[no subject]

Next, you have to deal with the IIgs.  You have two options here: if you have
a hard drive, you can simply install the AppleTalk software to that hard
drive.  If you have a floppy drive, you will have to create a custom boot
disk to access the AppleTalk network.  Either way, it is done from the
installation software on the system 6.0.1 diskettes.  To enable AppleTalk
on your IIgs, go to the control panels and ensure slot 1 or slot 7 is set
to AppleTalk (it depends on which version of the IIgs you have).

Connect the two computers with the IWII's printer cable, via the printer port.
Now, if memory serves me correctly, you access remote AppleShare file servers
via the GS/OS's control panels.
 
Other Issues:

"Y connectors" are actually dongles which allow you to daisy chain computers
on an AppleTalk network together.  If memory serves me correctly: you do not
need one, but it certainly makes it more convenient to connect more than two
computers.  :-)  The most common type (from my experience) is called
"PhoneNet", and it will allow you to chain computers together with 4-wire
telephone cables.  These are not magic bullets: they do not actually give
you two serial ports for the price of one.  What this means is, in all
probability, your IWII will have to be connected via the modem port.  There
are special printers which speak in the AppleTalk protocol (usually laser
printers, though you are supposed to be able to get a card for the IWII to
enable this option).  Of course, if you do get an AppleTalk printer, you can
print from either your IIgs or your LC575 (and the handy part is, the printer
serves as its own print server, so only the printer and the computer you are
printing from need be turned on).

To your IIgs software, the shared drives will look like yet another drive, 
and will appear on the desktop as a tray with some wires connected to it.
I forget whether the drives are accessible via ProDOS.  I am almost certain
that the drives will not be available if you boot into ProDOS.  (Question
for the lucky people who have FileShare v2 or v3: can you boot into ProDOS
over the network and, if so, can you see the remote drive?)

If you do not have a hard drive, and even if you do, AppleTalk won't seem
slow.  It is a tool which has its purpose, and it works remarkably well!

AFAIK, it is impossible to dispense of authentication with FileShare.
However, Apple's file sharing is very open: by default, you have access to
all of the remote drive (except, maybe, as guest), and and an empty password
is fair game!

Rodney Hester (rod3@mindspring.com) wrote:
: What I would like to accomplish is fairly simple - I'd like to be able to
: share files between my Mac LC 575 and Apple IIgs via some sort of cheap
: networking solution.  Best I can tell, LocalTalk and AppleShare fit the bill
: nicely.

: I realize I may well have opened Pandora's Box here,

Naw.  Opening a Pandora's Box would require TCP/IP networking.  ;-)

If you need any more details, just let me know.  I will use any excuse to
dust off my old IIgs.

Byron.