A second router behind a FIOS router.

[Stinky The Clown]

We have a FIOS Actiontech MI424-WR router. It controls everything in the FIOS system - televisions, the phones, and the Internet - plus our local network.

Verizon tells me they just "closed the port" (??) that allows static IP addresses on subscribers' networks, supposedly disallowing any FIOS subscribers from having static IPs unless they upgrade to business class (sounds like a scam, but who knows). I have need of keeping two of the computers on our network on static IP addresses - not to host websites, but for communication internally with some of our peripherals.

Will a second router downstream from the FIOS-provided router work? My thought is to have the downstream router be my internal DHCP server (is that what you call it?). That way, it gives out the IP addresses and should allow these two computers (or all on the network, for that matter) to have static IP addresses. What do I do with the FIOS router? It needs to be there to serve the television guide, and assign IPs the set top boxes, among other things. It also connects our Wii console so we can watch streaming Netfix. Obviously I have to keep that capacity alive.

Would there be a conflict with the downstream (new) router also handing out IP addresses?

I have three Macs with Leopard 10.6, one with Snow Leopard 10.7, and five XP Home SP3 boxes.

The peripherals always seem happy. They're all pretty arcane devices (42" large format printer, a plotter-like cutter, and a large format Savin all-in-one), but they seem stupid and happy enough.

Will this work?

[MyNameGoesHere]

1. This does not compute

They will not allow a static IP on the public side unless you have a business account, true. They do not prevent internal static IP's though. They do block setting up an internal web server or other application servers. But this is easily worked around by using port forwarding to alternate ports. If you really want to replace the Fios router there are several guides at dslreports.com. However it is not 100% and you may lose some functionality.

And you can set static IP addresses to your local network. it is in there somewhere i just can't remember how to do it. I think i read it in the manual anyway.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. I still tracking down some help .... but here's what happens when I set a computer to static .....

I set my MacPro to use "DHCP with manual address". It stuck. Everything behind the FIOS router works like a charm. All the computers, Mac and PC, show up where they ought to - in Mac's Finder and in XP's Network Neighborhood.

But the Mac can't get outside to the internet.

Change the Mac back to dynamic DHCP and the Mac can get out to the 'net, but all the computers disappear from where they were just visible. I can connect one share to another by SMB, so I know they're all still connected.

Anyway, I have a neighbor's kid coming over next week to have a look at what can be done. He works at the Apple Store and is (some computer specialty) major at college. He says he has to do some research as there is some nasty, pesky crap in the FIOS setup.

By the way, thanks for the reply! I appreciate it.

[MyNameGoesHere]

3. Oh no problem

You have to set your DNS to the fios router IP address. In your Static IP setup check the DNS entries on the MAC. Your MAC doesn't use netbios for resolution. That's why the XP machines have no issues they have netbios installed by default.