⻬ Share: This mode authorizes users separately for each share they
attempt to access.
⻬ User: This is the default mode. It requires that users provide a valid user-
name and password when they first connect to a Samba server. That authentication then grants them access to all shares on the server, sub-
ject to the restrictions of the account they are authorized under.
You must create a separate Samba user account for each network user who needs to access the Samba server. In addition, you must first create a Linux
user account for each user. The Samba user account maps to an existing Linux user account; you must create the Linux user account first.
To create a Samba user account, choose Preferences➪Samba Users from the Samba Server Configuration window. This brings up the Samba Users dialog
box. You can use this dialog box to add, edit, or delete users.
To be useful, a file server should offer one or more shares — directories that have been designated as publicly accessible via the network. Again, you use
the Samba Server Configuration program to manage your shares. To add a share, click the Add button in the Samba Server Configuration program’s tool-
bar. This brings up the Add Share dialog box. You can then enter the path for the directory you want to share, as well as a description for the share and
whether you want to allow read-only or read-write access. You can also click the Access tab if you want to set limits on access for example, to specific
users.
When you create a new share using the Samba Configuration program, the share should be immediately visible to other network users. If not, try restart-
ing the Samba server, as described in the section “Starting and Stopping Samba” earlier in this chapter.
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Part IV: Network Operating Systems
Chapter 22
Macintosh Networking
In This Chapter
䊳
Hooking up a Macintosh network
䊳
Using a Macintosh network
䊳
Mixing Macs and PCs
T
his book dwells on networking PCs as if IBM were the only game in town. Hah They wish. To be politically correct, I should at least
acknowledge the existence of an altogether different breed of computer: the Apple Macintosh.
This chapter presents what you need to know to hook up a Macintosh network, use a Macintosh network, and mix Macintoshes and PCs on the same network.
This chapter is not a comprehensive tome on networking Macintoshes, but it should be enough to get you started.
What You Need to Know to Hook Up a Macintosh Network
The following sections present some key things you should know about net- working Macintosh computers before you start plugging in cables.
AppleTalk and Open Transport
Every Macintosh ever built, even an original 1984 model, includes networking support. Of course, newer Macintosh computers have better built-in network-
ing features than older Macintosh computers. The newest Macs include built- in 10100Mbps Ethernet adapters and sophisticated networking support built
in to the operating system — similar to the networking features that come with Windows XP. The beauty of Macintosh networking is that the network
card is built in, so you don’t have to worry about installing and configuring the network.
Macintosh computers use a set of networking protocols collectively known as AppleTalk. Because AppleTalk is built in to every Mac, it has become an inar-
guable networking standard among Macintosh users. You don’t have to worry about the differences between different network operating systems, because
all Macintosh networking is based on AppleTalk.
AppleTalk has gone through several major revisions since it was first intro- duced back in 1984. Originally, AppleTalk supported only small networks that
operated only over low-speed connections. In 1989, Apple enhanced AppleTalk to support larger networks and faster connections.
In 1996, with the release of MacOS System 7.5.3, Apple folded AppleTalk into a grander networking scheme known as Open Transport. The idea behind Open
Transport is to bring all the different types of communications software used on Macintoshes under a common umbrella — and make them easy to configure
and use. Currently, two types of networking are handled by Open Transport:
⻬ Open TransportAppleTalk: Handles local-area networks LANs accord-
ing to the AppleTalk protocols. Open TransportAppleTalk is a beefed-up version of AppleTalk that’s more efficient and flexible.
⻬ OpenTransportTCP: Handles TCPIP communications, such as Internet
connections. Open Transport is standard fare on all new Macintosh computers; old
Macintosh computers can be upgraded to Open Transport, provided they’re powerful enough. The minimum system requirements for Open Transport
are a 68030 processor, 5 MB of RAM, and MacOS System 7.5.3.
AppleTalk enables you to subdivide a network into zones, which are similar to workgroups in Windows for Workgroups. Each zone consists of the net-
work users who regularly share information.
Although basic support for networking is built in to every Macintosh, you still have to purchase cables to connect the computers to one another. You
have several types of cables to choose from. You can use AppleTalk with two different cabling schemes that connect to the Macintosh printer port, or you
can use AppleTalk with faster Ethernet interface cards.
Mac OS X Server
Apple offers a dedicated network operating system known as Mac OS X Server the X is pronounced “Ten,” not “Ex”, which is designed for PowerMac G3 or
later computers. Mac OS X Server is based on a Unix operating-system kernel known as Mach. As a result, Mac OS X Server can handle many network-server
tasks as efficiently as any other network operating system, including Windows 2000, NetWare, and Unix.
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Part IV: Network Operating Systems
Mac OS X Server is the server version of the Mac OS X operating system, which is the current operating system version for client Macintosh
computers.
The Mac OS X Server includes the following features: ⻬ Apache Web server
⻬ NetBoot, a feature that simplifies the task of managing network client computers
⻬ File services using AFP ⻬ WebObjects, a high-end tool for creating Web sites
⻬ QuickTime Streaming Server, which lets the server broadcast multi- media programs over the network
What You Need to Know to Use a Macintosh Network
Here are some of the most common questions that come up after you install the network cable. Note that the following sections assume that you’re work-
ing with AppleTalk networking using Mac OS X. The procedures may vary somewhat if you’re using Open Transport networking or an earlier version of
the Macintosh Operating System.
Configuring a Mac for networking
Before you can access the network from your Mac, you must configure your Mac for networking by activating AppleTalk and assigning your network name
and password.
Activating AppleTalk
After all the cables are in place, you have to activate AppleTalk. Here’s how:
1. Choose the Chooser desk accessory from the Apple menu. 2. Click the Active button.
3. Close the Chooser.
That’s all there is to it.
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