IP address conflict

Hi, I'm trying to figure out how to fix this error -
"IP address conflict with another system on the network." This comes up on my computer connected via ethernet to a DSL modem, when I'm also using the modem as a wireless router with my iPod Touch 2G.

Strange that it only happens sometimes, and doesn't seem to interfere with connectivity, but I'd like to resolve whatever is causing it.

Using Windows XP with all updates, Avast not Norton.

In my iPod settings it shows the IP address under DHCP, not Static.

Thanks,
Karen

 

Karen,

The machine getting the error message is the one that has detected the conflict. Either there is another device on your network that has a static IP address OR there is another DHCP server on your network giving out the same addresses.

Can you tell what the IP address for the system and the ipod are?

 

Thanks.. The IP address for the system and ipod are the same except one ends in .1, and the other ends in .2.

 

That's interesting. Generally, the .1 address is reserved for the gateway. I would like to know what the DHCP address pool looks like in the router. Do you know what the routers address is? Can you log into it? Can you display the IP address pool?

 

Yes, I can log in to the router, but I don't know what I'm looking for - what is the IP address pool?

 

It does give the DHCP range - is that what you're looking for? I take it this is not secure info?

 

Yes, the DHCP range. Yes, the information is not secure. The addresses you will post are PRIVATE addresses and EXACTLY the same as most every home user on the Internet. It will probably start with 192.168.x.x.

 

Hi Karen,

No, it wouldn't be secure info. The IP addresses with the conflict are going to be local IPs, not the one handed out by your ISP for you to get onto the internet with.

Local addresses most often start 192.168 - I'm currently on 192.168.1.2 and the address of my gateway is 192.168.1.1 (the gateway is our modem) and there's nothing anyone "out there" can do with that info.

Somewhere after you log into your modem, it should list what IP addresses it has handed out and whether they are static or dynamic addresses. You should find your computer and your ipod listed in there.

Yes, the DHCP range should be what's being asked for. It should give a start and end address. It would also be worth saying what you type into your web browser's address bar when you want to log into your modem.

If you are having trouble working out where to go in your modem settings to find any of this info, mention the brand and model number and someone will be able to you as to where you should be going for information.

EDIT: Never go off to do something partway through posting and then fail to refresh the thread before posting your answer... didn't mean to more or less repeat what you said, Jconstan, sorry. :-o

 

Thanks all for pitching in, however redundantly

The modem is Siemens Gigaset SE567, address 192.168.254.254, and the range is 192.168.254.1 thru 192.168.254.253. Attached is screen capture of ipconfig /all.

 

It is interesting that your IP lease is 28 years!! Normally, its something like 5 days. Don't know if that has anything to do with your problem, but I'd like to see an IPCONFIG /ALL from the other machine.

 

Okay, well I understood some of that!

I'm only using my desktop computer with the DSL modem, no separate router.
Anyway, I will do the resetting as you suggested, thanks.. although not sure what an "ipconfig /all from the other machine" means.

And I have no idea of the implication of the 28 year lease, sounds ominous! :-D

 

I'm sorry...I forgot you said the other device was an ipod. No IPCONFIG on the ipod :-o

 

I am assuming here that if you disconnect the ipod from the network you do not get the IP conflict message.....correct?

 

Yup, pretty sure I'm only getting the IP conflict when the ipod has wifi enabled. But not every time it's enabled. One of those annoying intermittent deals rolleyes.

About the "other machine" - I DO have a laptop but haven't used it for weeks and it's totally off. Or maybe it's the new computer I can't yet afford!

 

OK....turn on the ipod and look at the modem/router log file and see what address is being given to the ipod by the modem/router when the computer is also on.

 

Ok, it says Address 192.168.254.2 given out to 00:23:32:5f:0b:16

But I didn't get the error message this time. Next time I do, I'll look at the log again.

 

Very good. Now we know that the log may contain some good information in the way of IP addresses MAC addresses and DHCP.

 

Ok, I got the IP address conflict message this morning at 10:06 when I turned on my ipod, having turned on my computer a few minutes before. Here's the log:

03/08/2010 10:04:51 EST E |Wireless |Station MAC 00:23:32:5F:0B:16 - associated successfully

03/08/2010 10:04:51 EST E |DHCP Server |Address 192.168.254.1 given out to 00:23:32:5f:0b:16

03/08/2010 10:04:51 EST E |DHCP Server |1 Address(es) leased

03/08/2010 10:04:52 EST E |Wireless |Link Up

03/08/2010 10:04:53 EST E |DHCP Server |Address 192.168.254.1 given out to 00:23:32:5f:0b:16

03/08/2010 10:04:53 EST E |DHCP Server |1 Address(es) leased

03/08/2010 10:05:06 EST E |DHCP Server |Address 192.168.254.2 given out to 00:23:32:5f:0b:16

03/08/2010 10:05:06 EST E |DHCP Server |1 Address(es) leased

 

Very interesting! The router tried giving out the .1 IP address that it already had given out to the workstation two times before it decided to give out the .2 address. There should be no way that the router should give out an address that is already leased. It's almost as if it forgot that it gave out the .1 address to the workstation. Very strange. See if there is new firmware for the modem/router that you can download and install.

 

They say the firmware is up to date. But I'll report this to them and see what they say!

 

Good idea! Keep us posted.