I have 8 static IP addresses, on an optical network leased thru Mbay.net. I can properly (apparently) configure Parallels in any of the three network modes, and get it to work (connect to the net) ONCE. However, the second time I try to connect, my entire network goes down. None of the other computers can connect; my server is kicked offline; and the only way I can get my systems back up and running is to turn off my DSL modem, and thereby reset the whole network. I have tried this over and over again, and the results are 100% repeatable. Today it was necessary to not only power down the modem, but to turn off every item on the network - the gigabit switch; the server; the attached machines; and to restart everything. Most likely it's my particular ISP, but it does completely kill Parallels for me. I need to be able to keep my MacBook on the network. Static IP; bridged access; shared... it makes no difference - one connect is good; all second ones fail and trash the entire network fatally. Suggestions welcomed...
I'm replying to myself, and for the benefit of anyone following this: I uninstalled -everything- and reinstalled. This time I had a copy of SP2 on a CD, and did the install w/o being hooked up to the ethernet (hence internet.) It worked, and my networking problems are gone. I can only guess that (perhaps) having installed XP Pro with SP1, my machine was left unguarded on the net for over an hour, and was attacked by something that my ISP (or carrier) really didn't like to see. In any case, it appears to have been my personal problem, having installed SP1, and the phase of the moon...
