Switch-Accessing Online Games Problem
 

I got a switch today which is like a router but no encryption etc (since it's 70+ dollars cheaper than a router). I connected both computers to the internet... the internet's working awesome (probably even better than before) and both computers are connecting nicely.... one computer is a HP (two weeks old) the other is a Cicero (but it rocks even better than the HP and it is 4 years old oO)

Now I did a IP check and they were different.... the last 6 numbers were completely different... but here's the problem... whenever I try to log into an online game the HP computer connects, but the Cicero computer doesn't connect for some reason. Now I'm not sure if it's an IP problem or if it's just the computer problem? But for some reason I think it has to do with the switch.... can anyone advice me on this one?

I mean I would understand if they don't let me connect since we got the same IP... but apparently that's not the case...

Your cable or DSL modem has only one IP, and that is the one that the game is seeing. Internally you have different IPs, but once you are going through the modem it is the same IP to the outside world.

The reason people tend to use routers instead of hubs or cheap switches is due to it's NAT (Network Address Translation) and other such features which can help with your situation.

Maybe if you included more information such as the switch, how it is setup, what game, etc.

The problem you are having migght be related to the fact you are only allowed on IP address to be assigned to any ONE pc at any time. Since you are connecting them via a switch not a router both PC's its not liking it as they are asking your service provider for an IP address each.
routers dont encrypt anything, rewrite packet headers yes, encrypt no

I suggest you shell out and get a router which is what the IP address is assigned to and that shares the IP address with your PC's via NAT