Networking Noob! - Page 4 - The Mac Bistro

Scooter · February 26th, 2010, 01:29 AM

I dont know what I did so dont ask.

I can see the PC (SAL) from HAL and also access it's files. I can see the iMac from HAL and also access it's files. I can drag things from HAL to the PC and from the PC to HAL. Likewise with the iMac Drag and Drop transfers between them. All over Ethernet simultaineously while surfing the net.

Now, HAL is running the software DAVE. I thought this to be rather cute... HAL and Dave. I'm not sure if I am doing something wrong or just wahat the deal is. The iMac which does NOT have DAVE installed can also swwee the PC and drag ands drop files between them. BUT the PC cannot connect to HAL although it shows as a connected computer on the PC. As for the iMac, the PC doesn't see it at all.

All Y'all really confused yet? Now... The iMac can actually mount the PC on it's desktop, but HAL cant. I can access the other computers only through the "Network" window (shift-command-K). It appears the I'm (HAL) the "Server" at HAL.local. but I (HAL) seems to be the only one who can access everyones files. THis is not really a problem, sorta' how I wanted it. For HAL to be able to access all the others on my LAN and not have them access HAL. Still, now that I'm this deep into this I think it would be cool to be able to have open access between all the computers (4) on my LAN.

I'm gonna keep playing around and IF IF IF I figure out just what I've done, I'll post it all right here first.

Scooter · February 26th, 2010, 06:48 PM

Figured out what I did to get this far.

On the back of the 3Com router is a button marked "Uplink" and "Normal". I've had NUMEROUS internet outages this week. Some as long as 30 hours. This has given me time to sit and seriously "play" (serious play?) with HAL and SAL. While waiting for the DSL to come back, I was just looking at the screens of the two machines and fidgiting with the 3Com. I was holding the router and pushing a button in and out on the back or the router without thinking what I was doing. Sort of a finger tap reflex when your thinking about something. I got frustrated so I re"booted" the PC (SAL) and re"started" HAL, went and made lunch. After lunch I came back to the two of them sitting side by side. Logged in and opened the "Network" panel on SAL and shift-command-K on HAL. On the PC, HAL showed up as a connection. And on HAL "WORKGROUP" showed in the network window.
Apparently I had the 3Com button set in the "UpLink" mode, because when I look today, it's in the "Normal" mode. Not sure why this would make a difference but it does.

PS: I'm writing all of this down here to sort of keep a diary and notes to myself about the crap that I'm dealiing with trying to network these two as well as the rest of the machines on my LAN.
Anyone with Ideas, helpful hints or just wanna stick their 2¢ in, go ahead. Hopefully this will help somebody down the road. Maybe.
I'm creating a visual flowchart of my LAN and will post it later, IF MY INTERNET CONNECTION STAYS UP FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR AT A TIME! (yes I'm yelling!)

ETA*****
Here's a quicky diagram of my LAN

**dtravis7** · February 27th, 2010, 07:35 AM

What is the model of that 3Com? I have a 3Com Switch here with that same button. It's so small that it's hard to see sometimes. A friend pushed his and freaked out. I caught it after staring at it a long time!

Dang button!

I just checked mine. Is yours a 3-Com Office Connect? Like this?

http://www.amazon.com/3Com-3C16704A-.../dp/B0000304PD

Scooter · February 27th, 2010, 11:06 AM

Sure is. One and the very same.
So it this a router or a switch and just what makes one a router and one a switch?

I found it dumpster diving. Apparently a local business went wireless and just tossed it and all of the cableing.

**dtravis7** · February 27th, 2010, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scooter

Sure is. One and the very same.
So it this a router or a switch and just what makes one a router and one a switch?

I found it dumpster diving. Apparently a local business went wireless and just tossed it and all of the cableing.

I found 3 of those 3-Coms at a Swap Meet years ago for $2 for all 3 so I bought them.

There are some homeless folks that I know who dumpster dive for cans and bottles to get $$$ and one finds amazing stuff dumpster diving! He found a mint Linksys WRT54G WiFi Router with power supply in perfect shape in a Dumpster downtown. Not a thing wrong with it either! He also finds working computers they just toss when the business upgrades to a newer model. Amazing!

Scooter · March 1st, 2010, 07:42 PM

A quick update. Although I can't access HAL from any of the computers on my LAN, I am able to grab files and also transfer files to the others. Today's test resulted in a transfer rate of 60MB/minute from HAL to SAL and also to the iMac.
I can search both computers thoroughly and just drag what I find on them to my desktop and the transfers start. Likewise, I can put files from HAL into any folder or location on the other computers the same way. Just drag them from HAL to the folder or location in the others and the transfer starts.
Next up is linking to ButtHead, the eMachine in the other room running XP Pro. That should be a piece of cake. At some point, I'm going to move HAL into my room so I can just sit in bed and surf, transfer, nap, grab, move, blog, sleep, surf some more, watch movies and TV shows, nap some more.

**dtravis7** · March 4th, 2010, 02:01 PM

That is strange that you can not access HAL from the other systems. What OS is on HAL again and what is on the other systems?

Scooter · March 4th, 2010, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtravis7

That is strange that you can not access HAL from the other systems. What OS is on HAL again and what is on the other systems?

Hey Dennis,

HAL is my PowerMac G4 DA running 10.4.11

iMac is 10.4.11

SAL is HP Media Center running W7 Ultimate

ButtHead (eMachine) running W-XP Pro
--------------
Another update. I now can now also see the eMachine runnning XP Pro but again, no one is able to open HAL or connect to him. I am able to access apps on the iMac and run them. That was real wierd. I called up an App on the spouses iMac that I don't have on HAL and it popped up on MY Screen and ran on MY desktop. Fully functional even though I've not registered it on my machine and don't believe there are any pref files for it in my library. The spouse didn't have a clue that I was running one of her Apps on my machine. There was some slowdown of the App and she notices that it took a tad longer to call up a web page she was surfing but neither system degraded significantly.

That kinda puts HAL as the main computer accesssing HIS minions on HIS network. HAHAhahaha. Erm... This is getting a bit freaky. HAL has now taken over control of the network. Accessing all the others but not allowing anyone to access him.
I hope he doesn't shut my oxygen off while I sleep.....