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Yea!
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IP address questions
Just a couple more questions about home wireless network setup:
I finally figured out how to get my laptop to talk with the printer connected to my pc. Then yesterday I had connection problems again. It turned out that the router had changed the laptop's IP address to one that I hadn't entered into the "safe" list on the pc's firewall program. To prevent this from happening again, I have two choices (I think), but I'm not sure which is better from the standpoint of convenience and security. 1. Should I change the router settings so that the laptop's IP address never changes? 2. Should I change the "safe" list on the pc's firewall program so that it includes the entire range of IP addresses that the router can assign? I had changed the router settings so that it would not broadcast a signal. Could that be why it changed the laptop's IP address or are the two things unrelated? |
I think the easiest thing to do and not have a STATIC address setup on the laptop is to setup what is callled ADDRESS RESERVATION. this way, the DHCP server on the router still asssigns any new device a new Dynamic IP address, but RESERVES specific addresses for devices listed in a the Address reservation list.
Once your devices are connected, there should be a setting to create address reservation list. then, EVERYTIME that device, deisignate by name, but more specifically MAC address will get the same IP adddress. Once you create the setting, I would REBOOT the router and the REBOOT all the devices, since a device might be holding an old address that is now being reserved just for one device. I think the SSID broadcast being turned off has nothing to do with it. But, what were the connection problems? Could you not print? Was there an IP conflict? The printer setup on one pc, shouldnt really have an issue being found if it is being shared correctly and you are searching for the same device. |
Originally Posted by nmenaker
I think the SSID broadcast being turned off has nothing to do with it. But, what were the connection problems? Could you not print? Was there an IP conflict? The printer setup on one pc, shouldnt really have an issue being found if it is being shared correctly and you are searching for the same device.
Everything would be much simpler if I had bought a router with a printer port. Oh, the wisdom of hindsight! |
yeah, if the printer is hooked to a computer that computer does have to be hooked up to offer "printing services" for printing. A router with a print server in it is great, you can ALSO buy a cheap wifi print server that hooks up to the USB port of the printer and then you print wirelessly to it, works fine, from iogear, but then ALL computers have to have the wifi enabled to print to it.
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I don't think the pc has wifi capability (it's kind of old). Eventually I'll either replace the pc or buy another router, but for now, I'll have to work with what I've got.
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Originally Posted by LIH Prem
Do you already have the AE? It would work for a USB printer.
But that may or may not be the best configuration for you. You might just try the microsoft printer sharing, and then you don't need another device. I have my router in an inaccessible location. My notebook has built-in wireless in another location. The family desktop computer in the living room, with a wireless bridge connected to it. In my office I have a bunch of desktop computers and the printers. In the office I have a 10/100 switch connected to a wireless bridge. So all the computers and the printer in my office are using wired ethernet to the 10/100 switch and the 10/100 switch is connected to the wireless bridge. Netgear mini-print server (parallel port to wired ethernet) Netgear 802.11g wireless bridge Netgear 10/100 8 port switch I went with the switch/bridge since none of the desktops had wireless cards but they all had ethernet. The alternative would have been to add wireless cards to each of the four desktops in the office, or just go for the switch and the bridge, which is more flexible for me. (easy to add more devices and/or another switch if necessary.) In the family room, I had a usb wireless device, but that computer only supported usb 1.x, so it was fairly slow, so I spent the extra money and put a bridge in there as well. With the bridge, you connect wired ethernet to the bridge (after configuring it) and you're done. Bridges aren't volume devices for them, so they are relatively expensive compared to the deals you can get on everything else. I'm pretty sure somebody like d-link makes a wireless usb print server if you want to go that route. Nothing wrong with d-link. Many people prefer it to netgear. The best place to start is to plan out your entire network. Once you've done that, then you can pick the gear. The building blocks are the router, bridges, switches, wireless cards, wireless usb devices, wireless pc cards, print servers, etc. -David I currently have Dell Latitude (old, no wireless card) and a hard-wire cable internet connection and HP 1310 printer (USB but no wireless card). I also have an Linksys 802.11b router (gift -still in box). The Wild Card: you guys have convinced me to take the plunge and buy a Macbook - hopefully before Sept. So... Option 1: Should I buy a wireless card for the Dell ($30?), and then set up the existing router? It sounds like I would need also need to buy the netgear mini-print server, currently @ $66 in order to connect the printer to the network. I assume I would end up with a config similar to the one quoted above. Option 2: Buy the wireless card and an Airport Express, hardwire the printer to AE, and junk the old router? I presume this would be faster (802.11g?) but has the disadvantage of tying the printer to the AE (not ideal, given the location of the cable connection). Option 3: Use existing router, attach printer to Dell and use it as a print server, then add wireless Macbook. This is probably least preferable, as the Dell would be rendered immobile. I also have a USB hub presently connected to the printer and several Palm sync cords. Not sure where that would fit in... :confused: |
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