Current and recent computers
More recent Macintosh computers, those with a PowerPC G3 or later microprocessor, are fitted for twisted-pair cable with an RJ-45 connector (Figure 1). The RJ-45 port looks like a wide version of a standard RJ-11 telephone jack (Figure 2). The Ethernet port on is located on the back or side of your computer, depending on the model. It is labeled with the Ethernet icon.
Figure 1 RJ-45 Ethernet cable connector
Figure 2 An RJ-45 Ethernet port below the Ethernet icon
This document does not cover the fiber optic Apple Gigabit Ethernet PCI Card. For information on that product, see technical document 58296: "About Your Apple Gigabit Ethernet PCI Card"
Earlier computers
Earlier Power Macintosh and Quadra computers have the Ethernet icon, as in Figure 1, but with a different style of port. This is the Apple Attachment Unit Interface (AAUI) port. This type of port requires a transceiver, a small box that adapts the AAUI to the type of cabling used (such as RJ-45). On Power Macintosh computers that came with both an AAUI and RJ-45 port, you can use only one at a time.
Speed rating of cabling
Ethernet cable is available in different speeds. For more information on cable speed, see technical document 106655: "Ethernet: Speed of Ethernet Cabling"
Other types of cable
If your Ethernet network does not use twisted-pair, RJ-45 Ethernet cable, you may be able to use a third-party adapter to connect to connect. You may search for third-party products at the Macintosh Products Guide (http://www.guide.apple.com/).