction of where to find it?

Thank you for any help you can give me.

[fordem]

I don't have the DG834PN, but you should find an item called "Attached Devices" in the column on the left side.

Be warned however that this listing is not neccesarily a list of DHCP clients - it is more likely to be generated from the router's arp cache - and it may not show attached devices that are inactive.

I'd suggest you change your WEP key if you haven't already done so.

[oddjob]

Thanks for that, fordem. I see what you mean. I clicked on the attached devices and found only two IPs. One for my PC and the other for the second "hard wired" PC. Both these PCs are on and active online now. There's nothing for the third PC which is not connected to the LAN for the present (i.e. inactive) and none of this is strange.

However, from what you say, if the unwanted connection(s) is/are inactive then I wouldn't see it in the list I guess.


As to changing the WEP key does that matter now that the router is on WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key)?


And can I ask another question on this please?

I updated the router's firmware yesterday and four new WPA setting options appeared to chose from. They are .......


WPA2-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 with Pre-Shared Key)

WPA-PSK + WPA2-PSK

WPA-802.1x

WPA2-802.1x


How do I know which WPA option is the best for me to choose?

Thanks again for any more advice/recommendations you may have for me.

[jmizoguchi]

WPA2-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 with Pre-Shared Key)

WPA-PSK + WPA2-PSK

if you are using Nintendo DS, you will need to use WEP although it's easily hackable.

using WPA, WPA2 will be better as quote for you.. those are the one you need to choose if you decide to drop DS and use better encryption

[oddjob]

Thanks jmizoguchi. Don't worry .... the DS is GONE. My son has agreed not to try & use it online any more. The network & router are now re-configured for WPA not WEP.

WPA2-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 with Pre-Shared Key)

WPA-PSK + WPA2-PSK

Now we are now on WPA which option should I choose? Which would be the best choice?

[jmizoguchi]

there is no what to what.

WPA2 are the best but also your wireless adapter have to be compatible. if works great.. if don't drop to WPA.

[oddjob]

You say my wireless adapter must be compatible.

Which is best to use with my Rangemax DG834PN router?

[jmizoguchi]

Originally Posted by oddjob

You say my wireless adapter must be compatible.

Which is best to use with my Rangemax DG834PN router?

type of wireless router has less to do.

G wireless, draft-N, all the same.

it's about compatible issue with wireless adapter if it will supports WPA2 or not. General speaking for say.

if works with WPA2 too then guess what.. wireless adapter is compatible with WPA2 encryption.