Chapter 11
IN THIS CHAPTER
Considering the benefits of a network
Choosing between wired and wireless networks
Sharing an Internet connection
Gathering the stuff you need to network
Making the network connection
Using your network
Protecting your iMac with a firewall
In my opinion, network access ranks right up there with air conditioning and the microwave oven. Like other “I can’t imagine life without them” kinds of technologies, it’s hard to imagine sharing data from your iMac with others around you without a network. I guess you could still use a sneakernet (the old-fashioned term for running back and forth between computers with a floppy disk), but these days, Apple computers don’t even have floppy drives. (Even with a high-capacity USB-C external drive, a sneakernet is still a hassle — and somewhat of a security risk to boot.)
Nope, networking is here to stay. Whether you use a network to share an Internet connection, challenge your friends to a relaxing game of World War II battlefield action, or stream your MP3 collection to other computers, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without one. In this chapter, I fill you in on all the details you need to know to get your svelte iMac hooked up to a new (or existing) network.
If other members of your family have computers, or if your iMac is in an office with other computers (including those rascally PCs), here’s just a sample of what you can do with a network connection:
If your iMac isn’t within shouting distance of an existing network, or if you don’t plan on buying any additional computers, you may not need to create a network. A lone iMac hanging out in your home with no other computers around should need a network only for Internet access.
After you decide that you indeed need a network for your home or office, you have another decision to make: Should you install a wired network (running cables between your computers) or a wireless network? Heck, should you throw caution to the wind and build a combination network with both wireless and wired hardware?
Your first instinct is probably to choose a wireless network for convenience. After all, this option allows you to eliminate running cables behind furniture, in the walls, or in your office ceiling. Ah, but I must show you the advantages of a wired network as well. Table 11-1 gives you the lowdown to help you make up your mind.
TABLE 11-1 Wireless versus Wired Networks
Factor | Wireless Networks | Wired Networks |
---|---|---|
Speed | Moderate | Much faster |
Security | Moderate | Better |
Convenience | Better | Worse |
Compatibility | Confusing standards | Easier to understand |
Cables | Few (or none) | Required |
As I see it, here are the advantages of choosing a wired versus a wireless network setup:
Faster speeds: In general, wired networks that are compatible with your iMac are many, many times faster than the fastest 802.11ax wireless connections.
The performance of a wireless connection can be compromised by interference (from impeding structures, such as concrete walls, and from household appliances, such as some smartphones and microwave ovens) as well as by distance. A wireless network can also slow down because of interference from other wireless networks, especially in densely populated areas. Wired networks have no such problems as long as you keep your cables to lengths of 25 feet or less.
Better security: A wired network doesn’t broadcast a signal that can be picked up outside your home or office, so it’s more secure.
Hackers can attack through your Internet connection, though, even if you’re using a wired network. Hence the final section of this chapter, “USE YOUR FIREWALL!”
Wireless: A wireless connection really has only one advantage, but it’s a big one: convenience (which in this case is another word for mobility for all your networked devices). Laptop owners crave this independence — a freedom that desktop computer owners can only dream about.
Accessing your network anywhere within your home or office — without cables — is easy. Connecting a wireless printer is a breeze.
It’s time to see what’s necessary to share an Internet connection. In the following sections, I cover two methods of connecting your network to the Internet. (And before you open your wallet, keep in mind that you might be able to use your iMac to share your broadband connection across your network!)
Because your iMac has built-in wireless hardware, you can use your Mac to provide a shared Internet connection across a simple wireless network by using a broadband DSL or cable connection.
You can also choose to use a dedicated Internet-sharing device (often called an Internet router) to connect to your cable, fiber, or DSL modem. You do have to buy this additional hardware, but here’s the advantage: Your iMac doesn’t have to remain turned on just so that everyone can get on the Internet. (Most Mac owners prefer this method of sharing.)
As I mention earlier, Internet routers usually include wired or wireless network connections, and many include both.
Setting up an Internet router is usually a simple matter, but the configuration depends on the device manufacturer and usually involves settings in System Preferences that vary according to the router model. Grab a diet cola, sit down with the router’s manual, and follow the installation instructions you find there. (In some cases, you must set up your cable or DSL modem as a bridge between your ISP and your router, which should be covered in your modem and router manuals as well.)
Most normal folks (whom I define as those who have never met a network system administrator and couldn’t care less) think that connecting to a network probably involves all sorts of arcane chants and a mystical symbol or two. In the following sections, I provide you the shopping list you need to set up a network or connect to a network that’s already running.
Today’s iMac computers come complete with built-in AirPort Extreme wireless hardware, so if you already have an older AirPort Extreme or Express Base Station (or another brand of base station), you’re all set. Otherwise, hold on tight while I lead you through the hardware requirements for wireless networking.
Connecting an iMac to an existing wireless network requires no extra hardware, because your hardware is built in. (Whew. That was easy!)
If you decide that you want to build your own wireless network, you eschew cables, or you want to add wireless support to your existing wired network, you need a base station. (If you do have an existing wired network, the base station can act as a bridge between computers using wireless hardware and your wired network, allowing both types of computers to talk to each other.) Such a wireless base station will have either
And, of course, a base station can simply act as a central switch for your wireless network (with no support for a wired network).
You can choose either a used Apple Base Station or a boring 802.11ax or 802.11ac generic wireless base station, but the Apple hardware requires less configuration and tweaking. (Sounds like a Mark’s Maxim!)
Unfortunately, Apple no longer sells its line of wireless base stations, but a used Apple Base Station from eBay or a garage sale still makes a great addition to your system, and it’s well worth bargain-hunting! Your iMac can work with three of these legacy Apple Base Station models for wireless networking:
Installing an Apple Base Station is simple. Follow these steps:
If you have a USB printer, connect it to the USB port on the base station.
I cover the steps for sharing a printer in the later section “Sharing a network printer.”
If any company other than Apple manufactured your wireless base station, the installation procedure should be quite similar. Naturally, you should take a gander at the manufacturer’s installation guide just to make sure, but I’ve added many brands of these devices, and I used the same general steps for each one. (As I mention earlier, I recommend using legacy Apple wireless hardware with your iMac whenever possible because the software installation process is easier, but a typical non-Apple base station will work just fine!)
As far as I’m concerned, the only two types of base stations are Apple and non-Apple, which includes all 802.11ax, 802.11ac, and 802.11n base stations and access points. Both types of base stations use the same method to connect.
To join a wireless network, follow these steps on each Mac with wireless support:
Click the Wi-Fi status icon (which looks like a fan) on the Finder’s menu bar, and choose an existing network connection that you’d like to join.
The network name is the same as the network name you chose when you set up your base station.
If you set up a secure network, enter the password you assigned to the network during setup.
By the way, security is always A Good Thing. I strongly recommend that you enable the password-encryption features of your Apple or third-party base station while installing it. (Luckily, the Apple Base Station setup application leads you through this very process.) In the words of an important Mark’s Maxim:
Keep uninvited guests out of your network! Use your base station’s security features and encrypt your data by using WPA2 encryption!
Some wireless networks may not appear in your Wi-Fi menu list. These are closed networks, which can be specified when you set up your base station. You can’t join a closed network unless you know the exact network name (which is far more secure than the base station simply broadcasting the network name). To join a closed network, follow these steps:
If the network is secured with WPA/WPA2, WPA2/WPA3, WEP, or Dynamic WEP encryption (the security standards for protecting your data through encryption), click the Security pop-up menu, and choose which type of encryption is being used.
I recommend avoiding WEP and Dynamic WEP encryption whenever possible. Your best bet is WPA2 or WPA3 encryption. These types are the current standards for home wireless networks, so always choose one of them when available.
To disconnect from a Wi-Fi network, click the Wi-Fi menu and then choose Turn Wi-Fi Off or connect to another wireless network. In other words, if you choose another available wireless network from the Wi-Fi menu, your iMac automatically drops the previous connection. (You can be connected to only one wireless network at a time, which makes Good Sense.)
If you own a current iMac 24” model with an M1 processor and you didn’t order the Gigabit Ethernet option, your machine didn’t come from Apple with a wired Ethernet port onboard. But you can add a USB-C/Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet connector that allows you to use a wired network. After you add the connector to your system, you can follow along without any problem. You just connect the hardware and configure the connection. Don’t forget that you also need cables and an inexpensive Ethernet switch. (If you’re using an Internet router or other hardware-sharing device, it almost certainly has a built-in four- or eight-port switch.)
As I mention earlier, the current crop of 24” M1 iMacs can be ordered from Apple with an Ethernet 10/100/1000 port (which looks like a slightly oversize telephone/modem jack), while both the 21.5” and 27” iMac models already come equipped with an Ethernet port that’s ready to accept a standard Ethernet Cat5/Cat5E/Cat6 cable with RJ-45 connectors. (If your 24” M1 iMac is limited to USB or Thunderbolt, connect a Thunderbolt- or USB–to–Gigabit-Ethernet adapter to your iMac and you’re also in business.)
If you’re connecting to an existing wired network, you need a standard Cat5/Cat5E/Cat6 Ethernet cable of the necessary length. I recommend a length of no more than 25 feet, because longer cables are often subject to line interference (which can slow or even cripple your connection). You also need a live Ethernet port from the network near your iMac. Plug the cable into your iMac and then plug the other end into the network port.
If you don’t know your switch from your NIC, don’t worry. Here, I describe the hardware you need for your wired network.
If you’re building your own wired network, you need
A switch: This gizmo’s job is to provide more network ports for the other computers in your network. Switches typically come in four- and eight-port configurations.
As I mention earlier in this chapter, most Internet routers (sometimes called Internet-sharing devices) include a built-in switch. So if you’ve already invested in an Internet router, make doggone sure that it doesn’t come equipped with the ports you need before you go shopping for a switch. Many wireless base stations also include a built-in switch, and you can even connect a separate switch for additional ports.
After you assemble your cables and your router or switch, connect the Ethernet cables from each of your computers to the router or switch, and then turn on the device. (Most need AC power to work.) Check the manual that comes with your device to make sure that the lights you’re seeing on the front indicate normal operation. (Colors vary by manufacturer, but green is usually A Good Color.)
Next, connect your cable, fiber, or DSL modem’s Ethernet port to the WAN port on your switch with an Ethernet cable. If your modem isn’t already on, turn it on now, and check for normal operation.
When your router or switch is powered on and operating normally, you’re ready to configure macOS for network operation. Just hop to the upcoming section “Connecting to the Network.” (How about that? Now you can add network technician to your rapidly growing computer résumé!)
After all the cables are connected, and your central connection gizmo is plugged in and turned on, you’ve essentially created the hardware portion of your network. Congratulations! Now you need a beard and suspenders (common equipment for the network-guru stereotype).
With the hardware in place, it’s time to configure Monterey. In this section, I assume that you’re connecting to a network with an Internet router or switch that includes a DHCP server. (Jump to the sidebar “The little abbreviation that definitely could” for more on DHCP.)
Follow these steps on each Mac running macOS that you want to connect to the network:
In the Connection list on the left, select Ethernet (or Thunderbolt Ethernet, if you’re using an adapter).
The entry may also be named Ethernet 1, depending on the Mac model you’re configuring. Make sure that you select the Ethernet entry that does not carry the Wi-Fi fan symbol.
Click the Apply button.
The Apply button is grayed out in the figure because my status (in this dialog) is Connected.
Enjoy the automatic goodness as macOS connects to the DHCP server to obtain an IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway router IP address, and a Domain Name System (DNS) address. (Without a DHCP server, you’d have to add all this stuff manually. Ugh.)
A few seconds after clicking the Apply button, you should see the information. You might also notice that the DNS Server and Search Domains fields are empty. Fear not. macOS is really using DNS server and domain information provided by the DHCP server.
Press ⌘ +Q to quit System Preferences and save your settings.
You’re on!
All right! The hardware is powered up, the cables (if any) are installed and connected, and you’ve configured Monterey. You’re ready to start (or join) the party. In the following sections, I show you how to verify that you’re connected, as well as how to share data and devices with others on your network.
It works! By golly, it works! Okay, now what do you do with your all-new shiny chrome-plated network connection? Ah, my friend, let me be the first to congratulate you and the first to show you around! In the following sections, I cover the most popular network perks. (The good news is that these perks work with both wired and wireless connections.)
If your DSL, fiber, or cable modem plugs directly into your iMac (rather than into a dedicated Internet-sharing device or Internet router), you might ponder just how the other computers (or iPhones or iPads) on your network can share that spiffy high-speed broadband connection. If you’re running a wireless network, it comes to the rescue!
Follow these steps to share your connection wirelessly:
Select the On check box next to the Internet Sharing entry in the Services list.
Monterey displays a warning dialog stating that connection sharing could affect other computers on your network. If you intend to share the Internet connection provided on an existing network at your home or office that you didn’t set up, contact your network administrator first! (It’s best to avoid sowing chaos and disorder.)
Don’t forget — you don’t need to configure Internet sharing if your DSL, fiber, or cable modem connects to a dedicated sharing device or router. That snazzy equipment automatically connects your entire network to the Internet.
You can swap all sorts of interesting files with other Macintosh computers on your network. When you turn on File Sharing, Monterey allows all Macs on the network to connect to your iMac and share the files in your Public folder. (Note that sharing across a network is different from sharing a single computer among several people. I cover that environment in Chapter 10.)
Follow these steps to start sharing files and folders with others across your network:
Select the On check box next to the File Sharing service entry to enable the connections for Mac and Windows sharing.
Other Mac users can connect to your computer by choosing Go from the Finder’s menu bar and choosing the Network menu item. The Network window appears, and your iMac is among the choices. If the other Macs are running Monterey, your iMac’s shared files and folders appear in a Finder window, listed below the Shared heading on the Sidebar.
Windows 10 users should head to the Network panel. Those lucky Windows folks also get to print to any shared printers you’ve set up. (The following section covers shared printers.)
Click the Close button to exit System Preferences.
Monterey conveniently reminds you of the network name for your iMac at the top of the Sharing pane.
I love describing easy procedures, and sharing a printer on a Mac network ranks high on the list! You can share a printer that’s connected to your iMac by following these simple steps:
Click the Close button to exit System Preferences.
A printer you share automatically appears in the Print dialog on other computers connected to your network.
Yep. That’s an exclamation point at the end of that title, pardner. It’s that important.
The following Mark’s Maxim, good reader, isn’t a request, a strong recommendation, or even a regular Maxim. Consider it to be an absolute command (right up there with “Pay your taxes!”).
When you connect a network to the Internet, you open a door to the outside world. As a consultant to several businesses and organizations in my hometown, I can tell you that the outside world is chock-full of malicious individuals who dearly love to inflict damage on data and would like to take control of your iMac for their own purposes. Call ’em hackers, call ’em delinquents, or call ’em something I can’t repeat, but don’t let ’em in!
Monterey comes to the rescue again with the built-in firewall in macOS. When you use the firewall, you essentially build a virtual brick wall between yourself and the hackers out there (both on the Internet and within your local network). Follow these steps:
Select the Enable Stealth Mode check box.
This important feature prevents hackers from trolling for your iMac on the Internet — or, in normal-speak, searching for an unprotected computer — so it’s much harder for them to attack you.
Monterey even keeps track of the Internet traffic that you do want to reach your iMac, such as printer and file sharing. When you activate one of the network features described in the earlier section “Sharing stuff nicely with others,” Monterey automatically opens a tiny hole (called a port by net types) in your firewall to allow just that type of communication with your Mac.
If you decide to turn on printer sharing (as described in the preceding section), for example, Monterey automatically allows incoming print jobs over the network from other computers.
You can also add ports for applications that aren’t on the firewall’s Allow list, such as third-party instant-messaging clients and multiplayer-game servers. Depending on the type of connection, Monterey often displays a dialog prompting you for confirmation before allowing certain traffic, so you probably won’t need to do anything manually.
You can manually add a program to your list of allowed (or blocked) firewall ports, however. Follow these steps:
Click the Add button (which carries a plus sign).
Monterey displays a standard file-browsing sheet.
Click the Add button on the File sheet.
The application appears in the Firewall list. By default, it’s set to Allow Incoming Connections.