Imac and Windows network question

[mikegee]

OK--here it is:

I have two machines running windows me behind a linksys befsr41 router. I have just inherited a nice I-Mac. Is there software available to network this machine and the windows machine and make the windows files (40 gigs of mp3 and wav files ) availble to the imac? Can they even share the same internet connection?

thanks,
mikegee

[C.M. Weaver]

You can share your broadband connection as long as the Windows machine is the server or running a proxy. This setup requires 2 NIC's and the iMAC must be configured to used TCP/IP.

The other option that you might consider, which I recommend is getting a router with a built in switch. This eliminates the need for a 2nd NIC card in your Windows machine and doesn't require that it be on all the time if your running a proxy.

File and Print sharing with a Mac though is a different story. You must use a 3rd party program such as DAVE or PCMACLAN to share files and printers with a MAC. Unfortunately, these programs are very problamatic and very difficult to use and configure. The other option is to run a Linux server with SAMBA installed and configured or run Windows 2000 Server or Advanced server as they both have built in AppleTalk support.

[Stef]

If your running Mac OS X you can install SAMBA on your laptop and use it to share files and printers to/from the Windows PC.

Take a look at the Fink Project:

http://fink.sourceforge.net/

Install Fink and then you can install GNU software Debian style, apt-get into it :D

Another option would be to configure a NetaTalk Linux server (AppleTalk file & print sharing daemon for UNIX/Linux).

Hopefully you have OS X, that would be your easiest and best bet!!

Stef

[mikegee]

i guess this means the linksys befsr41 router does not have a built in switch, huh? i'm still slightly confused. let's forget about sharing files for the moment. If the i-mac is properly configured for tcp, then if i plug it into my router i ought to be able to access the net,no?--whether or not there is also a windows machine plugged into the router as well?
thnaks
mike

[C.M. Weaver]

Originally posted by mikegee
i guess this means the linksys befsr41 router does not have a built in switch, huh?
That router does have a built in switch, none of us said otherwise :)

If the i-mac is properly configured for tcp, then if i plug it into my router i ought to be able to access the net,no?
Yes. You can either configure the MAC to obtain an IP by DHCP or configure a static one.

whether or not there is also a windows machine plugged into the router as well?
Correct. The router works independently of any machine running whatever OS.

[YeOldeStonecat]

I don't think anyone saw in your first post that you already have a Linksys 4 port router. You don't need any additional equipment except perhaps for a patch cable to plug your Mac into the router....it will good to go from there.

TCP/IP is TCP/IP.....Windows, Apple, Linux, whatever......TCP is what the internet runs on...tis the same for all of them.

Now for file and print sharing between the platforms, yes you'll need 3rd party utilities for that depending on which OS version you have.

[C.M. Weaver]

Originally posted by YeOldeStonecat
I don't think anyone saw in your first post that you already have a Linksys 4 port router.

LOL :) Your right! I didn't see that. I guess that's what I get for reading his post after getting home from a 13 hour graveyard shift. DOH!

Thanks for pointing this out Y.O.S. ;)

[mikegee]

i've got it done -thanks for all the help. this forum has the most knowledge available for all levels that I haveevre used.
mikegee