Mac Network Compatiblity: Connect Mac to Windows?

[EnumaElish]

Can I connect a Mac machine to a Windows network? Does the Mac have to be running Windows to be compatible with the network?

 

[russ_watters]

Well, a rounter/switch doesn't run windows, so no, it doesn't matter what os the computers connected to it run...

 

[ranger]

Two computers can talk to each other (regardless of OS) by using the same protocol, ex TCP/IP protocol.

 

[EnumaElish]

Thanks very much.

 

[-Job-]

Depends on what you mean by connect. If you mean being able to access the internet, or connect to any given machine, then the OS isn't relevant. However if you mean being able to authenticate against a network (such as a Windows Active Directory network), or being able to access shares on a windows domain or being able to list all devices in a domain then it is relevant, although Macs now have built in support for windows networks:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/windows/

 

[Anttech]

yes, it really does depend on what you will leverage from your network. If it is just access the internet, then it's plug and *pray* if you need to access files between the workstations, then you again need to decided on an appropriate Protocol, for example SMB. If you need to Authenticate against a Direction, you again need to use a compatible protocol.

The problem with these big computer companies is they prefer not to use standards, and thus create problems for compatibility, especially Microsoft.

Ranger you will need a higher level protocol to 'talk' between 2 OS's than TCP/IP. Most will use IP for addresses, and perhaps TCP for Windowing and transport, but you will need something like SMB or Telnet or whatever for the actual communication.

 

[-Job-]

LDAP is a popular directory protocol, used in Active Directory for example.

 

[Anttech]

yeap LDAP is the defacto standard, but try telling that to M$

 

[-Job-]

You can query Microsoft Active Directory with LDAP. AD is built on top LDAP i think, so Microsoft did something right there.

 

[Anttech]

M$-LDAP isn't defacto, I think they even put presure on IETF to change the standard.

By the way LDAP isn't for Authentication, its just for pulling information really...