Apple G3 Minitower manual Connecting to a Local Area Network

Connecting to a Local Area Network

Connecting to a local area network extends the features of your Macintosh by giving you access to the services and resources provided on the network. For example, your computer alone lets you store, retrieve, and modify information on floppy disks, hard disks, and CD- ROM discs. On a network, however, you can also store and retrieve information on the hard disks and CD-ROM discs of other computers, access information that other people have stored for you, use electronic mail, share resources such as printers and modems or other network services, and access the Internet, if the network has a link to it. (Access to the Internet over a network may be noticeably faster than access with a modem.)

You can get information about the network you want to connect to from the specialist— referred to as the “network administrator”—who oversees its operation. Before you begin, identify your network administrator.

Your computer can be connected to several kinds of networks, including the following:

mLocalTalk: To connect to a LocalTalk network, you connect a LocalTalk cable to the printer port on your computer.

mEthernet: To connect to a high-speed Ethernet network, you connect an Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on the back of the computer or to a port provided by a PCI-based Ethernet card that you install in the computer.

mAlternative networks such as 100Base-T, ISDN, or Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI): To connect to any of these networks, you need a PCI card in one of the PCI slots in your computer. For instructions on installing PCI cards, see Chapter 3.

This section describes the process for connecting your computer to LocalTalk and Ethernet networks.

mIf your computer is already connected to a network, see Mac OS Help for information about printing on a networked printer, accessing information on file servers, and sharing files on your computer with other users. Ask your network administrator for information about network software for services such as Internet access and electronic mail.

mIf you want to set up a network at your location, a book on Macintosh networking will help you select and plan a network appropriate for your organization. Many books are available, such as Planning and Managing AppleTalk Networks, an Apple book published by Addison-Wesley and available at computer bookstores.

Using Your Macintosh and Connecting Additional Equipment 37