Setting up a (small) home network

I have an iBook G4, an old iMac (running OS 9), an inkjet printer, a laser printer, Airport Extreme and an Internet modem. I would like to hook all of this up so that both Macs are connected to both printers, both Macs are connected to the Internet and that I have wireless connection for internet and printing (to both printers) available to the iBook. (The iMac is not Airport compatible.)
Right now, everything works, but we have to unplug the printers from one Mac to the Airport when we want to print. Is there a single piece of hardware we need to hook this all together, or is it going to be more complicated than that?
I know just enough about this stuff to get by and/or to be dangerous, so any advice would be appreciated.

You've got a cable or DSL modem, right? I happen to have DSL, and my DSL modem is actually a combo DSL modem/router/wireless access point. So life is a bit easier for me. But both of my sons are on cable, and I think they both have a single wired port coming out of their cable modem, to which they have to connect a wireless router (like an Airport Extreme Base Station). Are you like that?
If so, while I don't have an AEBS, as far as I know, an AEBS has firewall capability in it, and can configure for DHCP IP address assignment or static IP address assignment or a mix of both (i.e., it routes).
If my presupposition is true, there are a couple of things I would do to configure your network. First would be to put your DSL/cable modem in bridge mode (so the IP address assigned by your ISP is passed through to the external IP address side of your AEBS) and then configure the AEBS for NAT (i.e., it doles out 10.0.x.x addresses to everything in your residential LAN). Why? Because if both devices are doing NAT, then the modem is giving your BS a 192.168.x.x address, and then your BS is giving your computers a 10.0.x.x address. Some applications (most notably iChat) do not like double-NATting traffic through two firewalls/routers.
I'm not sure whether a device in bridge mode can have an active firewall or not. Never tried it. If it can, enable your firewall on the modem. If it can't, enable the firewall in the AEBS.
Now, check whether your printers can support accepting DHCP address assignments from a router. They may need to have static IP addresses (i.e., you may need to manually assign IP addresses to the devices). I don't know enough about AEBSs to know whether they can support a mix of static and dynamic IP addresses on the local LAN side, or whether it is all of one or all of the other. So you may need to disable DHCP in the AEBS and give it (on the residential LAN side) and your computers and printers a manually assigned IP address. If it supports a mix of static and DHCP, just give them IP addresses in the static address range, and your computers can still be configured to accept DHCP assignments from the AEBS. If the printers support DHCP, never mind all this drivel.
If you don't have enough wired ports for the iMac and one or more of the printers are not wireless-capable, connect a printer or two to your iMac via USB, and enable printer sharing in System Preferences > Sharing on the iMac. Other computers on your residential LAN should be able to find the printers so long as the iMac is powered up and printer sharing has been enabled on it.
Now have that other martini!
(If you find that my post solves your problem, or is actually helpful towards arriving at a solution to your problem, please consider clicking on either the "helpful" or "solved" buttons in the header of my post. Thank you.)

Similar Messages

Can I set up a small home network on mt BThub3

Hi,
I have two standard PCs one running on Vista and the other on XP also a laptop. They all successfully access the internet via a BT Hub 3. One computer connects via a LAN cable the laptop and the other computer connect via a wirless connection
If possible I would like to network these three computers via the BT hub for data transfer and also for the computers to use the single printer I have.
I have read various items about setting up the computers to share a printer but as I have no experience of networks and how to intergrate the computers through the hub.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
David

This is quite straighforward, but I would recommend that you look at one of the many help pages on the web, that describe in detail what you need to do.
The home hub does not really play any part in this, its just an interconnection point.
Here is a page to get you started with Windows XP.
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/windowsxpnetworking/ht/sharewinxpfiles.htm
and Vista
http://windows.about.com/od/networkconnect/ss/sharing_files_printers_all.htm
There are some useful help pages here, for BT Broadband customers only, on my personal website.
BT Broadband customers - help with broadband, WiFi, networking, e-mail and phones.

Small home network using a mini

Hello i'd like to set up a small home network. The component i have are:
A broadband connection via a cable modem
A mac mini which can act as a server (i'd like to provide access to shared photos and music, and connect an external HD for backup and storage)
2 airport wireless routers
2 macbook pro laptops and 1 mini all with wireless
Any suggestions as to the most effective way to link this all together?
Thanks
Tim

Hi Tim,
You've accidentally posted this on the iPod Mini forum, not the Mac Mini!
Mark

Setting up a small business network using mac and windows pcs

Setting up a small business network using mac and windows??

Ok that sounds great. What is your actual question as it relates to AirPort networking? Is it: Can I set up a wired/wireless network with an AirPort base station that support multiple Mac & PC clients? If so the answer is yes.
If, instead, it is how to I configure an AirPort network to support a small business you will have to provide more details on both your networking & computing equipment in order for any of us to help you.

Setting up DHCP on home network

I have a home network that has Mac Server running on a Mac mini. I have two Apple Extreme routers. In Server app in the Settings tab of the DHCP section I carelessly deleted all Networks and in the Clients tab I deleted all clients. Now I’m trying to correctly set up DHCP but have been unsuccessful.
If I try to add an entry in the Networks section I get the error message “Another DHCP server might be running”. In the Clients section I see two identical entries.
I’ve tried to understand the tutorials and other help sources but all of them devolve (for me) into technical gobbledygook that is way beyond my current understanding.
Can anyone provide a recipe for setting up DHCP for my network configuration?

Thanks, Linc. It turns out I did do just that after I concluded that the DNS service on Server is unnecessary when there's a router between the home network and the internet. The error message is probably referring to the router when it mentions "another DHCP server". I've just disabled the DNS service in Server and removed everything in the two tabs for DNS service.
I really don't know what's wrong about using one of the routers as the DHCP server.

Creating a small home network

I have a trusty iMac G4 (17" version) a new Toshiba PC Laptop from work, a Canon Pixma 450 printer and an internet connection.
I am wanting to connect the above so that both computers can use the internet connection and printer and possibly share files with each other.
My Mac has no wireless facility.
The wireless router I am looking at has 4 ports at the back for wired connection which I was going to plug the Mac and Printer into, plus a port for internet.
Questions are ..
Will this work with a Mac and PC?
How do I file share from Mac to PC?
If I have a 7.0Mb internet connection will a 54Mbs router be enough, will it affect file sharing speed?
Can I just plug them all in and get going in a plug and play stylee?
Thanks for your time,
James
iMac G4 17 Flat Panel 768mb Ram, Lacie 250gb HD Mac OS X (10.3.9)

This should help you:
Setting up a local Ethernet network
Equipment needed:
Cable/DSL modem: usually supplied by the ISP
Gateway/Router: at least a 4-port router, but you can get them with more ports if you need them. (Alternatively, you can get a switching hub to provide additional ports.)
CAT 5 Ethernet cables: one cable is needed for each device connected to the router plus one to connect the router to the cable/DSL modem.
1. Connect the Cable/DSL modem to the router's WAN port using an Ethernet cable (CAT 5 for 10/100.)
2. Connect each computer to the router's LAN ports using Ethernet cables. If you have network printers, etc. connect them to a LAN port on the router. If the router doesn't have enough ports, then you will need to purchase one with more ports or connect a switching hub to the router.
3. Now, for each Mac open its Network preference pane. Select the Built-in Ethernet port for configuration. In the TCP/IP configuration window set the connection/configuration to DHCP from the dropdown menu. Set your Location dropdown menu to Automatic and the Show dropdown menu to Built-in Ethernet.
4. Shut everything off. First, turn on the Cable/DSL modem and wait for the connect lights to indicate it has connected to the ISP. Next, turn on the router and wait to see if the Cable/DSL modem's communication status light starts to flicker. Also, if there is a status light on the router it should show a connection. Last, power up the computer. If all is well the TCP/IP control panel or Network pref pane should indicate an IP has been obtained from the router, usually in the 192.168.nnn.nnn range. If it's 169.xxx.xxx.xxx then you don't really have a connection.
5. If you have network printers connected each printer will have to be assigned its own unique IP address in the router's address range (usually 192.168.nnn.nnn.) Assign the printer(s) IP addresses above the number of computers that will be connected but within the router's DHCP address assignment range. Consult the router's documentation for that information. Consult the printer manual for how to assign an IP address to the printer. When you install the printer driver and/or Add the printer you will add it as an IP printer or LPR printer and use the IP address you assigned to the printer.
6. If you have an USB printer then connect it to one of the computers, install the proper printer driver (if one is not provided with OS X), then add the printer using the Print Setup Utility. Verify the printer works. Then open the Sharing preference pane and turn on Printer Sharing. On the other computers install and/or add the printer using the Print Setup Utility. It should appear under the category of Shared Printers.
7. To share files use the Sharing preference pane and turn on Personal File Sharing. If you want to share from all computers then turn on file sharing for all the connected computers.

Newbie - setting up small home network

I'm hoping to get some advice & suggestions. I'm basically a newbie at teching w/macs - I've done some pc teching over the years and am a MS Office wiz. I'm helping an artist friend out with their home office set up after a bad experience with a Computer School Student. I'm trying to connect a week old iMac w/ a G4 laptop and an older 2004 iMac (no airport card). The office has Verizon DSL w/a linksys router --- the internet functions are fine on all machines, the new iMac & laptop connect for file sharing as well although I have the prob of not knowing the admin password and the owner can't remember it. The old 04iMac I've hotwired/hardwired through the router and get internet & email ok (its a bit slow, probly normal).
File sharing - am I correct in assuming that the hardwired 04iMac can't do both functions (ie file share & internet) at the same time? There is space for an airport to be installed - IF the owner chose to do so, would that change the functionality (ie could I then do the file sharing & internet at the same time?).
Password issue - ok with the laptop, I searched the files and found instructions on how to reset the password. I tried it but didn't get the prompts that the article said I would in nvram (geez I hope that's right or I'll look like a dork). I wasn't prompted for my password. I did safely get out of that screen (boy I was nervous) the passwords remained the same. I'm wondering if I missed something. I wasn't sure if I really was booted from the CD as the article stated, though I did hold the C key down while restarting?
Any comments will be much appreciated. I'm doing pretty good and LOVE mac's. Can't wait to get my own probly MacBook Pro this year (I use the BF's off and on for now)
Thanks in advance,
Simply,
Lesa

Thank you, I got the password issue solved and the laptop and New iMac network/talk to each other fine and I can print from either machine. The 04 iMac is hard wired into the Linksys router (DSL internet service) ... I can't figure out how to connect to the other machines or the printer. I have the printer chosen in Utilities/Print Center, I have the Apple Talk - Make Apple Talk Active chosen, Location is set on Automatic. In File Sharing, I have Personal file sharing and Printer sharing checked. I have 2 accounts set up on the 04 iMac. When I type a test page in Text Edit and hit the print que, the job appears to be sent to the printer although it didn't show up in the Print Center window and almost immediately the Text Edit program crashes, this also happened in Safari as I attempted to print a test internet page and happens from both Accounts, the Admin account and my other User Account.
I also have had some difficulty with keeping the DSL/internet connection running on the other User Account - though it seems to be working ok today.
One other - non-networking issue is that in Mail for my other User Account, often when the machine automatically checks for or sends email we are asked for the password although we keep checking the box to save the password and I'm pretty sure I set Mail up so that we wouldn't have to re-enter the password.
Thanks in advance - I appreciate your help and experience as well as having a place to ask questions and reach out for help.
Simply,
Lesa

Help setting up small home network with PC and an imac!!!?

I have an imac in my room, and my mother has a JP PC in her room across the house. We have a router and modem on her computer(I connect to the internet through the router signal)
I just recently bought a new printer. It is a wifi printer. I was told by a friend that I need to setup a small netowrk so all the computers/printers in the house can talk to one another. Because right now my printer is installed and connected to the router signal (but my computer does not reconize it to print....)
I started a small network on my moms PC...but when I can't make a network CD like it tells me to because my computer is a Mac....how do I continue to setup this network?Can I set it up first on my mac as well???PLEASE HELP! I want to use my printer!

You can just connect the WRT54G wireless router’s LAN port to BEFSR41 router’s LAN port by using a network cable as specified in this configuring wireless router as access point article, after that can connect other computers to that wireless router with or without cable. Finally do more test to check the performance. Hope it helps.

Best way to set up DVCP/NAT in small, home network

I have a Verizon static, fiber connection for internet access to a Netgear, FVX538 router.
From the router, I have an Airport Extreme and two (2) Airport Expresses extending the network thru the house.
I need to have DHCP enabled so my kids can come home at all times and be able to easily gain access with their laptops.
My question is, which machine should be providing the addresses?? The router or the Airport Extreme??
Or should I just forget DHCP and go to static?
Many thanks

My question is, which machine should be providing the addresses?? The router or the Airport Extreme??
As you know, both are routers, but if you will have any devices, other than the AEBSn, connected to the Netgear, then you will want the Netgear to provide both NAT & DHCP services. In turn, the AEBSn would need to be configured as a bridge to allow the Netgear to provide these services to all the devices connected (wired or wirelessly) to the network.

Setting up a small office network - advice needed

We are to move our small office (3 people) from a shared office environment to our own office space. That has the huge advantage that we´ll finally be Mac-only, but the agreeable disadvantage that there is no longer a networking professional around. And this is where I enter. I now have to find a solution on how to set up the network, and I do not have experience in that field (though I am fairly experienced with OSX).
As of today we have a G5 iMac, a G4 powermac and a G4 iBook. In the not too far future we will be getting a proper G5 powermac as well.
The G4 is used for low key office applications, Word and Mail mostly. The iMac is the workhorse that runs all graphic/video applications. It also is used for presentations once in a while, so that this machine is not always available. The iBook is used for writing and e-mail plus some light-weight field editing.
I would like to find a solution that we could store all important files on one computer, so that it would be easier to make regular back-ups. And everyone could easily access those files.
It would be great if data from iCal and Adress Book could also be stored centrally, such as that addresses are available for everyone, and updated calenders are available for all employees.
As the budget should be as small as possible, I was wondering if we could use the G4 powerbook (867mhz, 1gig memory) to run a sharing service in the background. Then I could also install a second harddisk and use both hdd as a backing-up-raid. Once in a while I would make a backup on a external firewire disk.
Is this a possible solution, or should we rather have one machine dedicated as a server. Would it be sufficient then to use the G4 as that server and buy a MacMini or iMac as the office machine?
Since it is a small network, would I still need an OSX server license, or is the standard OSX enough for this?
iMac G5 20, G4 QS 867mhz, iBook G4, PB 190, and a Pentium that I haven't switched on in months... Mac OS X (10.4.3) Experienced with technology, just not with networking...

There are two ways to set up a network:
1 peer-to-peer
2 client-server
Peer-to-peer is cheaper, but not reliable. Apple supports peer-to-peer in OS X. (In fact, in all versions of the Mac OS since System 7.) You can have up to 10 users connected to any one machine using peer-to-peer. (Warning... if you have more than five users, that machine is going to get slow.) The various peers are used as normal workstations while sharing. You have three peers, and may get one or two more, so you can use peer-to-peer. Just don't overdo it. Your planed usage of a few Word docs and a few graphics files sounds about right.
Under OS X the peers are limited to sharing specific folders only, unless they use 3rd-party software such as SharePoint, which allows the sharing of any and all folders.
It seems that you plan to use the G4 as a 'server' using peer-to-peer. You also seem to be planing to add additional drives, and RAID. I'd get a high end IDE PCI card, or a FireWire card, or a SCSI card, for the G4. Depending on which G4 you have, you can stick up to four hard drives in the case if you go IDE or internal FireWire or SCSI. External SCSI or FireWire drive configuratins are limited only by the drive slots available (7 for low-end SCSI, 15 for high-end SCSI, 63 for FireWIre) and the space available. (And, of course, the budget availanle...) You can get dedicated RAID controllers.
For backup I'd get DVD or tape. Tape holds more and is easier to use, but is expensive (you have no idea how expensive, but I suspect you'll find out) and can be finicky. DVD is a lot cheaper, but it's slow, and someone will have to sit and feed discs into the machine. This will get old really fast. If your backup requirements are modest, DVDs might do, but probably you'll need something else. You could just buy an external hard disk and back up to that...
Apple charges US$500 for OS X Server 10 seat version. (They charge $1000 for the 255-seat version.) OS X Server should run on the G4, and will turn it into a full-fledged server.
Any of the O'Reilly books on OS X Server and/or on Samba should help you get started. O'Reilly's _Using Samba_ has a section devoted specifically to SMB on OS X Server which should be quite helpful.

Help setting up HP6500A for home network

I bought a 6500A all in one with wireless capability to support three computers at my home. I have a desktop running Windows XP, a laptop running XP and a laptop running windows 7. My ISP is Verizon FIOS. I set up the 6500 with a wired connection to the desktop and that works fine. I sent a test print from the laptop running windows 7 and that worked fine. When I tried to see the printer from the laptop running XP, I can't see it. I have loaded the latest drivers from the HP website and there are no firewall issues preventing the laptop from seeing the printer.
Any suggestions on what to try next? Upgrading to Windows 7 on this laptop is not an option.

There is a better way to set up this printer. You are trying to share one PC's USB connection which is difficult, buggy and will only share the printing function, not scanning or faxing.
Let's connect your printer to your FIOS router (disconnect from the desktop):
- Unplug the FIOS line from the router
- Turn the power off on the router, wait 30 seconds, then turn the power back on.
- On the front of the printer: Setup > Network > WIreless Setup Wizard - follow the directions
- Now find the IP address of the printer (it should be listed in the Network menu of the printer or on the Wireless Network Test in the Network menu)
- Type the printer's IP into the address bar of an web browser.
- On that screen you will find a Networking Tab, then on the left Wireless, then the IPv4 Tab.
- On this screen you want to set a Manual IP. You need to set an IP address outside the range that the router automatically sets (called the DHCP range). If you know what that is, set an IP outside that range but no higher than 254 (the last number in the address). If you do not know, use the current IP address.
- Use 255.255.255.0 for the subnet (unless you know it is different, if so, use that)
- Enter the same IP as the printer except '.1' for the last number, in the gateway and first DNS. Leave the second DNS blank.
- Plug in the FIOS line, reboot the router.
- Now on each PC, go to Start > All Programs > Hewlett-Packard and run "Add a Device". Add the printer as a Network device. Delete the old USB instance of the printer in Control Panel > Printers.
Say thanks by clicking "Kudos" "thumbs up" in the post that helped you.
I am employed by HP

Auto mounting hard drive across a small home network

Hi,
How do you setup a Power Mac 6500 running Mac OS 9.1 to automatically mount it's hard drive at startup onto a PowerMac G4 running Mac OSX 10.2.8? I have a small network at home that I'd like to cross-mount hard drives across.
I can mount the volume just fine manually from either machine. I just don't know the GUI or command on 9.1 to do the mounting automatically at startup.
Any ideas, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Ed

Here's the (partial) answer I was looking for.
To go from a remote machine --> 6500, do the following:
1) Open "Chooser".
2) Select "Apple Share".
3) Type in the DNS name of the computer you want to mount onto the 6500 in the box labeled "Server IP Address". If TCP/IP isn't active, then type in the numerical IP address.
4) When prompted, type in the password for your keychain, and then the account name and password on the remote machine that you want to automount.
5) Then select the drive (share), or shares, you wish to mount.
6) To automount at startup, check the box "Allow at Startup".
To get the share on the remote machine to automount at Startup, your keychain must be readable by the AppleShare application at Startup (ie. the "Allow access without warning" box on the keychain should be checked).
To go in the other direction, ie. 6500 --> Remote machine:
To automount the 6500's hard drive onto a G4, one needs to do that configuration on the G4, via NetInfo or launchd, depending upon the version of Mac OSX. These get into UNIX networking commands, which is probably outside the main scope of this forum. I'm working on getting the UNIX boxes configured now. If anyone would like to know the commands, just post back here.
I found out how to use the "Chooser" on Mac OS9.x platforms from p. 68 of the Apple manual "Mac OSX Server: File Services Administration for 10.4 or later".
The Apple Technical Note 1111 on programmatic mounting of shares under AppleShare is also useful.
Ed

How do I set up a second home network that bypasses Open DNS?

I have been having trouble downloading and streaming itunes content because I use Open DNS on my network.
There have been many posts about disabling Open DNS to solve the problem but if I do that, my internet filter goes away.
I would rather set up a second network that bypasses Open DNS and use it only for my Apple TV.
Is this possible and if so, how do I do it?
I have airport extreme base station with a second airport to extend the range, mac desktop, mac laptop, ATV, several iphones and ipads.
I'm running OS X 10.7.5.
Thanks in advance!

Are you suggesting that I go into my Airport router settings and just blank out the DNS settings and then reboot it?
Yes, exactly. You can always input those addresses again, if it does not solve the problem.
OpenDNS may offer some advantages over your whatever your ISP uses for DNS but optimizing download speed is not one of them.
Maybe I have jumped to the conclusion that Open DNS is the problem when maybe it isn't.
It is possible. As I understand it, Apple's servers attempt to use a location near you to deliver iTunes content, and OpenDNS may result in pointing it to a less ideal location.
3 hours may or may not be normal for HD movie. The download speed depends on a number of factors that are difficult to surmise without knowing details about your network and your ISP.

Small Home Network.........

I have a AEBS serving up for my wife's i-Book wirelessly and an i-Mac thru the LAN off the AEBS .I would like to set-up my Dell and another PC slave thru a 5-port Linksys switch to recieve my Verizon DSL also. Could I send the DSL straight to the switch and have the AEBS come off the switch also or do I need a seperate router for the AEBS and the switch?? Thanks...
iMac 500mhz Summer 2000 Mac OS X (10.4.4)

No, you cannot use the switch between the modem and the AEBS. To do so would probably violate your ISP terms of usage (more than one IP address being pulled from the ISP), and you would create two logical networks (those devices connected to the switch, and those to the AEBS) which would not see each other AND those devices connected to the switch would be accessible to any hacker looking for something to do. You should connect the switch to the LAN (<->) port of the AEBS, and all your ethernet connected devices should be connected to the switch.

Trouble seting up a small home network

i have cable internet wich works fine but i need to connect my apple to another mac the old one is running panther so i know its possible but i dont know what i need to go to to set it up i would appreciate some help on this matter thanks
brandon

Hi Brandon,
Based on the subject of your post (ie. you do actually want a network rather than to just temporarily connect your 2 machines) what you want is a router. This will connect to your cable modem and then share that connection amongst several other machines by creating your own little subnet. They're reasonably cheap.
The two flavours to consider are wireless (which will also include some wired ports) or wired only. There are quite a number of brands/models and, while OS X plays by the standards so it shouldn't matter, you should probably look for one that explicitly states it is compatible with Mac OS X.
Graham

Setting up a (small) home network

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