Specifications

Using Your Computer 61

Maximizing Ethernet Performance

Your computer performs best when the Ethernet port to which it is connected is set to

auto-negotiate. Ask your network administrator to verify this setting.

Note: If you connect your computer directly to a conﬁgurable Ethernet switch, have your

network administrator disable spanning tree on that port. Otherwise your computer may

duplicate the AppleTalk address of another computer on the same network and both

network connections may become unreliable.

For more information on networking your Power Mac G4, go to AppleCare Service and

Support at www.apple.com/support

For More Information on Using Ethernet

Additional information, including setting up an Ethernet network or transferring ﬁles using

Ethernet, is available in Mac Help. Choose Mac Help from the Help menu and search for

“Ethernet” or “network.”

For information on networking products you can use with your Power Mac G4, go to the

Macintosh Products Guide at www.apple.com/guide

Using AirPort Wireless Networking

AirPort offers an easy and affordable way to provide wireless Internet access anywhere in the

home, at work, or in the classroom. Instead of using traditional cables, AirPort uses wireless

local area network (LAN) technology to provide wireless communication between multiple

computers. Through a wireless network you can set up access to the Internet, transfer ﬁles,

play multiplayer games, and more.

Your Power Mac G4 is AirPort-ready. The only thing you need to add is an AirPort Card. See

“Installing an AirPort Card” on page 84. You install the AirPort Card in a slot inside the

computer and connect it directly to the end of a built-in antenna cable. For instructions on

using your Airport Card, see the About Your Airport Card booklet that came with your card.

Important If you experience connection problems on your network, make sure your

network switch is set to auto-negotiate, if possible. If a switch’s port is not auto-negotiating,

your computer detects the appropriate speed but defaults to half-duplex mode. If the

switch’s port at the other end of the link is conﬁgured for full-duplex, a large number of late

events can occur on the link. If it isn’t possible to set the switch to auto-negotiate, then set

the switch’s port to half-duplex. For more information, see the documentation that came

with the Ethernet switch.