Networking Windows with Mac OS X

[BlackNGold]

This Guide provides an overview of options for connecting a Macintosh to a PC or other computer on the same network. This Guide is referencing to a "PC" is a computer using Microsoft Windows with an AMD or Intel microprocessor.

There are several ways through which we could make connection with the Windows PC.To share the data between two computers we have to keep them on the Network and can have the single connection between the two. Once this is done, we could start some type of sharing on at least one of the two computers.

The computer that is sharing is known as a server. The computer that connects to it is called a client.


To connect to the client computer we just needs an application program that can connect to the type of service being offered. Sometimes this application is built-in part of the operating system, such as the Mac OS X Finder or Windows file browser.

When we connect two computers together, we should have the clear idea about what is meant by "client" and "server." Though the idea conveyed by these terms is simple and generally consistent, there is an important variation on each: Any computer that offers a service is a "server" in that context. However, the term is also used to describe a computer or operating system that has been designed expressly for that purpose, such as Mac OS X Server. In addition to describing the computer, "client" is also used to describe the software used to connect to a particular service. A Web browser, for example, is an HTTP client.

Making a physical connection
The physical components of an Ethernet network are compatible with computers that use many different operating systems--such as Mac OS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, and UNIX. We can connect all of these computers to the same physical network, which may be wired or wireless (AirPort, for example).

Making a service connection
Following are the Services that are designed for various tasks, such as transferring files, webpages, or print jobs. Common examples that you may use are:

• AppleShare (also known as AFP, Personal File Sharing, Apple File Service)
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP, used primarily for webpages)
• LPR (Line Printer Request, common for printing)
• SMB (Windows file sharing)

[BlackNGold]

Following are the steps to connect to Windows File Sharing (SMB) from Mac OS X 10.1 or later. SMB is the native sharing protocol for Microsoft Windows operating systems, but it may be offered by other computers.

Follow these steps:

1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. Choose Connect to Server from the Go menu (see Note 1).
3. In the address field of the Connect to Server dialog, type the URL using this syntax (see Note 3):
   

4. smb://ServerName/ShareName/

5. Click Connect.

When you will be asked for, enter the details for the workgroup, user name, and password. In addition to connecting to actual Microsoft Windows computers, you may also use the Connect to Server dialog to connect to a Macintosh that is offering Windows File Sharing.

Here are some detailed steps mentioned below:

1. When you go to the Connect to Server dialog, you may browse by computer name. In Mac OS X versions 10.0 to 10.1.5, the names of SMB-sharing computers do not appear. In Mac OS X 10.2 or later, the names of SMB computers do appear (see Note 2). However, only the names of computers on your subnet appear.
   
2. It may possible that you are not always see the expected user-defined computer name when browsing via SMB. Technical document may be available on 107085 note, "Mac OS X 10.2: Windows (SMB) Computer Name Does Not Appear in Connect to Server Dialog".
   
3. "ServerName" may be an IP address or DNS name. If it is required or more convenient in your environment, you may also use other valid URL formats, such as:
   
   • smb://WORKGROUP@ServerName/ShareName
   • smb://WORKGROUP;User@ServerName/ShareName
   
   
4. The name of the "share" (the shared disk, volume, or directory) must be specified. You will not be prompted for it.
   
5. You cannot type spaces as part of the share name when connecting. In place of any space in the share name, type: %20
   
6. You cannot connect to a share with a name that contains a hyphen. Resolve the issue by giving the share a name that does not contain a hyphen.
   
7. Connecting to (mounting) two or more SMB volumes simultaneously may cause a kernel panic. Drag one volume to the Trash to eject it before connecting to another (versions 10.1 to 10.2.8 only).
   
8. The only alert message that Mac OS X versions 10.0 to 10.1.5 display for SMB login difficulties is "There's no file service available at the URL <URL>." This is sometimes correct and sometimes incorrect. This is the message that would appear if you mistyped your password, for example.
   
9. Mac OS X uses SMB only over the TCP/IP protocol, not over the NetBEUI protocol.
   
10. When troubleshooting a connection failure, you can ping the IP address of the Windows computer using the Mac OS X Network Utility. A successful ping verifies a TCP/IP connection between the two computers.
    
11. Check Microsoft support resources for information on setting up file sharing on your Microsoft Windows-based computer. These may include Help files installed on your computer or the Microsoft online Knowledge Base (http://search.support.microsoft.com/kb/). For an example, see article Q304040: "Description of File Sharing and Permissions in Windows XP"
    
12. When troubleshooting an SMB connection issue, try checking the Console, which is located in the Utilities folder. The Console log may help advanced users identify an issue.
    
13. If you are connecting to Windows XP, make sure that the Internet Connection Firewall settings are not interfering with your connection. SMB uses ports 137, 138 and 139. These ports should be open on the Windows XP computer. This may require "Advanced" configuration of the XP firewall.

[BlackNGold]

Set up user accounts

To connect to the windows sharing user must have an account on the Mac OS X computer that is sharing. In this kind of user account Guest will not have any access. Any person who already has an account on the Mac OS X computer can use his existing account. You must log in to the Mac OS X computer with an administrator account to set this up. The steps for new and existing users differs and those are mentioned below:

For new users

1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
2. From the View menu, choose Accounts.
3. Click New User (10.2) or the "+" button (10.3 or later).
4. Enter the Name and Short Name for the user who will log in from Windows.
   
   For users of Windows 98: If you log in to Windows 98 with a username, make sure it matches your Mac OS X account's short name. If you do not log in to Windows 98 with a username, you will need to create a new Windows 98 username that matches the account short name in Mac OS X. For more information on using Windows operating systems, please see Microsoft documentation or contact Microsoft for further assistance.
   
   
5. Enter the user's password.
6. 10.2 only: Click the checkbox for "Allow user to log in from Windows".
7. 10.2 only: Click OK.
8. Quit System Preferences.

For existing users

Note: The following steps are required for Mac OS X 10.2, but OS X 10.3 users or later may not need any of them. If an existing Mac OS X 10.3 or later account can't log in from Windows, just perform steps 1, 2, 3, and 9.

1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
2. From the View menu, choose Accounts.
3. Select the account.
4. Click Edit User.
   
   
   If you're editing your own account (the logged-in user), you must take the additional step of typing your password in the Current Password field and then pressing Return. This is not required when editing other accounts.
   
   
5. Select the checkbox for "Allow user to log in from Windows".
   
   
   When selecting "Allow user to log in from Windows" for any account other than your own, you see the message, "To enable SMB support password reset is required. Do you want to reset password?" Though this message does not appear for your account when you're logged in as an administrator user, it is still true. When enabling Windows login for your own account, you must change your password at the same time.
   
   
6. You are prompted to reset the password. Click OK.
7. Enter the new password, and click Save.
8. Try to log in from Windows with the selected account. If you can, then you're finished.
9. If the selected account cannot log in to Windows Sharing on the first try, go back to that user's account and change the password again.

[BlackNGold]

Mac OS X provides many ways for you to share files with non-Apple operating systems, including Microsoft Windows.


Mac OS X offers various forms of file service so that other operating systems can connect to your computer with built-in tools or common application programs (such as FTP and Web browsers). Forms of file service include:

• File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
• Web Sharing (HTTP)
• Secure Shell (SSH)
• Windows File Sharing (SMB - Mac OS X 10.2 and later)

To share with other computers, we just simply have to turn on the services we wanted to use in Sharing preferences, then use the matching client software to connect to your Mac from the other computer.

When you enable Windows file sharing on Mac OS X 10.2 or later, a Windows computer can connect directly to your Mac.

If you enable FTP or Web Sharing, the other computer could connect with a common Web browser or FTP application.

You can enable Secure Shell (SSH) by selecting "Allow remote login" in the Sharing pane. SSH is a more advanced method frequently executed through the command line, though some graphical SSH clients exist.



For Connecting to a non-Apple computer

Using Mac OS X's Connect to Server command, you can connect to several common types of file services, including Windows (SMB).

You can connect to an FTP host using many common Web browsers. Try beginning your URL (Web address) with "ftp://" (instead of with "http://").

[DayanandPatil]

This is very nice article you have made BlackNGold this really help some new users who wanted to know about the Networking between the MAC OS X and windows, I also just now gone through this and find it very step wise.

Thanks once again...