In the good old days (?) you could connect two computers in a P2P LAN using a Cat 5 crossover cable ($10) and two $20 10/100 Ethernet cards.
I have recently decided to try and build an inexpensive wireless LAN between my Macmini and a Win XP Pro laptop (with built in 802.11g network adapter). Wireless LAN's seem much more complicated than wired ones. I have the following three questions:
1. Can I setup a P2P wireless network between my XP laptop and Macmini simply by attaching a Wireless Access Point to the mini and then playing around with some settings on the mini & XP laptop?
2. What's the difference between a Wireless Access Point, Wi Fi network adapter and Wireless Router?
3. Do I have to use an Apple branded solution (i.e. Airport model) to provide wireless connectivity to the Macmini?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
voldenuit
04-25-2005, 06:23 AM
1
At least the mini has the capability to run in ad-hoc mode, so you don't even need an extra access-point.
It's kind of the WLAN equivalent of a crossover-connection...
2
that's a longer story...
3
No.
4. What is the "easiest" way to configure the WLAN?
i.e. XP Pro WLAN Adapter -> Wireless Access Point <- Macmini
OR XP Pro WLAN Adapter -> Wireless Router <- WLAN adapter <- Macmini
And what is adhoc mode?
I think the two practical options are (in my order of preference).
1. A wireless access point or Router connected via the Mac Mini's ethernet port. (Wireless between here and the Win XP box as I assume the Mac Mini is stationery.
2. A USB wireless NIC in the Mac Mini connected to the Win XP box in "ad hoc" mode. Good luck finding drivers for a USB wireless NIC for a Mac.
In answer to your "Whats the difference" question.
Wireless Access Point - generally the interface between a wired network and a wireless one. It is the point where wireless devices access the wired network.
Wi Fi network adapter - A wireless equivalent of your $20 10/100 Ethernet card. Wi Fi is actually an interoperability certification that ensures that brand A NIC will work with brand B Access Point and Brand C NIC but the term has become fairly generic of wireless.
Wireless Router - Generally it's a Router with wireless capability. In your case you could have a wireless Router connected via Ethernet to the Mini and Wireless to the Win XP box. It will pass traffic to and from the computers as required but also Route Internet traffic at the same time.
4. What is the "easiest" way to configure the WLAN?
i.e. XP Pro WLAN Adapter -> Wireless Access Point <- Macmini
OR XP Pro WLAN Adapter -> Wireless Router <- WLAN adapter <- Macmini
And what is adhoc mode?
There are two modes for wireless. Ad Hoc and Infrastructure.
Ad Hoc is basically for two or three machines to get together in and Ad hoc way. Say three people in a conference room who want to share files but are normally on different networks. No Access point is required.
Infrastructure is basically a permanent network and usually has fixed hardware (access point).
I would use method one except if you want the Wireless Access point could also be a Router (if you buy the right box).
houchin
04-25-2005, 08:23 AM
1. A wireless access point or Router connected via the Mac Mini's ethernet port. (Wireless between here and the Win XP box as I assume the Mac Mini is stationery.
I second this recommendation. Watch your Sunday sales flyers from all of the office and electronic superstores. I have regularly been seeing wireless routers for $10 after rebate lately. I've also seen bundles with a router and either a CardBus, PCI card or USB adapter. Hook that adapter up to the windows box and the router up by an ethernet cable to the mini.
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