Lan

[Biscuit]

Hey all,

I have just set up a simple network using an 8 port 10/100 switch today (not a router so no internet sharing). I have two windows vista computers and two macs (one imac and one macbook pro) connected to start with. I have connected everything up and the two windows computers seem to be communicating perfectly. The I-mac seems ok but not perfect and the macbook pro is a bit problematic... could someone guide me on how to alter the settings on the macs to work properly. Both Macs are running Leopard.

Thanks guys.

[directhex]

what exactly is or isn't working as expected?

[Biscuit]

Well sometimes the mac doesnt show up on a windows computer and visa versa. Also the name for my macbook (when it does show) is a load of number on windows computers but ont he imac its correct.
Another thing i have noticed is the network appears as "unidentified network" any idea how to fix this?

P.S Nice sig hex

[Jay]

sounds like a Netbois problem or maybe a firewall issue?

[directhex]

yeah, since it sounds like you have zero internet connectivity going on here (due to lack of router) and therefore no DHCP server, ensure the following:

* all machines have unique IP addresses, in the same private range (e.g. 192.168.0.X)
* all machines are in the same SMB workgroup (otherwise name resolution won't work)
* all firewalls are letting through appropriate traffic

it's hard to be precise, since the problems are pretty vague

[Biscuit]

No firewalls installed... Netbios? what does that mean and how would i go about checking/fixing?

It seems to be ok after a while just takes a while to actually find the MACs

Again, could someone tell me how to go about naming the network?

[Biscuit]

well the IPs are all static and fixed, no clashes

How do i ensure they are all in the same SMB worksgroup

Sorry about how vague i am, first time i have had a crack at properly networking let alone mac-pc

[Biscuit]

bump

[directhex]

windows:

linux:

i can't actually find a sane way to set the workgroup on samba on osx.

as for netbios: windows uses an antique networking system (predating tcp/ip) called netbios to turn computer names into ip addresses and back without use of a special server. other OSes lack netbios support, but can use the built in netbios-to-tcp/ip function of windows to guess machine names anyway, as long as they're in the same file sharing workgroup

alternatively, use the mac's next-gen name resolution system, which can be installed on windows systems from Apple - Support - Downloads - Bonjour for Windows 1.0.4