asked on

Ethernet at home

I have two Macs at home, which are linked together by LocalTalk through Printer port. I tried to connect them through Ethernet port, but they do not see each other. My quistion (which is from "for dummies" series) is: how does Ethernet work? Is hub a necessary part of Ethernet, and if so, how do I chose the right hub for connecting computers and printers at home?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

TheHub

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

TheHub

for step by step instructions on how to setup the various control panels, spend 20 on this entry in teh networks area:
4 11/04/97 20 Mac TCP/IP doesn't work asked by: andrewma

chumakov

ASKER

Thanks a lot!

rickyr

Hiya...
My Mac, PC and Sparc are all linked together without a hub. You will need a tranceiver that has BNC connectors and a length of thin ethernet cable and a BNC terminator at each end of your network. You will end up with a network for the price of 1 cable, about $20, and a couple of tranceivers $45 each. If you decide to go for TheHub's option (Which is a thoroughly good solution), you will need to use twisted pair cables and RJ45 connectors with no terminators.

The choice is yours.

good luck, and respects to TheHub

regards

chumakov

ASKER

When using tranceivers, I guess, you connect via printer (or modem) port, and computer "thinks" it is just a regular LocalTalk connection. Perhaps the speed will not be any better than with regulta LocalTalk connection, and printer port will be still tied up, which defeats at least part of the purpose. So I guess the hub option is preferable. Thanks for your advice, anyway.