network card

OK, realize that you have Gigabit Ethernet built-in already.

You could conceivably also use Firewire, though I don't think anybody does that much.

Finally, you have Airport wireless capabilities, which may or may not be installed, but there is provision for adding an Airport Extreme card and antenna to the machine.

Fibre channel requires a PCI card.

Your gear line at the bottom of the post indicates Mac Pro, so if you are talking about that machine, then things are a little different, as expansion is via PCI-Express and Airport might be a little different from what I described.

Even though the Mac Pro and Power Mac G5 boxes look similar from the outside, they are drastically different inside, not just because the MP has Intel processors and the PM G5 has Power PC processors, but because the physical layout and internals are almost completely different.

That being said, either flavor has at least the same networking capabilities built-in as described in my earlier post.

alexmoraes2000,

Welcome to the world of all things Mac. Just to bring you up to speed, all Mac have had networking built in from day one. You could network printers through a serial port. With the SE, in 1988, you could add an ethernet card. Ethernet has been included on the motherboard since the mid-1990s. So, you do not need a network card unless you want to use gigabit ethernet on earlier G4s. All G5s have had gigabit ethernet built in.

One thing to note, newer macs like yours will auto detect if a crossover cable is needed and change the port configuration so a standard cable will work. No need for a crossover cable on your G5.

Post back if you need help with the software side.

Jim~

Alex,

I have a son in Brazil in Sao Paulo and one headed further north. Both are Mac Gurus from age ten.

Here is the Apple link that identifies the location of an airport card if you have one:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1305?viewlocale=en_US

If you go to the Apple menu and select "About this Mac," then select "more info" you will find information about your hardware. Look under Network/airport card. That will also tell you what is installed without opening the cover to your mac.

Jim~

PS, if you do not have a card, make sure you buy the right one. Early models take one type in one location. Here is a video of the location of the later model.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TW5gxd3DD0

A.,

Thanx for the music linx. I enjoyed the excerpts. Best week wishes to you.

Jim~