Thu, Jul 29, 2010
 Chapter 3

Basic Mac Networking

Once you've mastered the bipedal data transport of the Sneaker Net, we can describe the digital networking technologies that allow Macs and other computers to communicate. This chapter runs through a quick primer on how Macs network. We introduce some network terms that you probably have heard or even toss around yourself on a regular basis, but may have only vague notions of what they mean -- AppleTalk, TCP/IP, Ethernet, PPP, and Open Transport, to name a few.


Table 3-1. Mac OS Networking Pros and Cons
Description
AppleShare IP file sharing performance
Installing the Mac OS 8.5 SNMP client
Apple Network Administrator Toolkit
"Apple's Net Future," NetProfessional Magazine, July/August 1998.
NetWare 5 for Macintosh, from ProSoft Engineering
Table 3-2. Networking Control Panels and Extensions
Description
The Complete Conflict Compendium is an on-line collection of Mac OS applications, control panels, and extensions that can interfere with one another.
Conflict Catcher, commercial software by Casady & Greene, for detecting extensions and control panels that don't play well together
FreePPP, freeware for dial-up PPP connections
InformINIT, an invaluable shareware reference by Dan Frakes on Apple and third-party control panels and extensions
Internet Config, freeware from Stairways Software
MacPPP, freeware from the MacBel group
MacSLIP, a commercial package from Hyde Park Software for older-style SLIP connections (updates only)
PPP Menu adds a system for managing PPP connections and Internet applications.
Table 3-3. High-Speed Mac Networking
Fast Ethernet (100 Mb/s)
Apple Computer
Asanté Technologies
Farallon Communications
Kingston Technology
Sonic Systems
Team ASA
FDDI (100 Mb/s)
Team ASA Stallion adapter series
ATM (155 Mb/s)
3CX
Fore Systems (ForeRunner LE and 200E adapters)
Interphase 5575 ATM adapter
Gigabit Ethernet (1,000 Mb/s)
Farallon Communications
Publishing Solutions/Packet Engines
Team ASA Stallion-GE adapters
Table A-2. Networking References
Description
Network glossary
Apple's reference book on Networking with Open Transport
Open Transport updates are available from Apple's software updates site.
Apple's AppleTalk reference
Novell NetWare primer
TCP/IP References
IPNetMonitor, OT Advanced Tuner, IPNetRouter, shareware tools for Mac networking, from Sustainable Softworks
Internet Engineering Task Force--source of protocol definitions (called RFCs)