File Sharing in Mac OS 9
File Sharing in Mac OS 9 enables you to share documents with others using the AFP-AppleTalk -- and optionally AFP-TCP/IP -- protocols. These networking protocols are specific to the Macintosh, but may be added onto Windows and other systems with third-party software.
The File Sharing control panel is the consolidated command center for all of the available file sharing settings. It is divided into three tabs: Start/Stop, Activity Monitor, and Users & Groups.
You should not rely on File Sharing in Mac OS classic for all-day, every day access; it does not replace a dedicated file server. If you have important data that you must share, you should make sure it is backed up. You should also be ready to verify the security of your File Sharing setup, to prevent unauthorized access to your shared data.
You should be very careful about users and groups, the access privileges you give to each user/group, and TCP/IP file sharing. Turning on TCP/IP file sharing but setting weak usernames and passwords opens up a security risk on your computer. You may inadvertently allow unauthorized users to view, edit, or even delete your documents.
If you are using File Sharing between a Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X computer, we strongly recommend setting up File Sharing on the Mac OS X system. Then, you can connect to it from the Mac OS 9 computer.
Likewise, turning on Program Linking -- which allows applications on your computer to communicate with applications on another Mac -- can pose security risks. You should be very careful when enabling Program Linking (which you can do on a user-by-user basis in the Users & Groups tab of the File Sharing control panel), particularly if you choose to turn on Program Linking over TCP/IP.
To enable file sharing, you must:
- Enter at least an owner name, an owner password, and a computer name in the File Sharing control panel.
- Click on the "Start" button under the "File Sharing" section of the Start/Stop tab. This turns on File Sharing but, in Mac OS 9, does not automatically share any folders.
- Create users and/or groups that will have access to shared folders, under the "Users & Groups" tab in the File Sharing control panel. The users created should have strong passwords (see "Mac OS X password tips" and the RIT Information Security Office's Web site).
- Select a folder in the Finder, select File > Get Info > Sharing, and allow access to that folder as a share point to the appropriate users and/or groups you created.
