Networking for a lan party

[odgalvin]

I did wonder if this was the right forum, move if necessary.

 

Hey, at the moment I have 2 wireless routers, one in use, one not. Next week some of my mates are gonna bring round their Xbox 360s and we'll do system link/Xbox Live play etc.

I currently have wireless internet to my Mac which shares it with my 360. I don't have a switch. Would it be possible to do this:

 

1. Internet>Wireless router/modem A>Wireless>Wireless router B>Ethernet>Xbox 360s

 

if so, how? Or would I have to do this?

 

2. Internet>Wireless router/modem A>Wireless>Mac>Ethernet>Wireless Router B>Ethernet>Xbox 360s

 

and, if so, how?

Thanks!

 

EDIT: Lawlz, I got number 2 to work in the end...

any better methods, more insight or w/e would be nice though, cheers.

Edited April 8, 2009 by OliG

[Wolf68k]

Most wifi routers will have LAN ethernet ports as well. But I have seen some DSL modems that only offer 1 ethernet port, one USB port and wifi.

 

So let's say you have the modem with with wifi but only 1 ethernet and then you have a separate router that has the standard 4port etherent LAN and also happens to have wifi. Connect that to the modem and then any that doesn't have wifi will connect to the ethernet.

You could at this point disable the wifi on the modem or router and just use the wifi of the other. Depending on how much control you have of the wifi on the modem I might disable the modem's wifi and use the router since I know it'll have a NAT firewall as well, but that's another matter.

 

If the modem does have a 4 port ethernet then you can use the router as a switch for the other devices when the modem's 4 ports are used up. So you'd have 3 directly to the modem and then up to 4 (usually) more on the other router.

 

You are not really limited to the number of wifi connections. Well ok limited by IPs but if you have more than 200-250 friends coming over you have bigger things to worry than trying to get them all connected...like the bathroom.

 

 

You can't connect a wireless access point to another wireless access point wirelessly. And I don't see the need to get the Mac included into this, unless you're saying that the modem has no ethernet port at all which would be extremely stupid to which I would go to your ISP and b**ch slap them for their stupidity.

[odgalvin]

Most wifi routers will have LAN ethernet ports as well. But I have seen some DSL modems that only offer 1 ethernet port, one USB port and wifi.

 

So let's say you have the modem with with wifi but only 1 ethernet and then you have a separate router that has the standard 4port etherent LAN and also happens to have wifi. Connect that to the modem and then any that doesn't have wifi will connect to the ethernet.

You could at this point disable the wifi on the modem or router and just use the wifi of the other. Depending on how much control you have of the wifi on the modem I might disable the modem's wifi and use the router since I know it'll have a NAT firewall as well, but that's another matter.

 

If the modem does have a 4 port ethernet then you can use the router as a switch for the other devices when the modem's 4 ports are used up. So you'd have 3 directly to the modem and then up to 4 (usually) more on the other router.

 

You are not really limited to the number of wifi connections. Well ok limited by IPs but if you have more than 200-250 friends coming over you have bigger things to worry than trying to get them all connected...like the bathroom.

 

 

You can't connect a wireless access point to another wireless access point wirelessly. And I don't see the need to get the Mac included into this, unless you're saying that the modem has no ethernet port at all which would be extremely stupid to which I would go to your ISP and b**ch slap them for their stupidity.

thanks dude.

 

"If the modem does have a 4 port ethernet then you can use the router as a switch for the other devices when the modem's 4 ports are used up. So you'd have 3 directly to the modem and then up to 4 (usually) more on the other router."

I did do this in the end, but the thing is the router/modem is downstairs so must go wirelessly upstairs where the mac/2nd router is. Hence the mac.

 

But cheers, i gotta little confused but s'all good.

[Wolf68k]

Ah see you didn't say that.

In that case Yes the Mac, to save money, would have to go between however that is if the Mac has sharing and will allow act as the 2 between the wireless and the wired.

 

However short of buying the 360's wifi adapter I do believe there are wifi repeaters/extenders that just plug straight into the wall (although I suggest a surge protector would be a better idea) and they have a ethernet port which should allow it to as the go between. With the Mac doing the job that means it has to be running and awake; if it's a laptop that means no sleeping or any kind..screen saver would/should be ok, other wise you lose the link.

[jersiq]

You can't connect a wireless access point to another wireless access point wirelessly. And I don't see the need to get the Mac included into this, unless you're saying that the modem has no ethernet port at all which would be extremely stupid to which I would go to your ISP and b**ch slap them for their stupidity.

I just want to clear this up so that it may not confuse another person if they look at it.

WDS has been a solution to bridge wireless networks for a while now.