Muse Research Receptor manual v1.2 - Manual (Page 144)

12: Connecting Receptor to a Computer 144 Receptor Manual
• Ethernet Switcher - This is a device that contains multiple Ethernet ports and, thus, expands the number of
Ethernet devices you can connect to your network. Ethernet switchers, unlike older “hubs”, guarantee full
bandwidth to each Ethernet device that connects to it. In general, most modern multi-port Ethernet devices
are switchers.
• Ethernet Router - An Ethernet router contains a built-in DHCP server. This is the “central nervous
system” of your network. Routers have at least one Ethernet port, though many contain multiple Ethernet
ports and, thus, act as switchers as well as routers. If you already own some type of router (such as an
802.11 wireless base station) and need only to add additional ports, than you can purchase an Ethernet
switcher to add more Ethernet ports to your existing network. If you’re building a network from scratch
and don’t already have an Ethernet router with a built-in DHCP server, then you will need to purchase a
router/switcher combination unit. Some older multi-port Ethernet devices are not actual switchers (meaning
they share bandwidth amongst all Ethernet devices). If you’re purchasing a new multi-port Ethernet router,
make sure that it’s a “switcher” and not just a “hub.”
• Crossover Connection - If you only have one Ethernet device to plug into your computer, then you don’t
need to use an Ethernet router/switcher -- you can simply plug the Ethernet device directly into your
computer’s Ethernet port. This is known as a Crossover Connection because it requires a special type
of Ethernet Cable known as an Ethernet Crossover Cable. An Ethernet crossover cable is different than
the standard type of Ethernet cable used to connect Ethernet devices to a router/switcher. If you plan to
plug Receptor directly into your computer (without using any type of Ethernet hub), then you must use a
Crossover Ethernet Cable rather than a Standard Ethernet Cable. These are available at most any computer
supply store.
• TCP/IP - Technically, this stands for “Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol” but you don’t
have to know that. What you do have to know is that this is the protocol that networked devices use to
communicate with the internet and, often, with each other. Receptor’s Setup page has a few different TCP/
IP settings that you can “tweak” depending on how you configure your network.
• IP Address - This stands for “Internet Protocol Address.” An IP Address is the computer-equivalent of your
house or apartment’s street address -- people would have a hard time finding your house if it didn’t have
some type of address, and the same is true for computers. IP addresses are used on computer networks so
that data can be directed and delivered to the right computer. IP Addresses consist of 4 blocks of numbers,
separated by dots, such as 192.168.005.001.
• DHCP - DHCP stands for “Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.” Like most such acronyms, you don’t
really need to know that -- what matters is that you know what it does. DHCP is simply one method by
which a device can be assigned an IP Address. When you tell a device to use DHCP, you’re telling it to use
an IP Address that’s provided for it by another device on the network. Most Ethernet Routers are capable
of dynamically assigning IP Addresses to any device that asks for one. Using DHCP will, in general, make
most networking tasks simpler since the network, itself, keeps track of IP addresses, meaning you don’t
have to. Receptor defaults to using DHCP addressing but, if you want, you can assign an IP address to it
manually, meaning it won’t ask the network to give it an IP address.
• Netmask - The netmask is used to divide networks into smaller “sub” networks. In general, you can accept
the default options that Receptor provides. If your Receptor(s) are getting installed into a large office or
classroom network, you may need to set Receptor’s Netmask to match your office networks. Ask your IT
guy.
• Appletalk - This is a common networking protocol that Apple Computer uses to connect its various
computers and printers. You will have to use Appletalk if you use OS 9. OS X users can choose to use
either Appletalk or Windows networking, as both are supported by this OS.
• Windows Networking - Windows networking uses something called “Samba” as its networking protocol.
Although Samba is used by Windows, Linux, and OS X, the term “Windows Networking” is fairly
common, too.
• Workgroup - Windows Networking uses the concept of “workgroups” to divide your network into,
well, “workgroups”. This could be something as mundane as a collection of computers connected to
the “accounting” workgroup, or some printers and computers connected to the “marketing” workgroup.
Receptor’s default workgroup is named “Muse.” There shouldn’t be any reason you to change this unless
your accounting department wants to hijack your Receptor and claim it for their own workgroup.