Ethernet is also present on all shipping Apple products. LocalTalk is easier to configure but often lacks long-term flexibility. A basic understanding of network protocols will help with building and maintaining the network over the long haul. Each machine has a unique address that either is specifically assigned or is dynamically handed out by a central server that maintains a list of available addresses. The second piece of an IP address is the network mask.
Computers use the network mask to figure out how to contact another computer on the network.
The final piece, which is only required if attached to a larger network, is the gateway or router address. AppleTalk AppleTalk was the protocol originally developed by Apple for use over LocalTalk networks. When a Mac boots, the AppleTalk protocol dynamically allocates a unique address. If you have a router on your network, you can create groups of machines called zones. These zones might have names that correspond to building names or department names.