Vortexbox/Squeezebox Setup for Dummies

[sb24]

Step 1) Brand and model # of router: Actiontec M1424-WR Rev E
2) Default Gateway # 192.168.1.1 ( I've seen this # many times before and searches on browser or in Start/Search gets nothing
subnetmask # is 255.255.255.0 and there is an ipV4 # of 192.168.1.5. All listings in that window for Media status show "media disconnected" for ethernet connections, listed on 3 different lines.
If you can help from this, thanks. The default password doesn't seem to work, when I type in the first letter of the one I had, three blind letters show up, so I don't know how to access it even though I did it recently with the password I used.

[sb24]

I accessed the router information, but cannot get into it further because it does not recognize the password that Verizon gave it, and nobody here changed it. The problem remains, that no matter whose advice I follow, the VB is not being detected by the network despite being connected to the router by ethernet, and therefore will not connect with any computer in the house, windows or mac. The router address entered in the browser directs me to Verizon, where I can't sign in with the user name and password that they supplied. My wife has the booklet with all the same info written down, and would have noted any changes made. E.G, she did change something on her laptop, has it in the booklet and it works fine, but not for this. Still stumped and more frustrated.

[divreg]

I looked up your router, and I found a guide for determining the router password. http://www.actiontec.com/howto/h2_de...id=20&cat_id=3

Try for username-password the following

admin-admin
admin-password

It's important that you know how to get into your routers web UI. If this doesn't work, you have additional options:

1. Call Verizon and double check with the info they gave you.

2. Reboot the router again. Unplug it, unplug the modem for 30s, plug modem back in, after 30s more plug in router.

3. Reset it. Reconfigure it. If the router is turned on, push the small reset button on the back for 10 seconds. It'll reboot, and you'll be able to access the web UI at 192.168.1.1, where you can configure a new username and password and password protect the wifi. You'll lose internet for a bit while this is happening. Google for more information if you are unsure about this step, and do it before resetting.

[Ron Olsen]

If you haven't already done so, please try the following:

1. Attach a monitor and keyboard to your VB.

2. Login as root.

3. Enter

ifconfig eth0
cat /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0

4. Report the output from these commands.

[Falcon Eddie]

You have more potential problems here then what you probably think and getting into the router is the least of your problems. I have just given you some basics to check on and it seems those have gone unanswered. As long as you have a multitude of helpers here all at the same time, I'm afraid I am going to step back from all this. It just confuses the issue worse. Besides, I have asked a multitude of questions and instructions and they have been ignored for the most part and gone unanswered. Somebody seems to comes along and asks the same questions and gives directions that were already given. You seem to have enough assistance here already now.

[Jons]

It seems that you have to select a new username and password the first time you access the router GUI.
Are you sure you haven´t written down that info somewhere?
try with username: admin, and password combinations you usally use.

If that doesn´t work the only way to recover the password is to reset the router as someone pointed out above.
I wouldn´t advice you to do that though, since you would wipe out all settings and might end up with nothing working.

However, if you can get into the GUI you should see your VB IPadress on the startpage under "My network"
There are also networkscanners that can ping all addresses in your network. This way you can find out which IPaddresses that are in use.
I don´t want to recommend a scanner to use though, since I haven´t tried and verified any of them myself.

If you still can´t find your VB, its something wrong with your VB network settings - Follow Rons advice above to fix this.

When you see that your VB is connected and assigned with an IP address, and your router GUI is working, you can change the DHCP range and set up your VB with a static IP.
having a static IP is preferable, but not needed...

To change the DHCP range you´ll have to press "Advanced" in the upper window on the startpage.(in the router GUI)
After that click on "IP Address Distribution" down in the lower right window.

Now you can see the IP range, its probably 192.168.1.2 - 192.168.1.254

Click the appropriate icon in the “Action” column. The “DHCP Settings” screen for the device appears.
Now change the last box to the right under "End IP address" to 100.

Save and exit. the router might need to reboot...
After the reboot, make sure your VB still have the same IP Address assigned.

Now you can set up your VB with a static IP address from the VB GUI, using http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx where X is the IP of the Vortexbox you found out earlier.
Click on the network settings Icon on the left.
Check the Static IP box.
Fill in:
IP: 192.168.1.101
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
DNS:192.168.1.1

now you can reach the VB on http://192.168.1.101

[sb24]

@ falcon eddie: I have tried all that you have suggested, just that others jump in so I am not necessarily addressing your help when I reply. When I go to crypto, and try anything there, I get an error code 10069, and can't find the VB. It doesn't come up on the menu of programs accessible, but the Squeezebox does. Is it possible there is a wi-fi problem internally with the VB, because it can't seem to be found thru any route on any computer here? I am hesitant to shut off the router, fearing the whole network (phones, TV, internet) will go down without access to passwords. When I enter the router address (the 192 #) I get a Verizon screen with user name/password. When I enter the user name my wife has written in the manual ( the basic suggestion, as here - admin, then password), as soon as I type in one blind letter in the password space, three dots appear!!!??? Type another letter and 3 more show. Since they are blinds, I don't know what is being entered. This is as far as I can get. I do appreciate your help, and since most of you are in agreement, I'm not sure what is still causing this problem that you all think requires the solutions appearing here. I think the only option I haven't tried is directly hooking up the keyboard/monitor to the VB, so I'll try that one later.

[garym]

@ falcon eddie: I have tried all that you have suggested, just that others jump in so I am not necessarily addressing your help when I reply. When I go to crypto, and try anything there, I get an error code 10069, and can't find the VB. It doesn't come up on the menu of programs accessible, but the Squeezebox does. Is it possible there is a wi-fi problem internally with the VB, because it can't seem to be found thru any route on any computer here? I am hesitant to shut off the router, fearing the whole network (phones, TV, internet) will go down without access to passwords. When I enter the router address (the 192 #) I get a Verizon screen with user name/password. When I enter the user name my wife has written in the manual ( the basic suggestion, as here - admin, then password), as soon as I type in one blind letter in the password space, three dots appear!!!??? Type another letter and 3 more show. Since they are blinds, I don't know what is being entered. This is as far as I can get. I do appreciate your help, and since most of you are in agreement, I'm not sure what is still causing this problem that you all think requires the solutions appearing here. I think the only option I haven't tried is directly hooking up the keyboard/monitor to the VB, so I'll try that one later.

sb24, You still seem a little confused as to what the VB is and isn't. For example you say that the VB doesn't come up on the menu of programs. VB is NOT a program. It is a computer server on your network. I'm not even sure how you can connect with crypto or PuTTY as both of these would require you to enter the IP address of the VB before you could login to the VB with username ROOT and password VORTEXBOX. And there is no WIFI problem with the VB because the VB is NOT using WIFI. It is connected to your router with an ethernet cable.

In any case, to summarize:

1. You need to have ability to login to your router (which is accessed via a webbrowser with the address: 192.168.1.1
2. You need to know the IP address of the VB, and preferably change it to a static address as I and others have explained.

Once you've done all that, we can then help you with the ripping of CDs, using LMS to play music to your Transporter, etc.

[sb24]

Sorry, my language is vague in describing certain things. By programs, I meant on the crypto screen. When I downloaded Crypto, I got 2 icons on my desktop. One gives me the black screen, where I have entered either the "ifconfig..." link which gave me nothing, the other link I put in was the supposed router ip which gave me the error message. When I hit the other crypto icon, I get a screen with all the hardware and many programs on the laptop, in menu form, and the VB is not on this list but the Squeezebox is. So I know it isn't a program, but a piece of "hardware/device" that doesn't show up anywhere and isn't found in any network searches or add-ons. I've done everything you've listed up to your "to summarize" line, except to try the direct keyboard/screen hookup to the VB, which I will attempt later today. As I said, when I go to the next steps, entering the address via browser gets me to Verizon, where I have the weird problem described above when I try to enter a password, so I can't get to step 2. I have had access to VB before all this, ripped 3 CDs but can't see what was done without being able to get to the VB GUI screen. That is the problem, I'm sure once I can get there, everything else should be as easy as you all describe. It's finding a workable way, with whatever is causing the network to not communicate properly, at least in the manner you all describe, that has been impossible.

[russell may]

There is probably no need for anyone else to chime in with further advice, and the correct advice has already been given to you, but i would add this:

1. hooking up a keyboard and monitor to your VB may be able to help you, but I would caution against you thinking that this is an easier option, or a solution to all your problems, because it most likely will not be. Whatever you do, make sure you write down carefully the messages that are on the screen if it appears to be showing an error (or take a photo and post it here). As Ron said above, at the log in prompt (if you get it, for example because you rebooted it), type "root" (without the quotation marks). it will then prompt you for a password, type "vortexbox" again without the quotes. report the result you get from that, but it is likely if you get past this stage without any obvious error messages that your VB is running fine. Remember, this is a linux based system so dont expect it to look anything like windows or a mac; you will just get a winking cursor on a black screen (we call this a command line); it will not be apparent to you from the screen that VB is running , but it will be if you managed to login properly and get a winking cursor. Tell us precisely what happened when you do this.

2. Your VB will be using your network, so you need to learn how to troubleshoot any problems with your own network. Having a networked music system with no knowledge of your router/network or any ability to login to your router is a recipe for disaster, even if you did manage to get the system working. Music networks have issues from time to time, it is just a fact of life (in fact , i am amazed you have never had any network problems up to now, given that you seem to be using it fairly extensively). The key to this is being able to log into your router, (which is accessed via a webbrowser with the address: 192.168.1.1 - as others have said many times) You say that you cannot login to it. You therefore need to call Verizon support and have them lead you through it. You may indeed need to reset your router completely, so you can choose a new username and password and yes that may well cause you to lose connection with the things correctly on the network, so do this under the supervision of someone on the phone who can walk you through it. Alternatively, can you not enlist the help of a friend who understands routers and can visit your home? I appreciate that you do not want to add to your problems now, but you are otherwise just storing up the problem for later so you may as well bite the bullet now.

so, do step one if you must, (and if you do, report the findings fully and completely - do not give general comments about things not appearing to work as no-one will be able to help you with that information. Ron is an amazing help on here but he needs precise and specific information) but do NOT avoid step 2

all the best. This will all be worth it in the end I assure you ,even if you do feel like smashing it up at the moment!