Strange home networking problem

Jim Brennan

Jim Brennan

VHS Member Old Skool
We have a network at home that connects 5 Macs, a PC and a few printers. It uses 3 different routers to do that.

Right now my G4 has internet, but the other macs don't, even though I can network the computers. So my Mac Pro can connect to my G5 or my G4, which indicates that the network is working, but only the G4 can get online. The others say there is no internet access.

That ever happen to anyone?
 
3 routers sound like possible for over-complication related problems.

For most small networks, one router is enough. Perhaps 2 if you layer them for security (but that's often overkill for small networks). Sounds like the routers may be causing conflicts with each other.

- Mikko
 
I know that the older airport wireless cards cannot connect to WPA2 networks. Had that trouble with my daughter's laptop and had to downgrade to the less secure WPA.
 
mikkowilson said:
3 routers sound like possible for over-complication related problems.

For most small networks, one router is enough. Perhaps 2 if you layer them for security (but that's often overkill for small networks). Sounds like the routers may be causing conflicts with each other.

- Mikko
Click to expand...

It's an issue of geography. The modem comes in upstairs on the second floor and we run 3 computers and one networked printer up there. Then we have 3 or 4 more systems and a couple of printers in the basement. I also like the flexibility of extra ethernet down there for people to plug in a laptop when they are there.

So I need at least (one up and one down), but I can probably get rid of the third one (it's in a different part of the basement). But it has worked well for a couple of years.

But I am open to other suggestions.
 
Instead of having the 2nd and third routers in the basement, why not just get a switch for the basement? A switch is just like adding extra ports on to your router, but you dont have to configure it at all, it jsut does all the work. then you would have only one router to configure, and any computer connected to the switch will still be able to connect to the internet, and any other computer on the network.
 
Yes, you want one Router, to route the internet into your home. From there you should use switches, to add more ports to the network. Each of these ports will then use the same gateway (via the single router) to connect to the Internet.
 
greeches said:
Yes, you want one Router, to route the internet into your home. From there you should use switches, to add more ports to the network. Each of these ports will then use the same gateway (via the single router) to connect to the Internet.
Click to expand...

I actually think that's what I do. Sorry about using the wrong terminology.

At any rate, i turned off the modem and turned it back on, and all is good again.

Weird.
 
Yeah, and I've lost internet before, and recycling the modem usually brings it back. But this time it was just weird that I still had internet on 1 computer but not the others.

Oh well. It's all voodoo to me.
 
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