Want to setup home LAN

[mknabster]

Maybe it should be considered a HAN rather than a LAN, but either way, I would like to setup a network in which all of my computers in the house can access the other and transfer files if needed, or backup to my soon-to-be data server. Here's the lineup of what is/will be connected during this summer:

Wireless:
MacBook Pro
Dell Latitude D630
Dell Latitude 420
Dell Inspiron 5100

Wired:
Dell Precision T3400
Dell Dimension E310
PowerMac G5 1
PowerMac G5 (data server)

So there's a nice amount of machines on there, and i have never done anything like this before, so any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[rjfvillarosa]

Can you tell us what version of Windows is on all the Windows machines?

[mknabster]

All the Windows machines are running Windows 7 SP1, the PowerMacs are on OSX 10.5 Leopard, and the MacBook Pro is OSX 10.7 Lion.

[rjfvillarosa]

Networking W7 machines is easy, just go to Network and Sharing Centre in Control Panel and create a network in "choose homegroup and sharing options". You will need to give every machine a name and password. There is a wizard in "choose homegroup and sharing" that will help you sort it all out.
For the Mac's have a read here:
Accessing Mac and windows 7 on same network - MacRumors Forums

[mknabster]

Alright sweet, i'll check those out once i get home for the semester. Thanks

[mknabster]

I actually was really excited so i tried connecting my two machines at school over my router, and it worked! So my Windows computer sees my MacBook Pro no problem, though it only will connect if i let it use my user account on the Mac, it won't connect as an anonymous user. I just can't get the Mac to fully connect to the Dell though, it does see it, but returns connection failed when i try to. But i posted on MacRumors so i hope someone will respond to that.

[mknabster]

After speaking with a few people from the Mac forums, we were able to get it to work. Now i'm home and trying to connect the Windows Homegroup settings together, and it;s not working at all. All the computers are on the Home network, but they each have their own password, and I can't seem to change it, or use it for the other computers. I have attempted to leave their respective homegroups, but Windows returns an error saying that it can't. Any ideas?

[rjfvillarosa]

What are you using for a router?
Do you have third party firewall software installed on the Windows machines?

Have a look at these pages:

Home sweet homegroup: Networking the easy way in Windows 7
Setting up a home network

[glc]

If you are running a mixed Mac/PC network, I'd set it up workgroup instead of homegroup.

[mknabster]

Well, the router i have is given to us by Verizon FIOS, so i have no choice with that, but i do have a DLink Gigbit switch plugged into it. Now how is a workgroup setup, and how is that different than a homegroup? It's interesting, on my media server, that computer has full access to all the computers in the household when they are turned on, but the individual computers can't access each other. Like my MacBook Pro keeps failing all others besides the Media Server.

[glc]

Start with this:

What is the difference between a domain, a workgroup, and a homegroup?

A homegroup is an enhanced workgroup, but non-W7 computers can't access a homegroup, just a workgroup. If you have an existing homegroup, you also have a workgroup.

Clear as mud, right?

[mknabster]

Yea clear as mud for sure. I'm noticing that it's really a hit or miss situation some days here. Some days, only the Macs want to communicate with each other but not with the PCs, then other days it's the exact opposite. So on the days that it works, it's nice, on the other hand, not so much.