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Can't use second computer

randomusernameb
Neighbour

When I plug both of my PC's into the modem/router. I am given the same EXTERNAL PUBLIC IP ADDRESS for both computers. 

This has made it completely impossible for the second computer to connect to certain games, or even websites completely. And is causing a ton of issues with traffic that's meant for one computer, but the other gets it, and vice versa. 

I've been with Telus for years and years, and I have never had this problem before. Both of my computers, up till just a few months ago, had separate IP addresses, and everything worked perfectly. Now, they have the same, and now, the second computer is basically unusable because of it. 

Is there anything I can do to fix this in the options of the router? I have tried unplugging for days, and they just give both computers the exact same IP address regardless. And my phone, and tablet continue getting a different one entirely. 

3 REPLIES 3

Nighthawk
Community Power User
Community Power User

That's how a router works by default. All devices connected to a router will share the same external IP address. The computers should have separate internal or LAN IP addresses. The phones and tablets may have a different external IP depending on how they're configured. For example, if someone has iCloud private relay active, Apple devices like iPhones and iPads will essentially have a VPN active that route traffic through Apple's servers. Even still, they would have the same external IP as the computers with the VPN shut off.

 

The only way to give one device on your network an external IP is to have the device connected by ethernet to LAN1 on the gateway/router, and then enable bridge mode for that port specifically in the settings on the router. That would also mean that specific device will be isolated from the rest of the home network, so things like file and printer sharing, casting within the home network, etc. will not work on that device. You'd also want to ensure that all security precautions are taken when connecting a PC to a bridged connection since it'll be directly exposed to the outside world. What some users have done is they connected their own router to the bridged LAN port.

 

Telus also limits external IPs to a maximum of 2 per residential account. Avoid switching devices connected to the bridged LAN port once it's set up or getting a new IP to replace the second one will involve speaking with tech support.


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I made it very clear in my post, that this wasn't an issue up till a few months ago. Both PC's had different  IP addresses. I frequently use one PC to host small game servers for me and a few family members and a friend. It has always worked. The other one works online for streaming purposes, remote connection etc. 

Now it doesn't. It took me 2 months to realize that this was an issue because it assigns the same IP address to both PC's now. I have no work around for this. Your suggestion, I've tried, and it doesn't work for me because my whole home network is based on sharing files, videos, streaming games, and other computers being able to connect to game servers. 

It does give me a new IP address when I use wireless on the one PC. But unfortunately, that is an awful choice to use for a server computer. And I don't see it necessary to invest in high end wireless when my PC is sitting 2 feet from the router/modem. 

Rocky3
All-Star

try a different router? Maybe the lan ports are not working right.

I suspect all my devices have the same external footprint since I used the MAC address clone feature of an old computer on the router.