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Question Profile
| DATE | Apr 11, 2007 |
| TICKET | #333935 |
| STATUS | Closed |
| SUBJECT | connect imac to network w/linksys router |
| CAT | Home/Business Network and/or Internet Connection |
| TYPE | Wireless Networking, WiFi |
| DESC | |
| DESC | |
| PLATFORM | Apple Macintosh (PowerPC G3,G4,G5) |
| MODEL | imac |
| PROC | 800GHz |
| RAM | 768 |
| DRIVE | |
| NAME | Rita |
| USERNAME | soconfused |
| TECHNICAL | Lots of Experience |
| ISSUE | Stumped |
Question Details
TICKET ARCHIVE -> connect imac to network w/linksys router
soconfused - Apr 11, 2007 - 10:13 am
I'm using a linksys wireless-b router (cable modem) and have two pc's connecting with linksys wireless adaptors. My daughter just graduated from college and is home with her imac (osx) and we want to connect her to the network. I know NOTHING about macs and she knows NOTHING about networks and wireless access. Linksys knows even less about macs than I do, I think. What do we need to get for her to access the internet? I can follow directions but the wireless lingo loses me, so I need directions for a dummy. Thanks for whatever you can offer! :-)
stottm - Apr 12, 2007 - 10:59 am
Apple Mac's use the same hardware as PC's to connect to wireless networks and should have no problem connecting to the Linksys router.
On the iMac there is an Airport Setup Assistant application to make it easy to connect to wireless networks.
However, the iMac must have a wireless adaptor installed (hardware option) to be able to connect to a wireless network. Without wireless, she will have to connect using an ethernet cable plugged into the router, which will be completely automatic for the iMac. It will just work right away.
To check to see if the iMac has an Airport Card to allow it to use wireless networks, click on the Apple pulldown menu in the upper left of the screen. Click on About this Mac. Then click on More Info. The System Profiler will appear. There will be a list of hardware components. Look for the section labeled network. You should see the Airport Card entry; click it. If you have a device installed you will see technical details. If you don't it will say "No information found" or a similar message.
Providing that you have Airport Card installed in the iMac, you can then open the Finder (Square Blue Smilie face on the dock). Click on Applications then click on the Utilities folder. Looks for an icon labeled Airport Setup Assistant. Double-click the icon and follow along. It will allow you to find the Linksys router. You will likely have to enter a WEP passcode to connect, if you configured one on the Linksys Router. If your Linksys restricts connections by MAC address (a unique hardware address that every ethernet and wireless device uses -- Not an Apple Mac). You will need to add the MAC address of the iMac Airport Card to allow this computer to connect. This MAC Filtering is recommended because wireless security is very insecure.
If you didn't program your Linksys router with a WEP passcode nor Mac Filtering it will simply connect with no password. This is not recommended for a Linksys router because it will be wide open to anyone with a wireless card and that is in range of the wireless router. You don't want a neighbor to get free Internet access on your dime. It would also be possible for someone to connect to the Internet using your connection and thus avoid any nefarious activity being traced back to them. i.e. they could conduct illegal actions on the Internet using your Internet connection. e.g. child porn, hacking, credit theft, etc. It would not be fun for some Internet Security Task Force to come knocking on your door to arrest you instead of the criminal.
So it's highly recommended that you set a WEP 128bit passcode on the Linksys and configure the 2 PC's and the iMac with the passcode. This will prevent anyone from connecting to your Linksys without knowing the passcode. The computers will all remember the code so you don't have to type it in all the time. You should also turn on Mac Filtering to only allow these 3 computers to connect.
To determine the MAC address on Windows 2000/XP:
Click Start then Run then type in CMD and click OK.
Type "IPCONFIG /all" without the quotes and press enter in the black DOS command console.
Look for an entry under Wireless Adaptor called Physical Address. That's the MAC address. Write it down. Do the same for the other PC.
Windows displays it like this 00-A8-22-42-D5-7B
The Linksys will likely needed it entered like this 00:AB:22:42
5:7B
So just switch the - with a : character.
On the iMac it's easier to determine the MAC address:
Go back to the Applications folder in the Finder and click on Utilities again.
Double-click the Network Utility. You should have a Network Interface drop down list. Select "Network Interface (en1)" which should be the wireless one. Look below and the Model should say Wireless Network Adaptor. Look above and you should see the Hardware Address this is the MAC address, write it down.
Login to the Linksys at http://192.168.1.1 - default password = "admin" without the quotes. There is no username. If you changed the password, then enter it instead of "admin". Setup your WEP 128 bit passcode and the MAC filter settings. Add the 3 computers MAC addresses and tell it to only allow these 3 computers.
Connect each computer to the wireless, you will be prompted for the WEP passcode. Then it should all just work.
If you need further assistance reply back with the model number of the Linksys router so I can lookup the user manual online. I don't have a Linksys router but I know they have all the documentation at http://linksys.com
You can also call Linksys Tech Support, they are pretty good and usually very helpful. 24/7 support # 800-326-7114 - Ask them how to secure your router and to reconfigure the 2 PC's and the Mac. It's also a good idea to make sure you have the latest firmware, ask them to help you upgrade the firmware as well. You have an older model router and will likely need the software inside the router (firmware) upgraded. At the very get the router reconfigured in a secure manner and the 2 PC's connected. Come back to me for the Mac assistance if Linksys gives you any trouble with the Apple Mac. They might not be that knowledgeable about Mac's. It will work it's just they might not be trained on Mac's. Then again, they might be very familiar with Mac's as well as XBOX's, Playstation's, TiVo's, etc. Everything uses wireless nowadays.
Good luck, reply back if you need anything else. It's easier then it looks!
On the iMac there is an Airport Setup Assistant application to make it easy to connect to wireless networks.
However, the iMac must have a wireless adaptor installed (hardware option) to be able to connect to a wireless network. Without wireless, she will have to connect using an ethernet cable plugged into the router, which will be completely automatic for the iMac. It will just work right away.
To check to see if the iMac has an Airport Card to allow it to use wireless networks, click on the Apple pulldown menu in the upper left of the screen. Click on About this Mac. Then click on More Info. The System Profiler will appear. There will be a list of hardware components. Look for the section labeled network. You should see the Airport Card entry; click it. If you have a device installed you will see technical details. If you don't it will say "No information found" or a similar message.
Providing that you have Airport Card installed in the iMac, you can then open the Finder (Square Blue Smilie face on the dock). Click on Applications then click on the Utilities folder. Looks for an icon labeled Airport Setup Assistant. Double-click the icon and follow along. It will allow you to find the Linksys router. You will likely have to enter a WEP passcode to connect, if you configured one on the Linksys Router. If your Linksys restricts connections by MAC address (a unique hardware address that every ethernet and wireless device uses -- Not an Apple Mac). You will need to add the MAC address of the iMac Airport Card to allow this computer to connect. This MAC Filtering is recommended because wireless security is very insecure.
If you didn't program your Linksys router with a WEP passcode nor Mac Filtering it will simply connect with no password. This is not recommended for a Linksys router because it will be wide open to anyone with a wireless card and that is in range of the wireless router. You don't want a neighbor to get free Internet access on your dime. It would also be possible for someone to connect to the Internet using your connection and thus avoid any nefarious activity being traced back to them. i.e. they could conduct illegal actions on the Internet using your Internet connection. e.g. child porn, hacking, credit theft, etc. It would not be fun for some Internet Security Task Force to come knocking on your door to arrest you instead of the criminal.
So it's highly recommended that you set a WEP 128bit passcode on the Linksys and configure the 2 PC's and the iMac with the passcode. This will prevent anyone from connecting to your Linksys without knowing the passcode. The computers will all remember the code so you don't have to type it in all the time. You should also turn on Mac Filtering to only allow these 3 computers to connect.
To determine the MAC address on Windows 2000/XP:
Click Start then Run then type in CMD and click OK.
Type "IPCONFIG /all" without the quotes and press enter in the black DOS command console.
Look for an entry under Wireless Adaptor called Physical Address. That's the MAC address. Write it down. Do the same for the other PC.
Windows displays it like this 00-A8-22-42-D5-7B
The Linksys will likely needed it entered like this 00:AB:22:42
5:7BSo just switch the - with a : character.
On the iMac it's easier to determine the MAC address:
Go back to the Applications folder in the Finder and click on Utilities again.
Double-click the Network Utility. You should have a Network Interface drop down list. Select "Network Interface (en1)" which should be the wireless one. Look below and the Model should say Wireless Network Adaptor. Look above and you should see the Hardware Address this is the MAC address, write it down.
Login to the Linksys at http://192.168.1.1 - default password = "admin" without the quotes. There is no username. If you changed the password, then enter it instead of "admin". Setup your WEP 128 bit passcode and the MAC filter settings. Add the 3 computers MAC addresses and tell it to only allow these 3 computers.
Connect each computer to the wireless, you will be prompted for the WEP passcode. Then it should all just work.
If you need further assistance reply back with the model number of the Linksys router so I can lookup the user manual online. I don't have a Linksys router but I know they have all the documentation at http://linksys.com
You can also call Linksys Tech Support, they are pretty good and usually very helpful. 24/7 support # 800-326-7114 - Ask them how to secure your router and to reconfigure the 2 PC's and the Mac. It's also a good idea to make sure you have the latest firmware, ask them to help you upgrade the firmware as well. You have an older model router and will likely need the software inside the router (firmware) upgraded. At the very get the router reconfigured in a secure manner and the 2 PC's connected. Come back to me for the Mac assistance if Linksys gives you any trouble with the Apple Mac. They might not be that knowledgeable about Mac's. It will work it's just they might not be trained on Mac's. Then again, they might be very familiar with Mac's as well as XBOX's, Playstation's, TiVo's, etc. Everything uses wireless nowadays.
Good luck, reply back if you need anything else. It's easier then it looks!
soconfused - Apr 14, 2007 - 7:35 am
Thanks so much for your help. It turns out her computer has all the info for an airport card (setup, help file, etc.) but no card. We're on our way this weekend to get one unless someone can figure out how to get a mac to recognize a linksys adaptor. Once we get that card or adaptor, your directions should get us where we need to be. Thanks for making them so easy to follow and for telling me how to secure the network! We really appreciate your help!!!!
stottm - Apr 14, 2007 - 10:55 am
No problem, I suspected the airport card wasn't installed. ;-) Hopefully, you can find a compatible airport card. You profile indicates it's an old iMac but that's not necessarily accurate. If it's a fairly new iMac finding an airport card should be easy. Make sure you get the model number of the iMac when you go shopping.
stottm - Apr 14, 2007 - 10:59 am
I might have an old airport card floating around somewhere, if you let me know what the exact model of iMac you have is; I can see if it's compatible. Newer Mac's use the Airport Extreme card but you can't easily buy the older regular Airport card anymore.
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