Basics of setting up a simple 2 computer + dsl network

[Peter Werner]

I'm setting up a very basic network and need some information on how
to proceed. Basically, its going to be a G4/466 and a Dell Dimension
4600 which use a KVM switch to share a common keyboard and monitor.
Network-wise, they'll have an ethernet connection to each other, but
also need to share a DSL line and peripherals such as a printer.

Will I need to purchase a seperate router or hub to do this?

Also, if anybody could recommend a good introductory book or website
on networking - preferably one that includes info about networking
both macs and pcs - that would be great.

Thanks,
Peter

[Bernd Wuensche]

[email]pgwerner1966@yahoo.com[/email] (Peter Werner) wrote in message news:<13378f69.0309222146.3a8bbebd@posting.google. com>...
Hi Peter,

> I'm setting up a very basic network
> G4/466 and a Dell Dimension
> 4600 which use a KVM switch
> an ethernet connection to each other
> need to share a DSL line and peripherals such as a printer.

1. Which equipment do you have?
- An external DSL adapter or a PCI card?
- Does your printer has built-in ethernet?

> Will I need to purchase a seperate router or hub to do this?

I'll say yes and no.
Perhaps your KVM switch can handle the printer. Then the only problem
would be DSL. If you don't mind un/plugging the cables all the time,
you're fine.
Otherwise:
Buy a router with a printer port.
Not that expensive. $/€ 40+.
Simple and effective.
No plugging, no fuss and a firewall.
But I don't know if you still can use the direct ethernet connection
of both computers. I thin it should work.

Greets, Bernd

[Peter Werner]

[email]b.wuensche@firemail.de[/email] (Bernd Wuensche) wrote :

> > I'm setting up a very basic network
> > G4/466 and a Dell Dimension
> > 4600 which use a KVM switch
> > an ethernet connection to each other
> > need to share a DSL line and peripherals such as a printer.

> 1. Which equipment do you have?
> - An external DSL adapter or a PCI card?

Both the Mac and the Dell have built-in ethernet.

> - Does your printer has built-in ethernet?

I haven't bought the new printer yet - built-in ethernet is a feature
I should look for then?

> Buy a router with a printer port.
> Not that expensive. $/? 40+.
> Simple and effective.
> No plugging, no fuss and a firewall.

Thanks for the advice. Do I need a seperate piece of hardware for a
firewall, or is a firewall a program that I can install on each
computer?

Peter

[Bob Harris]

In article <13378f69.0309222146.3a8bbebd@posting.google.com >,
[email]pgwerner1966@yahoo.com[/email] (Peter Werner) wrote:

> I'm setting up a very basic network and need some information on how
> to proceed. Basically, its going to be a G4/466 and a Dell Dimension
> 4600 which use a KVM switch to share a common keyboard and monitor.
> Network-wise, they'll have an ethernet connection to each other, but
> also need to share a DSL line and peripherals such as a printer.
>
> Will I need to purchase a seperate router or hub to do this?
>
> Also, if anybody could recommend a good introductory book or website
> on networking - preferably one that includes info about networking
> both macs and pcs - that would be great.
>
> Thanks,
> Peter

Get a Cable/DSL Router (search <dealmac.com> and you should be able to
find some inexpensive ones).

The Cable/DSL router will provide NAT services. Basically it allows the
router to get an IP address from your DSL provider and NAT allows the
router to share the IP address with all the computers in your home.

In addition, the router acts as a firewall because any attempt to
connect to one of your computers will need to address an IP port, but
because they are sharing the single IP address assigned to the router,
there are no incoming ports on your computers for the routers to send
the request to. This is because the request was directed at the router
and since there are several computers on the other side, the router can
not choose which one should get the request, so it is dropped.

You can configure the router to pass ports if you wish, but by default
the outside world can only get to you via email virus/worms that you
fetch.

The printer. Some routers have either a USB or Parallel port for
attaching a printer. If you have a printer that can attach to that port
you may be able to use the router as a print server. A word of caution.
Some fun and games may be necessary to get both the Mac and the PC to
see the printer. For the Mac, look to GIMP-PRINT drivers as a way to
maybe gain access from MacOSX. The other option is to just get an
etherenet based printer where the manufacture provides drivers for both
the Mac and the PC (more expensive, but it might be worth it). And a
printer that supports networking and postscript will most likely live
for a long time over may generations of equipment changes.

------

On the other hand, if you want to be cheaper, then get a second ethernet
card for either the PC or the Mac. Configure it as the DSL connection,
then get the build-in router software working on the Mac or PC. And run
a fire wall on the system that is providing the routing.

This can be done, but a lot more of the work is going to be left up to
you and you will need to have the router system running when you need to
use the internet.

personally, I think it is much less of a pain to just get the Cable/DSL
router. They really do not cost that much. They don't use a lot of
power, they are small, they often times provide 4 10/100BaseT ethernet
switched ports, they can be configured via a browser from either the Mac
or the PC. What's not to like :-)

-------

Suggested reading. Try <threemacs.com>
Search this news group archive via google looking for other postings on
this same subject.
Checkout the O'Riely books

Good luck.

Bob Harris

[Peter Werner]

Bob Harris <harris@zk3.dec.com> wrote:

> The printer. Some routers have either a USB or Parallel port for
> attaching a printer. If you have a printer that can attach to that port
> you may be able to use the router as a print server. A word of caution.
> Some fun and games may be necessary to get both the Mac and the PC
> to see the printer. For the Mac, look to GIMP-PRINT drivers as a way to
> maybe gain access from MacOSX. The other option is to just get an
> etherenet based printer where the manufacture provides drivers for both
> the Mac and the PC (more expensive, but it might be worth it). And a
> printer that supports networking and postscript will most likely live
> for a long time over may generations of equipment changes.

I looked at some internet printers and it seems like my options are
pretty limited if I'm looking for something smaller than a bulky
office laser printer.

An option I'd like to know more about is simply to use a USB to
Ethernet adapter and plug a USB printer into that. Is this a workable
option? Could one assign an address to the adapter that would allow
both computers to send to the printer over the network?

Peter