In the integrated world of information technology, personal computers running Microsoft Windows have to be connected to PCs running Mac OS X, even if it is a Macintosh network. Apple's Mac OS X operating system simplifies the process of connecting Windows systems to Macintosh PCs, and this guide shows you how it is done.
Note: This is the flip side to a previous TechRepublic article -- How do I ... Add Macs To A Windows Workgroup?
So you've got an accountant insisting on adding a Windows system to a Macintosh network due to QuickBooks consistency issues between the two platforms. Or, maybe a developer, engineer or sales representative has some Windows systems you wish to network with a graphics team or other department.
Here's what you need to know to connect Windows systems to a Macintosh network.
Connect Windows systems to Macs
Apple's Mac OS X operating system simplifies the process of connecting Windows systems
to Macintosh PCs. Follow these steps to begin connecting Windows XP systems to
Macs:
- Log on to a Mac system from which you wish to share resources.
- Open System Preferences (either by clicking the System Preferences icon from the Dock or by clicking Finder | Applications | System Preferences). (See Figure A)
Figure A
The Apple's System Preferences menu is essentially the Mac's equivalent to Windows' Control Panel.
- Click the Sharing icon.
- Turn on Windows Sharing by checking its box and clicking the corresponding button within the Services menu. (Note, the lock at the bottom of the menu must be unlocked to enable changes; you may need to log on as an Administrator to make the changes).
Figure B
Ensure the checkbox is selected for Windows File Sharing and the Personal File Sharing is turned on.
Be sure that a user account exists for the Windows user on the Macintosh system. When the Windows user tries connecting to the Macintosh, the Macintosh will prompt the Windows user for a username and password. Without a valid user account on the Macintosh system, the Windows user will be denied access.
Follow these steps to create a user within Mac OS X:
- Open System Preferences.
- Click Accounts from the System section. (See Figure C)
Figure C
The Accounts page lists valid users of the Macintosh system.
- Click the lock to enable changes.
- Provide a valid Administrator username and password.
- Click the plus sign to create a new account.
Figure D
Provide the necessary information and click the Create Account button.
- Enter the name for the new account, a short name (nickname), a password (enter it twice to confirm it's entered properly), provide a password hint and check the box if you wish to permit the new account to serve as an administrator and click Create Account.
- If you chose not to enter a password, the Macintosh will prompt you to confirm you wish to create the account without a password. Click OK to complete creating the account.
Before you attempt to connect to the Apple machine from a Windows system, however, check to confirm that your Windows systems are members of the Workgroup "workgroup". By default the Macintosh' Windows Sharing feature is configured to join workgroup. However, many Windows systems believe they're members of the Mshome workgroup. Or, it's possible an administrator has changed the workgroup name.
If the Windows workgroup name isn't Workgroup, the workgroup name must be updated on the Macintosh system(s) before the two platforms can work together. To change the workgroup name on a Macintosh:
- Log in to the Macintosh system.
- Click Finder.
- Click Applications.
- Select the Utilities folder.
- Open Directory Access.
- Click the lock to enable changes.
- Enter an administrator username and password and click OK.
Figure E
The SMB/CIFs entry is used to configure Samba file sharing on the Macintosh.
- Double-click the SMB/CIFS entry.
Figure F
Enter the workgroup name; if there's an active WINS server, you can enter its IP address within the WINS Server box.
- Enter the workgroup name used by the Windows systems.
- Click OK.
Now you're ready to access the Macintosh resources from a Windows XP system. Log in to a Windows system and follow these steps:
- Open Windows Network Neighborhood or My Network Places.
- Click Microsoft Windows Network or View Workgroup Computers.
- Macintosh systems should appear. Communication between both platforms isn't perfect, however. If you don't see an icon or entry for the Apple computer or computers, enter the Apple's IP address within the Windows network Address Bar (using this format: \\10.0.0.12) and press Enter.
- The Apple system should appear within Windows Network Neighborhood or My Network Places. I've found entering the IP address (as described above in step three) even works using Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer.
Figure G
If Samba works properly, Windows will see and display the Mac's shared resources, as can be seen here.
- To access files, double click the appropriate file share.
Figure H
Double-clicking the shares that appear within My Network Places reveals the files and folders resident on the Macintosh system.
- The Mac will prompt for a username and password for an account having permission to access the resource.
Figure I
On the Windows system, enter the user name and password for an account on the Macintosh system that possesses permission to access the resources in question.
- The resources should then appear within Windows; drag and drop files to move them between systems. You can also double-click a file to begin using it (just remember Windows must possess an application associated with the file and capable of processing it).
Figure J
Once you connect to an Apple system within Windows, it typically continues reappearing within My Network Places (as shown here circled in red).
Figure K
You can also map Apple shares just as you can Windows network drives; they appear just as regular network shares, as shown here circled in red.
