I'm a Novell CNA and MSCE. Are you setting up PC's and MAC's together or just PC's or just Mac's?
If it's cross platform you'll need some kind of server software that can be downloaded from the net as shareware or purchased Spider Island if they're still selling the product. You will want to use TCP/IP as your protocol. One of the systems will have to act as the host system unless you using all PC's. If you using Windows 95 and all PC's you can set up a dial up peer to peer network.
Another alternative is Timbukto. It is a remote control program for PC's and Mac's.
If you need more in depth information e-mail me at Neil_Fallon@vre.tfnet.org