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Wiring and configuration problems

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  • Configuration
  • Ethernet Card
  • CPUs
  • Mac OS X
Last response: in Mac Os X
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October 16, 2012 12:45:48 AM

Hello,
I have 5 mac's 1 pc like this; 3 cpu's in my office -ethernet. My wife has 3 cpu's - 2 on ethernet, 1 wifi and 2 ipads-wifi 3 usb printers 2 ethernet printers I have a satellite internet system coming into a modem with only 1 ethernet connection for the best set up what must I buy? and how to configure it?

More about : wiring configuration problems

a c 198 à CPUs
October 16, 2012 1:37:59 AM

shatire06 said:
Hello,
I have 5 mac's 1 pc like this; 3 cpu's in my office -ethernet. My wife has 3 cpu's - 2 on ethernet, 1 wifi and 2 ipads-wifi 3 usb printers 2 ethernet printers I have a satellite internet system coming into a modem with only 1 ethernet connection for the best set up what must I buy? and how to configure it?


It doesn't matter if you have OSX, iOS, windows machines, linux boxes, BSD, etc... TCP/IP and DHCP/BOOTP, are standard protocol sets. What you want to avoid doing is creating some crazy fabric of nested networks and switches as this is a recipe for disaster.

If you have a decent budget and don't mind running cable, get your hands on a 24 port gigabit switch (these can be acquired for as little as $150) and a dedicated wireless access point. Use your existing gateway/router/modem combo to link in the satellite and upstream modem and connect it to the switch, then fan everything from the switch to the destination. If you're comfortable doing so you can easily run CAT5e cables in bunches of 4 or 6 to each room by bundling them using black electrical tape, that's how my house is wired. Wall panels and cable are cheap, just make sure to punch the cables correctly and label them on each end. Lastly, get a powerful wireless-N dedicated access point (not a cheap one) and hook it up to the switch as well. In this configuration you have one modem, one switch and one access point. Let the modem handle the DHCP, so set the access point to do DHCP passthrough if it supports it (it should if it's a good one). If your modem is just a modem and doesn't support DHCP then you will need a router between the switch and the modem, or a 16 port router in lieu of a switch but those can get expensive.

If you don't want to do a bunch of cabling work you're going to need more switches, at least 3. One gateway router connected to the modem, and one switch in each of your rooms. A combo gateway router/wifi access point would work nicely and two cheap 8 port switches in each of your rooms.

One thing that you want to avoid like the plague is using multiple routers. Most support 'bridge mode' which makes them act like switches but this can get irritating as they may need a static IP. If not used properly, this can make navigating your home network quite difficult.
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October 16, 2012 1:59:58 AM

Always run an Ethernet cable to a desktop computer, printer and network devices, if you can. The rest is wireless.

The service comes in the house and gets connected directly to your modem via RG6. Your SAT coupler gets plugged into port 4 of the modem. Port 1 of the modem gets connected via Ethernet to your wireless router. Your computers and network devices get run off your wireless router. If you don't have enough connections, a switch should be connected to the wireless router.
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October 23, 2012 12:06:35 AM

Thanks Guys I've got it up and running Great
As follows Modem to 8 port switcher with 2 wireless routers for to areas 4 of the mac are ethernet in to different areas and wifi on the rest WOW
PS I went with Netgear on the equipment great choice.
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a c 198 à CPUs
October 23, 2012 2:34:17 AM

shatire06 said:
Thanks Guys I've got it up and running Great
As follows Modem to 8 port switcher with 2 wireless routers for to areas 4 of the mac are ethernet in to different areas and wifi on the rest WOW
PS I went with Netgear on the equipment great choice.


I use Netgear stuff, always reliable.
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