So ever been curious what a serious geek’s home network looks like? Well let us take a tour.

Click the below thumbnail to download a PDF of my network. And read along as we explore the components.

1. Man Room

• The Internet connection is provided by Comcast. The 8Mbps download version. With the Apple Airport Extreme router I get more than that often and the full 768Kbps upload I am allowed.
• The Airport Extreme provides a Network Attached Storage service using a Maxtor OneTouch II 250GB drive. Used mostly for backup and occasional moving of files.
• Attached to the Extreme is a Panasonic HD-PLC Powerline adapter. This provides network over the house powerlines while also encrypting all the traffic. This feeds the Man Room Xbox360 and wireless coverage in the back of the house.
• The Xbox360 acts as a media center extender to provide TV viewing over the house network.
• I will be moving the Airport Express to the Living Room to stream iTunes downstairs.
• The AppleTV is talking to the Man Room Airport Extreme via 5Ghz 802.11N wireless.
• My main desktop computer is an iMac G5 that is connected to the Extreme via wired connection. It was easier than spotty 802.11G wireless since it is on the same wall as the main network connectivity.
• I left off a hacked Linksys WRT54G with ddWRT that provides 802.11G wireless for my powerbook and Airport Express on this end of the house. It is simply plugged into the Extreme in Access Point not router mode so all Apple based sharing works.

2. The Living Room

• A second Airport Extreme provides wired performance via 5Ghz 802.11N wireless to the house network.
• The HP z545 Home Media Center provides DVR functions to dual DirecTV receivers. Granted not HD but good enough for us for now. This is what sends TV content to the Xbox360 so I can watch my recorded shows while my wife watches hers. Unfortunately HP has recently announced they will quit making these style units.

3. Rear House

• Network Uplink is provided by another Panasonic HD-PLC powerline adapter.
• A Cisco 871W that used to be my main router is now designated as 802.11G Access Point coverage for the bedroom end of the house.

So you ask how Microsoft and Apple can play in the same house for media entertainment? There ya go. Media Center as the main DVR with iTunes/Podcasting content via an AppleTV. Toss in the occasional use of VisualHub to convert MS-DVR recorded TV shows and I can make that play on the AppleTV or my ipod on travel.

 Ebook: Download

This entry was posted on Friday, April 6th, 2007 at 8:16 pm and is filed under FiT Tips, George Starcher. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.