Before being able to share files or printers over a network, your Mac must have TCP/IP configured. Using the Setup Assistant when installing the OS would have already configured this for you.

TCP/IP is the protocol that runs the internet. It allows your Mac to communicate with other machines so, to complete the remainder of the network setup, check your settings in System Preferences by clicking on Network.

The Show menu will list any network connections that correspond with the way you choose to connect to your local network. This will be usually by ethernet cable or AirPort if you have an AirPort Card installed and there is an AirPort Base Station or AirPort-enabled computer in range that’s creating a network.

Click on the TCP/IP tab to verify your settings and IP address are correct. If you need to communicate with an AppleTalk printer or Mac, turn that option on to activate it. The same TCP/IP settings will get you on the internet so by launching a browser, you can verify them.

AppleTalk is another way to connect to a server. Just select the AppleTalk name from a list of enabled devices. It’s purpose was to allow multiple users to share resources, such as files and printers. The devices that supply these resources are called servers, while the devices that make use of these resources (such as a user’s Macintosh computer) are referred to as clients. Hence, AppleTalk is one of the early implementations of a distributed client/server networking system.

Rendezvous is Apples latest way of networking and sharing. It lets you create an instant network of computers and smart devices just by getting them connected to each other. The computers and devices take over from there, automatically broadcasting and discovering what services each is offering for the use of others.

Cross platform networking has never been easier than with Jaguar. All you need to do is use the connect To menu in Finder to mount shared volumes.then simply browse the Windows file structure like you would a Mac.