Network hub with two Macs -- sharin' peripherals

[KenElevenShadows]

I have really tried hard to find out this information both in the manual and online, but have had not much luck, and am not sure exactly what to look for.

 

I am trying to get two Macs to share peripherals (printer and scanner). Currently, the 8500 and the G4 are sharing a DSL connection. I have an 8-port ethernet hub, a Farallon Starlet/8.

 

The DSL modem goes into Port One

8500 goes into Port Two

The G4 goes into Port Three.

 

They are able to both use the DSL connections with no problem. However, what I'd like to do is also have them share the aforementioned peripherals. We are presumably trying to do this through Apple Share (not Airport, which we don't have).

 

1. Do I have them connected properly to enable us to do this? If not, how do we connect them?

 

2. What do we have to do exactly to get the two computers to recognize each other (which I have no clue how to do or where to look on the computer, and the manual does not cover this to any satisfying degree)? If someone could either let me know in a *step by step* process how to accomplish this, or point me to a place that does do this, it would be greatly appreciated!!!! What I am trying to emphasize here, is that although i seem to be reasonably intelligent, this is my first real computer, and I honestly don't know very much about it. Please go easy, slowly, and deliberately with me!!! Detail helps. Thanks so much!!!

 

-Ken/Eleven Shadows

 

This message has been edited by Ken/Eleven Shadows on 05-29-2001 at 08:35 PM

[Beagle1]

What kind of printer are you using? Easiest scenario would be a laser printer with Ethernet that speaks Appletalk (e.g. Laserwriter 16/600, HP 4050, etc). Then you just plug it into your Ethernet hub and it shows up under Chooser>Laserwriter8 on both computers.

 

But I'm going to assume you've got a USB printer and USB scanner hooked up to your G4 through a USB hub. In that case, you could try using Apple's USB Printer Sharing Control Panel but be warned that it might be more trouble than it's worth. For one thing, you'll want to deactivate it when you're running MIDI or audio on your G4 as any kind of file or print sharing services will cut into your CPU power. Also, the USB Printer Sharing software does not work under Appletalk; you'll have to configure it through TCP/IP which might take a bit more fiddling around on your part. Easiest thing to do is go buy an Epson 740 inkjet printer for your 8500 if it's absolutely necessary (they're only about $100).

 

As for the scanner, you'll just have to scan on the G4 and transfer your scans to the 8500 with either removable media (floppy, Zip, CD) or through Appleshare. On your 8500, go to Control Panels>Filesharing and turn on Filesharing. Now, if you open Chooser>Appleshare on your G4 the 8500 should show up in the Chooser window. Just double-click to log in and enter the owner name and password set in the Filesharing Control Panel on the 8500. Then you'll get a new icon on your G4 desktop, which is the 8500. Treat it just like another hard disk--drag and drop all your scans on it and they will copy.

 

A good place to go for Mac help is Apple's Discussion Forum bulletin boards. First, go to:

 

http://www.apple.com/support

 

Then click on the 'Discussions' link on the right. It will ask you to register first before accessing the bulletin boards. There are a lot of great people there who are always willing to help. Good luck!

[KenElevenShadows]

Hi! Thank you so much for your reply!!!!!!!! I suck with computers, and to do this with a new platform makes it even more bewildering!!

 

I currently do not have a printer, but it sounds like it would be much easier to get an ethernet printer that speaks Appletalk. I'll call around and find out how much an ethernet printer is and take it fron there. Thanks for the tips on the scanner as well. That's probably not as much of an issue, but both computers sharing files and a printer would be very nice!!! Thanks again!

 

-Ken/Eleven Shadows