I read an article on <a href="http://www.macnewsworld.com/">MacNewsWorld</a>'s site titled "<a href="http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/How-to-Build-a-Mac-Home-Network-65622.html">How to Build a Mac Home Network</a>." The first thing I thought after reading the article is, "The title is completely misleading." It doesn't really tell you how to build a network; it's more of an equipment reference, with a <a href="http://awurl.com/NEgwnsIFb">quick mention</a> to refer to Apple's PDF:
"Fortunately, Apple provides a PDF-based guide, "Designing AirPort Networks Using AirPort Utility," that can help novices set up more complicated networks that, for example, help you keep a faster WiFi signal for newer Macs while running a slower channel for older Macs or PCs."
If I were to write a "How To" on networking I wouldn't use Apple's Airport Extreme, and I would include mention of the most important "elephant in the room" point: securing the network. I think anyone writing these types of articles who cares about their audience, or who has the experience, would write a network "How To" that included important basic information.
With that in mind, Apple's Airport Extreme is a nice router, but it isn't the best. Off the top of my head, I ping it for having only 3 networking jacks (the unwritten standard is 4) and crap support for subnet masking. Ever since I started networking my home, which was back in the late 90's, every router and hub I came across has had 4 ports. Sure, we can debate the need for a plethora of network jacks, but you can't beat the speed of cables on a gigbit network.
On any home network, the main speed gremlins are usually at the modem and wireless connections. If you're using broadband, your ISP most likely throttles bandwidth (which is usually counted in tens of megabytes), and if you're using wireless, 802.11n's speed is approximately 500MB/sec (and that's IF you're using 802.11n). Another point to mention is that while using my Airport Extreme, I can download a DVD sized file in approximately 10-15 minutes on my hardwired iMac, where it takes almost twice as long on my 802.11n MacBook Pro.
I consider myself an above-average consumer, which I think keeps me grounded and allows me to follow industry trends. I wasn't an early adopter of the Internet phone movement, but I did get tired of prices rising on everything from cable to the telephone a while back, so I've been happily using Vonage for a couple of years. I also see a new trend, which I've been doing for approximately over a year now, which is consolidating telephone, television, and Internet services. As it applies to the Aiport Extreme, 3 jacks in this scenario isn't adequate, so I've had to break up my network with additional routers to compensate for network devices, omputers, etc.
As your network expands and you start to group/organize devices, subnet masking isn't a major issue because people generally use the standard setting and keep their network big. However, a thought-out approach could help with organizing and security. For the most part, I do the standard security things, like not broadcasting my SSID, MAC filtering, and MAC-to-IP assignment - again, great for the average home setup. Unfortunately this isn't a standard practice - I still find open routers and routers using WEP security. Depending on how you plan your network, a decent subnet(s) could help regulate IP assignments to foreign connections and organize your network to your liking. For example, on one network, I'm using every IP in that subnet, and all IPs are assigned by MAC address. So, if one of my devices lost a connection, and I see all IPs are in use, then there's a possibility of a foreign connection. Getting back to Apple's Airport Extreme, it pulls the subnet mask from the router it's connected to, and it applies that to the network it routes. So, if router X has a subnet for 3 IPs for routers connected to it, and I have 8 devices that I want to connect to the Airport Extreme that's using one of those IPs, then I either have to change the subnet on router X (which opens up accessible IP addresses), or I have to add those devices to another router.
One plus, although I also consider it limiting, is that Apple only gives you a choice of the 3 <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1918">RFC 1918</a> private addresses for your network. If you're happy being a network dummy then this is your router. If you like to have more control over your network, then there are better routers out there.
IRT the earlier mention of phone, Internet, and television: we're doing it all for approximately $80 per month. BOO YA!!
"Fortunately, Apple provides a PDF-based guide, "Designing AirPort Networks Using AirPort Utility," that can help novices set up more complicated networks that, for example, help you keep a faster WiFi signal for newer Macs while running a slower channel for older Macs or PCs."
If I were to write a "How To" on networking I wouldn't use Apple's Airport Extreme, and I would include mention of the most important "elephant in the room" point: securing the network. I think anyone writing these types of articles who cares about their audience, or who has the experience, would write a network "How To" that included important basic information.
With that in mind, Apple's Airport Extreme is a nice router, but it isn't the best. Off the top of my head, I ping it for having only 3 networking jacks (the unwritten standard is 4) and crap support for subnet masking. Ever since I started networking my home, which was back in the late 90's, every router and hub I came across has had 4 ports. Sure, we can debate the need for a plethora of network jacks, but you can't beat the speed of cables on a gigbit network.
On any home network, the main speed gremlins are usually at the modem and wireless connections. If you're using broadband, your ISP most likely throttles bandwidth (which is usually counted in tens of megabytes), and if you're using wireless, 802.11n's speed is approximately 500MB/sec (and that's IF you're using 802.11n). Another point to mention is that while using my Airport Extreme, I can download a DVD sized file in approximately 10-15 minutes on my hardwired iMac, where it takes almost twice as long on my 802.11n MacBook Pro.
I consider myself an above-average consumer, which I think keeps me grounded and allows me to follow industry trends. I wasn't an early adopter of the Internet phone movement, but I did get tired of prices rising on everything from cable to the telephone a while back, so I've been happily using Vonage for a couple of years. I also see a new trend, which I've been doing for approximately over a year now, which is consolidating telephone, television, and Internet services. As it applies to the Aiport Extreme, 3 jacks in this scenario isn't adequate, so I've had to break up my network with additional routers to compensate for network devices, omputers, etc.
As your network expands and you start to group/organize devices, subnet masking isn't a major issue because people generally use the standard setting and keep their network big. However, a thought-out approach could help with organizing and security. For the most part, I do the standard security things, like not broadcasting my SSID, MAC filtering, and MAC-to-IP assignment - again, great for the average home setup. Unfortunately this isn't a standard practice - I still find open routers and routers using WEP security. Depending on how you plan your network, a decent subnet(s) could help regulate IP assignments to foreign connections and organize your network to your liking. For example, on one network, I'm using every IP in that subnet, and all IPs are assigned by MAC address. So, if one of my devices lost a connection, and I see all IPs are in use, then there's a possibility of a foreign connection. Getting back to Apple's Airport Extreme, it pulls the subnet mask from the router it's connected to, and it applies that to the network it routes. So, if router X has a subnet for 3 IPs for routers connected to it, and I have 8 devices that I want to connect to the Airport Extreme that's using one of those IPs, then I either have to change the subnet on router X (which opens up accessible IP addresses), or I have to add those devices to another router.
One plus, although I also consider it limiting, is that Apple only gives you a choice of the 3 <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1918">RFC 1918</a> private addresses for your network. If you're happy being a network dummy then this is your router. If you like to have more control over your network, then there are better routers out there.
IRT the earlier mention of phone, Internet, and television: we're doing it all for approximately $80 per month. BOO YA!!