router not getting address from DHCP

In an office building, I plug a computer into a network drop in one of the offices. I get an IP address and access to the Internet. I needed to setup a private network for file sharing. So I set up an old Linksys router, reset it and updated the firmware. When I plug in the cable to the network drop and login to the router, it does not get an IP address. 0.0.0.0.

So I went out and bought a new, cheap, router. When I plug into that the light doesn't even light up on the router. It's as if nothing is plugged in. I used the same cable that worked on the PC. I logged into the router and verified there is no IP. This router even goes so far as to say nothing is plugged in. However, if I plug the computer directly into the WAN port, it lights up. So it's not new router that is bad.

Is there something that could be configured on the WAN side of this local router, in the office building, that is stopping me from getting an IP on a router? I am sure I am plugged into the WAN/Internet port. I have set 100's of these up and never seen such an issue. I know there is a Sonicwall device on the larger network, but am not privy to much else.

I also changed the IP range for the DHCP on the router thinking that maybe I was having a conflict. That didn't work. And then later I found that these devices don't even see the cable as plugged in, neither the Linksys nor the new router. I also tried a brand new cable to the device and that did not make a difference.

What am I missing? What else should I try? Thanks!!!

The WAN port of a router is the port that provide it access to the internet. The LAN ports are what provide its network to the clients.

So the WAN port goes into the wall outlet, and your pc goes into the LAN port.

Then refer to the manual on how to access and configure the DHCP of that router if it isn't enabled already by default.

Once you got it setup such that you can use the router, set its internet access to DHCP, which on most routers is the default.

If you plugin the network cable that provides internet into one of the LAN ports of the router, then indeed, it won't have internet access because internet is only accessible through its WAN port. That's basically what a router does. Shield all LAN ports from internet and uses the router capabilities through NAT translation to open ports between the WAN port and the individual LAN ports.

If that still doesn't work, then the sonicwall is detecting that the client is a router and there is a policy active preventing any router from gaining access. In that case, you need to contact your network-/system administrators.