What are the key components required to connect to a network and access network resources

1) Hardware - a network card of some sort wired or wireless
2) Ethernet Cabling (Cat5 or Cat6 preferred) or wireless access point
3) 100 Base-T Network switch, no hubs please. Too many collisions.
4) Transport protocol - TCP/IP is preferred
5) With IP, an IP addressing schema using one of the recommended internal subnets (192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or 172.x.x.x)
6) Windows machines need Client for Microsoft Networks
7) Apple machines can use AppleTalk or IP