MDShunk

A 4-unit apartment building owner purchased an internet connection, and I installed an 'open' wireless access point for him to give internet to the tenants in his building.

Now, I have a complaint. More than one tenant in this building uses iTunes, and the various tenants can bring up each others iTunes when they start the iTunes program. I assume this is because they share the same IP. Just a guess.

The building owner is concerned that I have created some sort of security situation. Is there some simple solution here, and what can I do about it?

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-Marc, ABC, XYZ, PhD, 1-2-3

-Someday, I'll wear pajamas in the day time.

Celtic

IMHO, the tenants have their systems set-up "wrong".

It's the whole public/private thing with their connection.

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George Stolz

My experience is limited, but I have tinkered with this quite a bit.

I just contradicted myself, but just ignore that for now.

Typically, computers sharing the same router can see each other, not just in iTunes but in general. In order to separate them, you need to change settings in the router in order to give each tenant access to the internet but not to each other. It really should be up to each tenant to decide what they don't want shared with their neighbors, but the easiest way to put the 'problem' behind you is to reconfigure the router.

If you do change the settings on the router and the problem persists just with iTunes, then you need to close the port in the router that iTunes uses.

It's worth noting that just because the different iTunes users can see the music in their neighbor's library, it's "play only", they can't share songs with it.

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-George

lectric_hand6855

Owner may need to call a computer tech and have him set up a network with passwords. Either way I'm sure the tech could shed more light on the issue.

BadSplice

The problem is with each individual machine on the network, not your router.

Have them each go into Network Connections and shut off "File and Print Sharing" as well as uninstall "Client for Microsoft Networks".

The only thing they need is TCP/IP.

wildleg

who is the provider, what make/model of router ?

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That tiger ain't go crazy; that tiger went tiger! You know when he was really crazy? When he was riding around on a unicycle with a Hitler helmet on! - chris rock

Frasbee

Yeah, tenants will have to adjust their own privacy settings.

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Bob Badger

I agree with George, change the router settings. Yes people can do it at their own machines but to put this problem to bed permanently make the change to the router so as new machines are added to the network they do not need settings changed.

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Bob Badger
Electrical Construction and Maintenance
MA, RI, CT

MDShunk

I guess I'll have to scour the docs for the WAP. Customer provided DLink DI-624. Not my choice at all. I use Enginius or SonicWall gear when I do an AP.

__________________
-Marc, ABC, XYZ, PhD, 1-2-3

-Someday, I'll wear pajamas in the day time.

mikeh32

computer engineer gone electrician here.

first, i would secure the router. thats step one

if you could get me more info, like what type of computers the tennants have.
just simple mac, or pc would do.

but the main issue is due to they are all on the same network, the itunes will find all users in that workgroup, or network. i would tell the building owner he might want to set up some policy. make sure that they adjust the settings on there pc's too. i can foresee some huge issues too.

steelersman

Whoa dude. Why would you go from comp. eng. to electrician? Seems kind of like going from being an electrician to Don's John's cleaner.

jrannis

Marc,
IMHO,
You installed the hardware and it functions. That is the electrical part.
The owner will now have to maintain the equipment. Have him call tech support or he will have to hire a 15 year old kid to maintain it for him.

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BadSplice

I was a Network Engineer. I became an electrician because the amount of work, the pay, and it's something I like to do. I can't imagine going back to the office environment.

BTW, I still stand by my statement that a couple simple setting changes on each of the machines connecting to the network is all that should be done. A simple print-out explaining how to get onto the wireless network and the settings changes needed to keep each computer secure should be sent out to each tenant by the building owner.

MDShunk

I agree, but it also bothers me that I don't have the solution.

__________________
-Marc, ABC, XYZ, PhD, 1-2-3

-Someday, I'll wear pajamas in the day time.

NolaTigaBait

That's because you're a strategic thinker.

mikeh32

not a big fan of sitting at a desk all day. id rather be payed less and enjoy what i do, then make more and be miserable all day.

plus, i still do it as side work, and there is plenty

NolaTigaBait

Same here. There are alot of guys out there with a college degree that decide to work in a trade. This is the best way I know how to make money.

MDShunk

Simple as that, eh? If that's the case, that information probably already exists, nearly ready to print out, someplace on the net. If your platform is X and your operating system is Y, make A, B, and C changes.

Do you suppose you could link me to a place that spells it out like that?

(thinking out loud, could one of the tenants simply "map network drives" and map the drive of one of the other tenants?)

__________________
-Marc, ABC, XYZ, PhD, 1-2-3

-Someday, I'll wear pajamas in the day time.

BadSplice

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, turning off File and Print Sharing on each machine will remedy the situation. All they need is TCP/IP, the rest could be uninstalled.

Google "Turn off file sharing" for countless documentation, but that would probably be too confusing for them.

If I actually owned a Windows PC I would go thru the steps and type them out for you, but I switched over to MAC a few years ago and I only use computers for surfing porn anyway so I forgot just about everything.

As for mapping network drives, that won't happen unless one of the people actually went into their machine and specifically shared a directory or drive. I doubt that they would have done that unless by mistake (not easy to do).

George Stolz

Here is the manual. It has detailed instructions for making the configuration changes on the tenant's PCs. Unfortunately, I don't see a "Guest" setting on this router, like I was thinking would be the easiest fix.

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-George