Services for Macintosh
Services for Macintosh |
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As you plan how to physically connect your Windows 2000 and Macintosh computers, the first thing to consider is network media. Each network media type has its own method of cabling and network topology, and each requires different network hardware.
A Windows 2000–based server supports six types of media:
Ethernet, token ring, and FDDI are common network media. LocalTalk is used in AppleTalk networking. Every Macintosh computer includes hardware and software that enables it to be a client on a LocalTalk network. If Ethernet is being used, no changes are necessary. If LocalTalk is being used, a LocalTalk card must be installed. If the Macintosh client is using LocalTalk and Ethernet, routing must be turned on.
Suppose your server and Windows 2000 clients use Ethernet, and your Macintosh clients are not currently attached to a network (that is, they have built-in LocalTalk hardware and software). To enable communication between the computers that are running Windows 2000 Server and the Macintosh computers, use one of the options described in the following sections.
Install Ethernet cards on each Macintosh computer, and then attach these cards to your existing Ethernet network. The server uses its existing Ethernet card to communicate with both Windows 2000 and Macintosh clients, all of which can attach to a single Ethernet network. Figure 13.3 is an example of this type of network.
Figure 13.3 Ethernet Network with a Windows 2000-Based Server and Macintosh Clients
Install a LocalTalk network adapter card on the server (in addition to the Ethernet card that is already installed). You can then set up the Macintosh computers on a LocalTalk network that is attached to the server's new LocalTalk card. The server communicates with the Macintosh computers by means of LocalTalk. Figure 13.4 is an example of this type of network.
Figure 13.4 Windows 2000-Based Server with Ethernet and LocalTalk Cards
This solution requires only one additional network card. However, LocalTalk is not as fast as Ethernet, so network performance is affected. Because the number of Macintosh computers on a LocalTalk network is limited, this solution is impractical if your network has a large number of Macintosh computers.
Install an Ethernet/LocalTalk router, which translates data on the network between the two media. A Windows 2000–based server that is running Services for Macintosh also can act as a router between Ethernet and LocalTalk. A Windows 2000–based server, however, must have both an Ethernet and a LocalTalk card installed.
By using an Ethernet/LocalTalk router, the server can still use its Ethernet card. You can put the Macintosh clients on a LocalTalk network and attach the router to both the Ethernet and the LocalTalk networks. All data that is transferred between the server and the Macintosh computers passes through the router. To the server, all Macintosh computers appear to be on the Ethernet network. Figure 13.5 illustrates this type of network.
Figure 13.5 Ethernet LocalTalk Router
To use the Ethernet/LocalTalk router, you must be able to bind the AppleTalk protocol on the server to an Ethernet card on the server.
This solution is useful if you want to make printers on the Ethernet available to Macintosh clients; however, a LocalTalk router degrades performance.
Note
Because a computer that is running Windows 2000 Server can function as a router, it can also function as an Ethernet/LocalTalk router — as long as it has both an Ethernet network adapter card and a LocalTalk card. To connect one physical network of Macintosh computers to several servers, you can install a LocalTalk card on one server, which then functions as a router and enables the Macintosh computers to reach the other servers on the Ethernet network.
Depending on which clients you have on your network, the issues you face when deciding how to connect them can be more complex than the issues that were discussed earlier in this chapter. The following two examples address advanced issues and proposed solutions:
You can install a LocalTalk card on the computer that is running Windows 2000 Server to communicate with the Macintosh computers that use LocalTalk, install Ethernet cards on all the Macintosh computers, or use an Ethernet/LocalTalk router.
In addition to implementing the first solution, install a token ring network card on the computer that is running Windows 2000 Server to communicate with these Macintosh computers.
These solutions also work with FDDI.
