Can I connect my pc directly to SBT via ethernet ? and....

[Deaf Cat]

Hiya,

Trying to make things simple... I think,
pc with music for music,
pc with everything else for everything else, two different rooms,
So anyone else on the pc for everything, can't fiddle with the music pc very easily :-)

At the moment I have pc for everything and music, ethernet connected to router -> wireless -> to extender / AP -> ethernet wired to SBT, controlled by ipeng.

Idea is to connect the music pc with LMS directly to the SBT via ethernet and yet still control it over the wireless ipeng, can I run two ethernet cables from one pc, one to the SBT, and one to the extender/AP or router ?

So music pc's main task is to run and supply the SBT directly connected, but the music pc (LMS) can also be accessed by the extender/AP to supply any other squeezebox's that may be around..

Many thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

I hope the above is reasonably clear :-o

Cheers
DC

[epoch1970]

Can't you do:
extender / AP -> ethernet wired to SBT
and
extender / AP -> ethernet wired to music PC

Or I've missed something ?

EDIT:
Or this, if the AP doesn't include a switch (should cost very little):

             extender / AP
                    |
                    v
[ fast ethernet or gigabit switch ]
      |                    |
      v                    v
   Touch               music PC

You can transform your music PC into a switch, but that may be a hassle. And you'd need 2 network card in it. And with the PC down, no music on the Touch via mysb.com.

[Deaf Cat]

Oh! did not think of plugging the pc into the extender / AP, guess that should work...

As you say:

Or this, if the AP doesn't include a switch (should cost very little):

             extender / AP
                    |
                    v
[ fast ethernet or gigabit switch ]
      |                    |
      v                    v
   Touch               music PC

I'm not exactly sure what the extender /AP is now, or how it works. It used to be a router, but now with non standard firmware I down loaded, to make it talk to the main router, if it works as a switch I'm afraid I do not know, more by luck than judgement I got it to work with the SBT. :-o



"You can transform your music PC into a switch, but that may be a hassle. And you'd need 2 network card in it. "

This sounds a rather good plan to me, so it would be :

extender / AP -> music pc -> SBT all three connected by ethernet cable in a line :-)

When you say 2 network card, do you mean one card with two ports, or two separate network cards?

I like that idea, many thanks, and any more thoughts or plan appreciated :-)


Something like this?
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/23083...bar&adtype=pla

[epoch1970]

Oh! did not think of plugging the pc into the extender / AP, guess that should work…
…
I'm not exactly sure what the extender /AP is now, or how it works. It used to be a router, but now with non standard firmware I down loaded…

Sounds good. I'm about sure the thing will support having more than one machine connected to it via ethernet. You don't even need a switch. This is clearly the best solution, IMHO.

"You can transform your music PC into a switch, but that may be a hassle. And you'd need 2 network card in it. "

This sounds a rather good plan to me, so it would be :

extender / AP -> music pc -> SBT all three connected by ethernet cable in a line :-)

When you say 2 network card, do you mean one card with two ports, or two separate network cards?

I like that idea, many thanks, and any more thoughts or plan appreciated :-)

I shall not like for you, then. It could be complicated according to the OS you want to use (the OS must support "bridging"). When the PC is off, I repeat, no more network, nor Internet for the Touch. As helpless as an SB3 without its server. So it's not friendly, in addition of being complex and fragile.

If you decide to go the complex way, any 2 types of ethernet card would do. Dual cards are more of a specialty item, and your computer already has at least one wired interface. (And perhaps a wireless one that you could use.) Check out the price of a 5-port fast (or gigabit, better) ethernet switch before buying an ethernet card and installing it in the PC

EDIT:
And no, nothing like the 4 port PCI card you linked. You should be aiming for £15, tops (cables included), for new hardware (and you certainly can buy 2nd hand). Question: do you put PCI or PCI-E cards in your comp ? If you do not know… buy the switch and be happy.
Way too good stuff for what your Touch+PC need: Netgear GS605 on Ebay.co.uk, new in box bid from £0.99 + £5 postage.

[Deaf Cat]

Sounds good. I'm about sure the thing will support having more than one machine connected to it via ethernet. You don't even need a switch. This is clearly the best solution, IMHO.

Yes I think your right and agree! in one way :-)

I shall not like for you, then. It could be complicated according to the OS you want to use (the OS must support "bridging"). When the PC is off, I repeat, no more network, nor Internet for the Touch. As helpless as an SB3 without its server. So it's not friendly, in addition of being complex and fragile.

If you decide to go the complex way, any 2 types of ethernet card would do. Dual cards are more of a specialty item, and your computer already has at least one wired interface. (And perhaps a wireless one that you could use.) Check out the price of a 5-port fast (or gigabit, better) ethernet switch before buying an ethernet card and installing it in the PC

Hay the external switches are peanuts compared to the pci card type :-o

To be honest I've only ever used the SB and SBT to play music from my hdd, never from the internet... don't think I'd miss what I have not used...

I'm still rather interested in the pci card option as I'm thinking connecting the pc directly to the SBT will keep my brain happy in that there are less items in the audio system chain, fussy I know, I can't help it though :-(

Will have a search on bridging and two network cards :-) fingers crossed, much cheaper than a specialty multi port card :-)

Much appreciate the comments, cheers :-)


EDIT:

Oh boy, I see what you mean about complex.
Apparently it seems to be well documented about making an XP pc a bridge, with two network cards as you say, which is wonderful. Not come across a drawing of what I'm after yet but guess it should work.

Exactly how that will tie in to the extender / AP I already have and want to connect to, I'm somewhat unsure, I seem to remember for it to work, it may have had to have its own network subnet settings as it is a different network to the main router's network OH!!

Complex your right :-o but I'm pleased that it could get sorted with just another network card as these are rather cheap on ebay :-) just the time and guess work to get them all talking :-O

Wonderful, what I'm after is possible, I think, with what could be a small out lay in money and somewhat larger outlay in time frustration and confusion.... so can always fall back on the plug them all into the extender / ap as a plan B :-)

Thank you so much for your comments and wish me luck!!
:-D
Cheers!
DC


EDIT 2
Just thought, it may be slightly more simple, to run a cable from my router to the music pc and then on to the SBT, and forget about the extender / ap.. running a cable may be easier for me than sub net bridging ap settings, and fingers crossed the ipeng will still reach the wireless router.

:-)

[gharris999]

Hiya,

Trying to make things simple... I think,
pc with music for music,
pc with everything else for everything else, two different rooms,
So anyone else on the pc for everything, can't fiddle with the music pc very easily :-)

At the moment I have pc for everything and music, ethernet connected to router -> wireless -> to extender / AP -> ethernet wired to SBT, controlled by ipeng.

Idea is to connect the music pc with LMS directly to the SBT via ethernet and yet still control it over the wireless ipeng, can I run two ethernet cables from one pc, one to the SBT, and one to the extender/AP or router ?

So music pc's main task is to run and supply the SBT directly connected, but the music pc (LMS) can also be accessed by the extender/AP to supply any other squeezebox's that may be around..

Many thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

I hope the above is reasonably clear :-o

Cheers
DC

I'm not sure about the SBTouch. I KNOW this was possible with the SB2/SB3/SBReceiver. I set things up exactly this way on more than one occasion. I always used a crossover ethernet cable for the PC to SB connection and it was pretty easy to configure SB2s & SB3s as wireless bridges. With the SBReceiver, it was a little more complicated...I needed to have a DHCP server running on the computer.

[epoch1970]

I believe you should not go into the 2nd ethernet card project.

I don't see much difference between 2 cables out of the AP, and 2 cables out of the router.

In case there is really a huge traffic on your network outside the music transfer from PC to Touch (this is very unlikely), you may want to use a switch dedicated to the PC and Touch. An inexpensive gigabit or fast ethernet switch connected to the PC and to the Touch, and connected to the rest of your LAN (the AP or the router), will create a direct route from the PC to the Touch. The switch is transparent to the network, and to the music of course. This will be in effect, a dedicated route.

If you get a gigabit switch (an overkill considering the data traffic between the PC and Touch), make sure it doesn't use an active fan… 5 port giga switches won't, domestic switches (like the one I've linked) won't. 8 port or more, "prosumer" gigabit switches are quite likely to include an internal fan. Fast ethernet switches are all fanless.
About the cables, you can look for cat5e or cat6 unshielded cables. "shielded" cables are no good, they're stiffer and can induce ground noise via the metal foil surrounding the cables. Prefer unshielded cables, unless there is a large electrical motor on the cable path.

Have fun.

[Deaf Cat]

It sounds so easy just connecting the music pc to the AP and that is that :-) done!

So yes I think I will go with this easy solution....



unless I feel lucky and wanting to wasting a good few evenings of frustration messing about with 2 ethernet cards in one machine ;-)


Thanks for all the comments, and suggestions of switches etc
:-)
Cheers
DC