Connect OS 7.6.1 machine to router

>I have a Power Mac 5500 running OS 7.6.1 (needed for some older software), and want to connect the machine to the internet via my existing router.

>The 5500 has an ethernet card so my first question is how to check that the card is working, and that the driver software is correct.

Just open a web page Seriously, the mac control panel, "TCP/IP" should be present, and the control panel set to DHCP to get an IP from your router. Make sure the connections are good, that you are using the proper ethernet cable, and you should be all set.

>My next question is how to connect the machine to the router, and what software I will need.

The Mac OS is capable of this without any addons. As I mentioned, check that you have the control panel. Make sure you are using a standard straight through ethernet cable. (Just like any other computer would use.)

>I found a few articles on the internet regarding the second question, though nothing specific to my machine.

Your Mac is going to connect just fine.
here is a link to see the control panel: http://www.weethet.nl/english/internet_routerip_mac78.php

dvsjr

Original-trim 5500s had CS II modems and one available PCI slot. If your LAN justifies it (ie, uses 10/100Base-T switches and modem/router with ADSL), a 10/100 PCI card may be a useful replacement for whatever ethernet card is in place now. Depending on the 5500's past ownership, you could already have an ethernet card in the CS II slot instead of the modem. PCI because CS II 10/100 cards do exist (Farallon, for example), but are uncommon by comparison with PCI 10/100s., However, their greatest charm is that they leave the PCI slot available for another card.

The clearest indications that the hardware is ready for action is (given that the ethernet connection is in place at startup) the link LED for connection, and the activity LED for packet transmission. The indicators may be the same LED on 10Base-T cards, or separate LEDS on 10/100 cards. Given that you have enabled and configured TCP/IP and your browser, the system should look after the rest of the process for a Web connection, as already mentioned above.

If your LAN contains other Macs, FileSharing, AppleTalk and AppleShare will need to be invoked for between-Mac file transfer, except in the case that OS 10.4.x Macs are present. In this latter case, TCP/IP alone (through Chooser) from Macs with OS 7.6.1 and up is the need. A client 7.6.1 Mac can share a server 10.4.x's volumes over TCP/IP, but the Tiger Mac will not even 'see' the 5500 Mac in Go::Connect to Server.

de

Thanks for all the helpful tips. I hoped to get further with the setup, but I had to take down my setup. I am moving to Pasadena to start a new job. I will put up my system as soon as I can and report on the progress.

Best of luck to you! A move is very exciting. I know your setup will work fine, I have been monkeying around with the old mac OS lately, and I am still really impressed with how simple and easy it was to setup. Have a good move, let us know how it goes!