To set up a TCP/IP network, first set up a switched Ethernet network. If you want to share application-specific files across platforms, you need to make sure you have the application on both computers and also be sure the application is capable of opening the other platform’s files.
Application-specific formats like word processing files, however, many not work as you want them to. Some types of files-such as text files, many image formats, and some video formats-work equally well on both platforms. Mac OS, Windows, and Unix all have built-in support for TCP/IP, making this network setup possible.Ĭreating this kind of connection allows you to perform basic file functions: primarily moving them back and forth between computers. If you don’t need share files or printers, you can set up a TCP/IP network between Macs and PCs for just the cost of the hub and Ethernet cables. If you’re using a Unix box with an NFS file system, Thursby Software Systems also makes MacNFS for networking your Mac to the Unix box. DAVE allows your Mac to access Windows file servers and printers through the Mac’s Chooser, just like AppleTalk. If you want to attach a Mac to a network based on Windows, you’ll need to pick up Thursby Software Systems’s DAVE. These programs differ somewhat in their features, but both have a downloadable demo to let you try them out first. If you need to make a Windows PC work on a Mac-centric network, you have two options.
Which program you use will depend on what you need your network to do.
There are, fortunately, programs that will translate from the Mac network to the Windows network (or vice versa).
The Mac OS and Windows have very different networking systems, so sharing files or printers on a Mac doesn’t mean a thing to PCs on the network. Look around the settings until you find something like “About This Device.” The MAC address should be listed there, though each router differs.The main obstacle in putting Macs and Windows PCs on a network is sharing files and printers with each other. This is typically done by either opening up dedicated firmware or by inputting the router’s IP address into the address bar of a traditional web browser. Now you’ll have to access the router’s settings page or admin panel. No luck? Your next step is to ensure that your network is operating properly, with a modem connected to the router via Ethernet cable and the router transmitting a strong wireless signal with an Internet connection. If you have access to either of these, give them a quick look before continuing on.
This information could also be printed in the instruction manual or somewhere in the original box. Your first step should be to look at the router itself, as the MAC address could be listed on a sticker along with the default network name, default password, and IP address. Tools: Router, computer, modem, Ethernet cable Here are the steps to find a MAC address.
The process of how to find your Media Access Control address differs depending on the make and model of your router, though it is not as complicated as, say, learning how to disable NAT acceleration in your router. With a device’s MAC address on hand, you can block it from the network entirely or allocate bandwidth restrictions.