How to create an Apple Wireless computer to computer network

Turn on the Airport feature on each of the Macs that you wish to include in your wireless computer to computer network. To do this, click on the Airport icon found in the upper right hand corner of the Apple menu bar.

Step2

The Airport icon/symbol will have a different appearance depending upon whether your Mac's Airport is ON, OFF or or CONNECTED (joined) to a network. See accompanying image for a representation of each symbol and its meaning.

Step3

Choose one Mac to be the "host" of your computer to computer network. If you wish to share a wired internet connection, it should be the Macintosh computer connected to the internet. On that computer, click on the Airport icon in the menu bar and choose the "Create Network..." option from the list of choices.

Step4

In the window that appears, enter a name for your new wireless network (for this example, use "My-1st-Network"). You can leave the channel setting at the default setting (11), unless you have a good reason to change it. If you wish to require a password in order for a computer to join your new network (recommended), check the "Require Password" option.

Step5

Choose a password. Depending upon the level of security that you desire (40-bit WEP or 128-bit WEP), your password will have to be either 5 characters long (40-bit) or 13 characters long (128-bit). Enter your password in the two fields found in the window. Once your have done this (and they match exactly), the "Ok" button will become available. Click it.

Step6

Once you click the "Ok" button, your Mac will create your network. You will know that your network has been created once the Airport icon in the menu bar changes to have a dark background and an icon of a small Mac appears inside it. See accompanying image to view an example.

Step7

Now that your network has been created, you can now join other Macs to the network. To do this, click on the Airport icon in the menu bar of the participating Mac and select the network named "My 1st Network". If applicable, enter the password when prompted.

Step8

In order to share files, make sure all computers participating on the network have "File Sharing" turned on. This option can be found in the "Sharing" section of your Mac's System Preferences. See accompanying image for this step.

Step9

Congratulations! You created your first wireless computer-to-computer network. Repeat these steps for each Mac that you wish to include.