Network Configuration Setup Introduction Type of Network Configuration AppleTalk Network TCP/IP and AppleTalk Network Dial-Up to Internet... via ISP w/DNS service via local net with DNS via ISP or local net without DNS Direct Link to Internet... via ISP w/DNS service via local net with DNS via ISP or local net without DNS Not Connected to Internet Setup local with DNS Setup local without DNS Glossary Links Expected time to complete: 1.0 hours Updated: 09/22/98

AppleTalk vs. TCP/IP AppleTalk is a network protocol designed by Apple Computer for connecting computers together on a network. It's main benefit is simplicity: it is simple for users and simple for administrators. If you configure the machines on your network for AppleTalk, you can do the following: Login to the server through the Chooser. Capture and print to AppleTalk printers. Use the AppleShare IP Mail server with Claris Emailer 2.0 configured as a Claris OfficeMail client. TCP/IP is the language of the Internet. It is completely cross-platform and favors speed and efficiency over ease of use. Configuring all the workstations and the server for TCP/IP is a bit more work, but you could gain the following advantages: Your AppleShare IP server can act as a web server. The shared items are available over FTP and SMB. This makes your AppleShare IP server easy to access from non-Macintosh clients. Chooser logins can work over TCP/IP*. For local users, this can increase performance. Furthermore, if your server is on a constant connection to the Internet, these services are potentially available anywhere over the Internet. Anyone with an ISP account at home could potentially view your web pages, print to captured printers over TCP/IP, connect to shared folders over FTP, or login to the server through the Chooser*. The mail server would allow your users to send mail to--and receive mail from--anyone on the Internet. Keep in mind that while such access can be convenient, it can also raise security issues.   *In order to connect to the file server over TCP using the Chooser, the client must have AppleShare Client 3.7 or later. This is the standard client with MacOS 8.0 and later.   Back to Select Network Configuration