Ok, using Laptops with Filezilla Server for FTP, CS4 & LR2, WFT-E1a's, Belkin N+ router, Mk2N's & Ds2's. Router is wired to one laptop and networked to other Laptops. So far this has been great.
My question is "Can I hardwire (cat5) each laptop to the router and have each laptop receive the images in their own folder either in LR2 or Bridge" Just looking to speed up the viewing and selection of photos.
I'm not totally sure of your actual workflow - specifically what hardware is shared and how the file migrate from camera to viewstation.
"Router is wired to one laptop and then (wirelessly?) networked to other laptops?"
If that is the case, then 'can you hardwire them into the router for faster file xfer?'
Again, without knowing the file flow, I would say yes. Most routers are simply a switch with one port designated for 'routing' to another network. (i.e.: internal network to internet) The rest of the ports allow you to talk 'internally' among devices plugged into it.
If that is what you're looking at doing, you should notice a decent redux in file download times as you're not dealing with wireless inefficiencies, but have essentially dedicated lines at greater speed - minimizing your setup time and/or maintenance also.
Hey Hammy, thanks for the reply. Yes the others are wirelessly networked. I guess delivery is not the correct word, viewing is all the laptop stations are doing. I have a person on each laptop to show selections and print keychains only for immediate delivery.
WiFi-ing the laptops vs cat5 wiring is not a problem but that may not get you what I am guessing you're looking for. It seems you are downloading your images to one laptop and want to be able to access them from the main DL laptop and a number of other laptops. And all in real time to keep a customer flow working. Right?
If you want more specific help with this, drop me an email or PM with your email address & I can help you thru this. Emails work better than typing into these small forum reply boxes.
Use clean Cat6 and gigabit ether (if you can) and the difference can be great. I tether to an old (slow) laptop for product shots, and have it send the files directly to my best workstation to avoid the laptop's geriatric hard disk. Over Wireless N, this takes about 20 seconds. Over Gigabit ether, less than three.
You limitation will still be the hard disk of whatever machine is hosting the files. If it's currently a problem, this is something to remember when you eventually replace those machines.
" Just looking to speed up the viewing and selection of photos.