Re: Networking IIgs?

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Mike Tulloch <"mtulloch"@n0_$pam.fit.edu> wrote:

>What do I need to connect my IIgs to a local LAN? It consists of:
>
>Linux pc box
>Win 98 pc box
>Hub with spaces available
>
>What I'm interested in is getting files from the PC to the IIgs and
>vice-versa. If there are cards for the IIgs (I have only a SCSI card in
>the gs) or cables that would be ok, but I don't want to have to buy
>another whole computer (apartment is getting too hot with all the comps
>running. *L*)

You need a card called a PC AppleTalk card for the Linux
box.  This was a rather rare networking card for the PC.
Then you need a package called netatalk for Linux.  This
is Appletalk server software for Linux.

The IIGS has AppleTalk built in.  The serial ports, when
operating in AppleTalk mode, go at 230k speeds (quite
a bit faster than 57.6k modem connections but slower
than ethernet).

You'd run an AppleTalk cable between the Linux box and
the IIGS.

Windows 98 does not have AppleTalk (although NT does).
But Linux and Windows 98 can communicate via
Ethernet.

So your three computers will be networked in two steps.

However, since you have an SCSI card, you would
probably want to drive a Zip drive off the IIGS instead.
The IIGS can read and write PC MS-DOS Zip disks
with a program called MUG!.  You can share files
this way.

>I've heard of plugging in a super-serial card into the modem slot, and
>having the GS run some sort of comm program to connect to the LAN. Is
>that truly viable? The page I was at termed it experimental...help...

The IIGS does not need a super serial card.  The built
in modem ports are vastly superior.