I have a question about configuring a Mac OS network... or perhaps you can point me to a more specific discussion group? ... Here's the story currently I have a cablemodem > latest airport extreme (with 2 airport disks on a hub - for backup) connected to 3 computers, but I've added additional computers and ethernet printers and run out of ethernet ports, which is a huge drag as you'll know if you've tried sending a 500mb file across airport!
Also, the Airport Extreme is only 10/100 and want to harness the potential of gigabit ethernet.
I have three goals:
1) figure out how to get all four desktops and printer on wired gigabit ethernet. (10/100/1000) or at least 10/100.
2) have our two airport extreme attached disks on a USB hub aka "the budget NAS" remain operational.
3) no noisy fans on whatever equipment we buy.
I need 8 ports 10/100/1000 (have heard the Netgear switch's are quiet and reliable), I haven't seen a 8-port gigabit router? Apples "designing airport networks" diagram tells you to set the extreme to bridge, but then if that's not distributing IP's I am wondering if airport disks will be operational?
Here's the equipment list:
COMPUTERS: 5 macs with gigabit ethernet cards, 1 ethernet printer, 2 wireless N laptops... (but honestly don't really care about the wireless N right now, just want to use extreme as a budget NAS for backup (usb hub to 2 disks — and yes I would seriously consider putting in an Infrant NAS nv+)).
NETWORKING: Quite happy to scrap all this but FYI: 4-port Airport Extreme, Linksys 4-Port etherfast router (BEFSR41 v3), older ariport extreme, Cat5E ethernet cables.
Any help or redirection here would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading and have a great day.
Cheers,
John
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