Network without IPs
Dear anyone,
\tI want to be able to make network connections across a home network. The easiest way to do this is over TCP/IP, but, is there an easier way to do it. Like AppleTalk, I did not need to be connected to the internet to get an IP address and all that.
I am on Mac OS X by the way, Thanks <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
\tI want to be able to make network connections across a home network. The easiest way to do this is over TCP/IP, but, is there an easier way to do it. Like AppleTalk, I did not need to be connected to the internet to get an IP address and all that.
I am on Mac OS X by the way, Thanks <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
Comments
try to lay out exactly what you want to do, and i can see if i can help you.
just lay it out step by step what you want done, and we'll try to figure it out.
I want a way to connect to the other computers using the speed of the computer ports, not the speed of the internet,
With just two computers and no internet connection you can connect them with an Ethernet cable (might need a cross cable depending on the vintage of the Macs) then in the TCP/IP setup panel choose manual setup and assign any IP addresses you like. Now go to the finder, choose Go/Connect to Server and type in the IP address of the other computer. Both OS X systems should have file sharing on and the privileges for your public folder should be set to share. Take a deep breath and enjoy the network.
An easier way which allows connecting to broadband internet as well as sharing is to get a router/switch combination. Then just select DHCP server in the network control panel. The router will automatically assign IP addresses. Assuming you buy a router with a 10/100 switch then the computers can see each other at high speed. You still have to turn on file sharing and set the privileges for the public folder. In a small network the easiest way is to just allow guests to read and write. To gain full access to the computer you have to log in with your own name and password.
It is not really as hard as it sounds. Believe me.
<img src="graemlins/embarrassed.gif" border="0" alt="[Embarrassed]" />
Better than reading things here go to the Apple Knowledge Base and read article 106461. It is about file sharing with OS X and includes links to how to manage the Ethernet connection.
You are correct in saying that the machines don't appear. That may come later. Currently you have to type in the IP address. However, you only have to do it once. The first time you connect and the volume mounts on your desktop make an alias of it. The next time you want to connect just double click the alias. The connect function also stores recently used IP addresses in a popup menu.
I recommend using the IP address connection rather than Apple Talk It is much faster.
I doubt that you are connecting through the internet. The IP address your router has assigned each machine is probably something like 192.168.123... I believe that the 192 domain is reserved for private networks and is not visible from the internet. Anyway, to confirm this disconnect the router from the modem and see if you can still connect to the other machines.
If you really need a to browse the local machines look on version tracker. I think someone came out with something like this though I have never used it.
If you want to set up a network with ea. computer (mac/wintel/virtually anything else) being able to use the internet, you can setup a NAT (network address translation) server (on the mac os x box). NAT software is available in os x, so you don't need anything else, but setting it up is pretty hairy. There is something in the macnn.com boards that is pretty comprehensive on doing it, so I suggest looking there.
btw, even if the comps don't use the internet, you can setup a network with the NAT server, and connect to eachother. They each will have an IP address, but you can cut the network connection, and the addresses will still work locally. But, if your not using the inet, then there is probably an easier way to net the comps.
2) Having an IP aware network does not directly affect your UL or DL speed. The speed which you connect/interact with the outside internet is disrespective of everything on your personal LAN. And, if you use cat5 cable and have a decent ehternet card, your network could be faster than your hard disk drives. (cat5 cable speed = 10M bits / second -> 1G bits / second, latency (slowness) introduced by the ethernet cards)
3) again, inside the network IPs are constant. If you refer to computer B as 192.168.0.7, it'll stay that way unless you make a conscious effort to change it (Network System Pref).
Also, when you have the physical connections all up, i think setting up a few shared folders in appletalk is fairly easy. But, the phys network does need a slightly different setup to a NAT, and I'm not sure of all the necessray differences.