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TCP/IP Networking

Remind me, why is a TCP/IP network advantageous? - TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is the same protocol used by the internet because it can be used by almost any computer (regardless of whether it is a Mac or a PC) running almost any operating system. Apple is now starting to phase out AppleTalk to make way for TCP/IP, so it will provide greater compatibility now, and in the long run, for you to set up a TCP/IP network (you can even provide internet access for many computers on your network through one internet connection if you want to).

What hardware do I need to set up an TCP/IP network? - First of all, any Macs that you intend to connect over an TCP/IP network must have Ethernet cards, also called NICs (Network Interface Cards), you can get them for almost every Mac from the SE and on (It is also possible to get SCSI Ethernet connectors, but they are extremely slow). If you plan on connecting only two Macs via TCP/IP, you will need the following hardware:

  1. One (1) Ethernet card installed (w/ the appropriate drivers) in each Classic Mac
  2. One (1) RJ-45 (twisted-pair) cross-over cable

If you plan on connecting more than two you will need the following hardware:

  1. One (1) Ethernet card installed (w/ the appropriate drivers) in each Classic Mac
  2. One (or more) Ethernet Hubs with enough ports for the number of Macs connecting to the EtherTalk network
  3. one (1) normal RJ-45 (twisted-pair) Ethernet cable for each Mac connecting to the EtherTalk network

Once I get the right hardware for a TCP/IP network, how do I connect it all together? - If you are connecting only two Classic Macs together, you need to do the following (diagams comming soon, hopefully):

  1. Connect one end of the RJ-45 (Twisted-Pair) Ethernet cross-over cable to the Ethernet card (NIC) of each the two Macs.

If you are connecting more than two Classic Macs to the same TCP/IP network, you need to do the following:

  1. Connect one end of a RJ-45 (Twisted-Pair) Ethernet cable to the Ethernet card (NIC) of each Mac to be connected to the network.
  2. Connect the other end of the RJ-45 (Twisted-Pair) Ethernet cable that is connected into each Mac into a port on an Ethernet Hub. (DO NOT connect anything into the "uplink" port of any Ethernet Hubs at this point)
  3. Connect the Ethernet Hubs together. (This is done differently with different Hubs, so read the manual to do this part, I will soon supply methods for a couple different types though)

Now that I have the hardware set up for a TCP/IP network, what software do I need? - You will need either OpenTransport or MacTCP. OpenTransport will only work on Macs with an '030 processor or better, but MacTCP will also work on Macs with a 68000 processor.

How do I install and configure the software? - I have recently added a new MacTCP Configuration section which is designed to teach you just this. It includes screenshots, step-by-step configuration instructions, and a link to where to download the installer, so check it out.

How do I connect my TCP/IP network to the internet or another network? - What you need is a Router (a device, or software, that routes information from one network to another). Hardware routers are very expensive, but faster, fairly easy to set up and configure, and aren't required to be connected to a computer. Software routers are only as fast as the computer that they are installed on can handle, but they are much cheaper. The following is a list of hardware routers:

  • I'm still looking

The following is a list of software routers and their system requirements: