Need help networking my IBook to wireless Linksys network for PCs

IbookMom · #1 November 28th, 2005, 09:57 PM

My son has an IBook issued by school. He has an airport installed. I can connect to my wireless Linksys network but can not connect to the Internet. I've talked to my ISP not MAC support. Ive talked to Apple they say it is an ISP issue. School says no other children are having this problem. I have created a WEP password 64 bit. Any other suggestions ?

UpQuark77 · #2 November 28th, 2005, 10:04 PM

Do this first...

Make the aiport connection free of any password or MAC address mapping. Then see if you can get on the web. If that works, then you can put in a password for WEP and continue from that point.

Also, is his the only wireless computer? Could you try another?

nixgeek · #3 November 29th, 2005, 08:43 AM

First things first: please do not do multiple posts in other forum topics with the same topic. Just post it in one place and it will receive an answer. Creating multiple posts in various sections of the forum causes more confusion and might not get any answers at all.

With that said, what Mac OS version is running on that iBook? Is it Mac OS or Mac OS X? If it's Mac OS X, which version exactly (10.1.5, 10.2.8, 10.3.9, 10.4.3)?

Are you sure it's connecting to the network locally? Check to see from another computer if you can see the Mac. You may have to check the TCP/IP settings to make sure that it actually has an address.

And while on the topic of addresses, is the Linksys acting as a DHCP server giving out addresses dynamically? If so, is the iBook set to receive an IP address from the Linksys? Check the TCP/IP settings and make sure that it's set to receive it's IP address automatically. If that's properly set and you see an APIPA address (usually starts with "169.254.x.x"), then the iBook is not getting an address from the access point. Make sure that the iBook also has the SSID and WEP key to join the wireless network, otherwise it won't get an address from the Linksys.

Also, make sure that the Linksys is also providing the DNS nameservers to all the client machines it's giving IP addresses to. Otherwise, your computer won't be able to browse the internet even though you have local network connectivity.

IbookMom · #4 November 29th, 2005, 10:08 AM

I'm new at posting in forums and my pc acted like it was not sending the message that is why I hit the post button a few times. I only saw it show up once so forgive me this time for posting so many times. thanks for the advice on getting my posts answered.

My son's Ibook is one of 3 wireless pcs on my network I have 1 wired and 2 wireless PC's and I am trying to add his Ibook. I did see where the IP address begins with the 169.??? but I cannot change it as the school has administrative rights. I will print out your message and see if they will be of assistance. I can connect to the network but I just can't get an internet connection. At least the Airport says it is connected. I do have a WEP 64-bit key on my router. Should I remove that then connect the Airport and then replace the WEP key?

nixgeek · #5 November 29th, 2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IbookMom

I'm new at posting in forums and my pc acted like it was not sending the message that is why I hit the post button a few times. I only saw it show up once so forgive me this time for posting so many times. thanks for the advice on getting my posts answered.

My son's Ibook is one of 3 wireless pcs on my network I have 1 wired and 2 wireless PC's and I am trying to add his Ibook. I did see where the IP address begins with the 169.??? but I cannot change it as the school has administrative rights. I will print out your message and see if they will be of assistance. I can connect to the network but I just can't get an internet connection. At least the Airport says it is connected. I do have a WEP 64-bit key on my router. Should I remove that then connect the Airport and then replace the WEP key?

Ugh! You may have to contact the school to see about having an administrator account in order to change the settings so that the iBook can connect to the home network. Of course, they probably don't want the kids using the computers at home for internet since it might introduce problems for the school, not just regarding security but because of legal reasons (this is if your child downloads anything from p2p filesharing networks using LimeWire, Poisoned, or other p2p file sharing apps). And if they were to give you access, it's a possible security risk from a network admin's standpoint.

As for viruses, the iBook won't get infected with a virus like the PC, but it can transmit PC viruses to other PCs in the school's network if the Mac has an Windows-virus-infected file and is reintroducced into the school's network. For this reason people use antivirus software on Macs...to prevent spreading the issue to other PCs even though Macs can't get infected by them.

As for the posting, I just went through the same thing in the "What music are you playing now?" thread so I understand.