Chapter 7 Connecting to a Network and the Internet Part 1

7.1 Understanding Networking Concepts

     Networking is vital to getting the most out of your MacBook Air. OS X manages most of the details of networking your MacBook Air for you, but it is helpful to understand essential networking concepts as you create your own network.

7.2 Obtain an Internet Account

     To connect your network or MacBook Air to the Internet, you must have an Internet account. The most common high-speed technologies for homes are cable and DSL. Satellite and cellular connections are also available. Some communities provide free wireless networks that you can use. Before you decide on an Internet account, research the options available where you live, including the  monthly cost, installation costs or startup fees, and length of contract of each option. Verify that potential providers support Macs.

7.3 Set Up a Local Network

     After you have a working Internet connection, you are ready to build a local network. You can include both wired and wireless devices on the network. The heart of any network is the switch or router you use. The best router choice for most Mac users is an AirPort Extreme or an AirPort Time Capsule because OS X has built-in support for administering the AirPort networks they provide. Also, these base stations shield your network from Internet attacks. The rest of this chapter assumes you are using one of these devices and that you have a working Internet connection and router.

     You can use AirPort Utility to manually configure an AirPort. This is useful when you want to change something about how the AirPort works, such as the name or password of the wireless network. You can configure many different options using AirPort Utility. Some of these options are mostly useful for larger networks; for a home network or other small network, you usually need to set only a few options. This section shows you how to run AirPort Utility and change some of the more useful options.

7.4 Protect Your MacBook Air from Internet Attacks

     The Internet connects you to an unlimited number of people and organizations. This opens you up to Internet attacks ranging from attempts to steal your data or identity to suborning your computer to launch attacks on other computers. You also need to be mindful of the threat from viruses. Fortunately, you can protect yourself with relatively simple steps. An AirPort Extreme or AirPort Time Capsule protects you from most attacks automatically. If you ever connect your MacBook Air directly to your router, such as for troubleshooting, make sure you turn on its firewall before doing so.

7.5 Connect to the Internet with Wi-Fi

     With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use the Internet from wherever you are — on the couch at home, in the yard, or anywhere your cellular phone or cellular modem can connect to the cellular network. You use the same steps to connect to a Wi-Fi network outside your LAN, to a Personal Hotspot network or Portable Hotspot network on your cellular phone, or to your cellular modem.

7.6 Connect to the Internet with Ethernet

     Using a Thunderbolt-to–Gigabit Ethernet adapter or a USB-to-Ethernet adapter, you can connect your MacBook Air to a wired network that shares an Internet connection. This gives your MacBook Air access to the Internet through the wired network. You may need to choose settings in the Network pane in System Preferences to make the connection work. This section assumes you are using an AirPort. If you have a different network configuration, the details might be slightly different.