• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Advice on setting up a wireless house

D

DrJeff

Senior member
Please just direct me if this has been covered in a recent thread. I tried my best to search...

I am setting up a wireless house containing:
3 54g laptops
3 towers with wireless add on
a 54g 108mbps netgear wireless router hooked to DSL
HP Laserjet 3055 AIO
some large capacity server or NAS.

I want to centrally locate the Laserjet AIO hidden in a closet, with a wireless print server.

I thought I wanted a NAS that would hold 2 x 750gb mirrored drives for absolute safety of files (it would be the family's central repository for MP3s, photos, movies, media and needs to be fail-safe since the plan is to have very little of this stuff taking up space on all the PCs.) After combing some NAS threads, it seems like a better option is to setup an old tower with Win2000 and 2 big HDs other than the boot drive, share one biggie with the PCs and have a backup program copy/clone to the other drive twice a week. I could then serve the Laserjet wired off that PC and have it hookup with the wireless cloud over a PCI card or USB dongle. The server route seems to get me more flexibility than most less expensive NAS boxes and would be scalable to more drives later.

I also want to hookup a Slingbox Pro so I can access cable from any PC in the house, but that would be better setup near a TV.
I could even envision tunneling to my server over the internet from my work PC to access media.

Has anyone done it like this and am I missing something in this plan that is going to be a major headache?

Are there any reasons not to just use USB 54g dongles on the towers, instead of internal PCI wireless NICs?

Shouldn't the HP setup utility run on each PC be able to find the AIO in this layout and use all features including scanner and fax?

Thanks to anyone who has any advice for me.
 
Wouldn't you be better off setting up some smaller hard drives and do raid 5?

Do use usb wireless adapters on the desktop machines. This will allow optimal placement for the wireless network instead of being shoved behind some desk.

Most everything else looks good.
 
I'd def recommend doing a Raid 5 of smaller drives (320 or 400gb are the sweet sport price wise). Must more cost effective.
 
So I would need minimum of 3 x 320 or 400? Certainly, I have seen under $100 AR prices for these on occasion, but 500s and 750s have remained pricey per GB. I have not setup a RAID5 before. Can it be done in either software under W2k or hardware as in a plug-in RAID PCI card?

Would RAID5 also eliminate the use of a backup program and biweekly runs?

Anyone have any experience with Slingbox Pro?

Thanks for the feedback.
 
remember, raid5 is not a backup....

tbh, you are going to be shoving too much over wireless...it's not half wired speed, because it says 54Mb/s. Doing multiple backups across wireless is going to crawl. At a minimum, I would hook the server wired to the router. I would still probably plug in before backing up.
 
Really, what I was planning on backing up was the server media directories to a second drive for redundancy. The individual machines are not as much of a concern compared to the family photo archive, movie collection, etc.
 
Is not RAID 5 a backup of its own files? (in the event one drive goes down, you can rebuild the missing data)

And can't I rely on 54G being fast enough to play an AVI file or ISO file using Win Media Player or PowerDVD off the server drives? (especially since those progs buffer?)
 
Originally posted by: DrJeff
Is not RAID 5 a backup of its own files? (in the event one drive goes down, you can rebuild the missing data)

And can't I rely on 54G being fast enough to play an AVI file or ISO file using Win Media Player or PowerDVD off the server drives? (especially since those progs buffer?)
Click to expand...

54G relates to about 20Mb/s in best of scnerios. It depends on the AVI file. You cannot reliably stream HD video (12Mb/s video) across a normal G link. You might look at some of the preN stuff, as it DOES work (but you run a big risk of it being incompatible once they finalize the standards). I was able to stream a 12Mb/s video through a metal wall ~ 60' without issues, 120' with a minimal amount of problems.

Raid5 is a reduency to reduce downtime in the event of physical drive failure, it is not a backup. A backup is something that (ideally)
1. Is/can be physically offsite. Backup helps after fires, raid5 does not
2. Can help to recover from malicious users/software. Virus formats your hard drive? Backup helps, Raid5 does not.
3. Can recover older versions of files for various reasons.
 
Originally posted by: DrJeff
Is not RAID 5 a backup of its own files? (in the event one drive goes down, you can rebuild the missing data)
Click to expand...

RAID 5 doesn't help when the cat deletes babys_first_steps.avi. 😛

Backup to DVD too.

And can't I rely on 54G being fast enough to play an AVI file or ISO file using Win Media Player or PowerDVD off the server drives? (especially since those progs buffer?)
Click to expand...

It'll work, but with multiple users playing AVI files at the same time it probably won't work well. 😛
 
These are both helpful answers. I have and like the Netgear WGT624, their 108mbps Super G wireless router, which I was planning to use.

If I want it to operate at 108, every adapter has to be 108, correct? I would have to deactivate the 3 laptops' internal 54G adapters and plug in Netgear's own 108 USB dongles, plus use the 108 dongles in the towers. Otherwise, the router will throttle back all wireless to 54G due to the laptops working on internal 54g circuitry. If I did all this, doubling the throughput to 40Mb/s best case, that would be adequate for HD streaming, right?

On the RAID question, I hear you saying use inexpensive discs for a RAID5 setup, and backup off-site weekly in some fashion, maybe using one of those internet backup services. I guess I was not allowing for mischief or stupidity; I have only been hit with HD failures in the past. No cat in the house.
 
Substitute any of: child, clueless user, drunk user, dog, ferret, emu, llama, or iguana for cat in my above post. 😉

All adapters would have to 108 for any of them to be 108.
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Substitute any of: child, clueless user, drunk user, dog, ferret, emu, llama, or iguana for cat in my above post. 😉

All adapters would have to 108 for any of them to be 108.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I was afraid of that. Kinda defeats the purpose/convenience of having built in WiFi, though.

Oh, another thing. When I setup say a 3 disk RAID 5 array, they have to be empty disks, right? Then transfer all the media in from the HD they are currently on.
 
super108 is (in my experience) more of a gimmick. I VERY seriously doubt you would get 40Mb/s sustained throughput on one of those. I doubt you could get 25 tbh.
 
Oh, another thing. When I setup say a 3 disk RAID 5 array, they have to be empty disks, right? Then transfer all the media in from the HD they are currently on.
Click to expand...
Sorry about that. I now realize how stupid that question was.:disgust:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top