Then you can configure TCP/IP and use FTP to share files between your Macs and PCs. 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. The main obstacle in putting Macs and Windows PCs on a network is sharing files and printers with each other.