Plug the network cable into the back of your Mac. Red dots indicate that no connection is present on the interface. All of the active network interfaces are listed here. Open the System Preferences panel and click the Network icon. On a network that is set up to automatically configure your computer using DHCP, the most complicated thing you need to do is plug in the network cable!

(New Air and Retina MacBook owners need to buy Apple’s USB or Thunderbolt Ethernet adapter.) The MacBook supports gigabit Ethernet, making it able to exchange information at extremely high speeds. The cables used to connect to the network look like oversized phone connectors and, as luck has it, plug directly into your MacBook’s Ethernet port.

The most common type of network connection in the business world is a wired Ethernet connection. Your Mac comes with the latest networking technology-802.11ac Wi-Fi and gigabit Ethernet, making it a snap to connect to existing wired or wireless networks. → Managing multiple connections with Locationsīeing connected to a network gives you access to information, files, and services such as email or the Web.

In this chapter, you learn how to get your Mac online, including tasks like: My MacBook (covers OS X Mavericks on MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air), 4th Edition