Question about Extending the Network

[Abbas]

I have the Apple Gigabit Router and with my Mac Pro, Media Center and XBox, I'm running out of Network connections. On my Media Center PC, I have the ASUS P5Q Premium Motherboard which has four Gigabit NICs.

Now I wanted to add the Maxtor Central Axis to the Network and I was wondering if there was a way to extend the router using those three extra NICs on my HTPC.

My initial guess would be to make any device connected to the HTPC have a dedicated IP instead of DHCP which is no big deal. Am I right? Say my Apple Airport is 192.168.1.1 so, I will basically have to set the Maxtor to, maybe, 192.168.1.100. Will this make it available to the entire Network?

 

[jdabbs]

You would probably be best served by adding a gigabit switch (like this one) to your network. To use the HTPC's extra ports would require setting up routing or Internet Connection Sharing, which increases the complexity of your network.

 

[Abbas]

You would probably be best served by adding a gigabit switch (like this one) to your network. To use the HTPC's extra ports would require setting up routing or Internet Connection Sharing, which increases the complexity of your network.

Yes, I did think of that but no extra power connector either. I would rather not clutter any more. Ideally, it would be a case of simply plugging in the Maxtor into one of the HTPC's NICs and setting it up so that the entire Network can see and access it.

 

[jdabbs]

Yes, I did think of that but no extra power connector either. I would rather not clutter any more. Ideally, it would be a case of simply plugging in the Maxtor into one of the HTPC's NICs and setting it up so that the entire Network can see and access it.

Ideally, yes, but it's doubtful that your HTPC is configured for that purpose. If you can provide the OS of the HTPC, I'll try to point you towards the relevant instructions/documentation.

 

[Abbas]

Ideally, yes, but it's doubtful that your HTPC is configured for that purpose. If you can provide the OS of the HTPC, I'll try to point you towards the relevant instructions/documentation.

Thanks for your prompt responses. I am running Vista Home Premium 32bit on the HTPC

 

[jdabbs]

It looks like it may be possible to do it with ICS in conjunction with port forwarding, though it's designed to give users behind the computer access rather than the other way around.

Identify the adapter on the HTPC you are using currently, as well as the one you are going to connect the NAS.

Control Panel>Network and Sharing Center>"Manage Network Connections">
Right click on the LAN connected adapter>"Properties">Sharing Tab.
Check the top box, specify the NAS connected adapter as your home networking connection, then go to Settings. From here, Edit, input an IP (I suggest 192.168.0.254--don't use the .1.X subnet), and specify a port used by the NAS to share files/backups/whatever. Repeat, as you have to do this individually for each port. Configure the NAS to use the IP specified earlier. Perform basic connectivity tests from the HTPC to the NAS, and then from other systems on your network. For the other systems, the NAS should be accessible from IP of HTPC:forwarded port.

 

[Abbas]

Thank you sir- I shall try this out and bookmark it.

@

It looks like it may be possible to do it with ICS in conjunction with port forwarding, though it's designed to give users behind the computer access rather than the other way around.

Identify the adapter on the HTPC you are using currently, as well as the one you are going to connect the NAS.

Control Panel>Network and Sharing Center>"Manage Network Connections">
Right click on the LAN connected adapter>"Properties">Sharing Tab.
Check the top box, specify the NAS connected adapter as your home networking connection, then go to Settings. From here, Edit, input an IP (I suggest 192.168.0.254--don't use the .1.X subnet), and specify a port used by the NAS to share files/backups/whatever. Repeat, as you have to do this individually for each port. Configure the NAS to use the IP specified earlier. Perform basic connectivity tests from the HTPC to the NAS, and then from other systems on your network. For the other systems, the NAS should be accessible from IP of HTPC:forwarded port.