Re: Apple IIgs and Mac IIsi AppleTalk connection. Help needed.

[volkmar.friauf@koeln.netsurf.de (Volkmar Friauf)]

Laer Haider <laer@nospam-customized.com> wrote:

> Really?  Tell me, does the IIsi video interface support color
> displays?  I got a monochrome monitor with my system, but I'm thinking
> of buying a VGA monitor for it and using a Mac->PC VGA adapter.

It does. The Mac IIsi has a strange kind of on-board video which makes
use of the built-in RAM of the machine, i.e. there is no extra video
RAM!

To ensure that the IIsi supports color, go to the "Monitors" control
panel, click "Options" and allocate the required memory by clicking on
"256 colors/greys". After restart, you can now switch your color
settings to up to 256 colors/greys.

Usind a VGA monitor not only requires a Mac <-> VGA adaptor, but also a
special "Mac video adaptor" if you are using a newer multiscan monitor.

> >I've described the problem of "cross-connecting" IIgs/Mac/PC some days
> >ago and received many helpful answers here in csa2 (thanks to all who
> >replied, btw!).
> 
> Care to share the results with me?  I am VERY interested.

The name of the thread was "IIgs <-> PC networking". The IMHO only way
access a PC from a IIgs was described by David Empson
<dempson@actrix.gen.nz> and Phil Beesley <PB14@le.ac.uk>:

> If you are using full blooded Netware, you can install a LocalTalk board
> in the server. Install the AppleShare server software (free with NW 3.12X
> onwards) and use the server to bridge ethernet to localtalk by binding
> the Appletalk protocol to both network adapters.

This means you (and I) will need a LocalTalkPC card (sold by Apple and
Farallon some years ago) and a Novell Netware server (a 486-something
will do). The Novell server should then serve AppleShare as well and
should be accessible from any Mac and IIgs using AppleTalk.

> >> The Mac has a Ethernet card installed and EtherTalk drivers.  Though
> >> it connects to the hub just fine (link light and no error lights), I
> >> don't see anything on the network.
> >
> >To hook up a Macintosh to a Windows 95 peer-to-peer network you need a
> >commercial software called DAVE. It's a kind of Mac client for Win95/Win
> >NT networks.
> 
> Can you tell me what DAVE is and where I can order it?

Sorry, I can't - after I heard that a Mac can't share the PC volumes he
can use with DAVE, I didn't follow that track anymore. You can connect a
Mac to a PC network with DAVE, that's all. Check Altavista etc. for
this.

> Two AppleTalk connectors for each?  Or two connectors, one for each?

One for each computer.

> I guess I can buy the PhoneNet connectors somewhere, but I haven't
> seen them in a long time in the stores.  Maybe the next time I'm up at
> Fry's...  I guess that means that using a serial cable is not quite
> adequate.  Also, would I need one for the ImageWriter II?  Or can I
> connect that to the Mac and use it on the IIgs from there?  I'd hate
> to have to spend another $70 for an AppleTalk board for the IW2.

You can use a serial cable of course, but then you are limited to two
"members" in the network. For two computers, it's okay, but you couldn't
add the IW2.

I doubt sharing the IW2 is possible without an AppleTalk board. You
can't connect the IW2 to your IIgs directly, since your slots 1 and 2
are both in use, so you can't use a $25 printer switch. So if you're
lucky to find an IW2 AppleTalk board, go and buy it. (And if you find 2
of them, send me the extra one please :) )

> I have this set up as described.  Had to move my RamFAST out of slot 7
> to do it.  :(

I hate empty, unusable slots, too, but this is the only way to access
AppleTalk volumes.

> I started up file sharing, but if a serial cable isn't the right line
> to connect with, it explains why I'm not seeing anything.  But
> Nathan's FAQ says the following: (...)
> 
> I'm trying to connect only between my IIgs and Mac.

The FAQ is correct, but also check the following:
- Is slot 1 on your IIgs set to "printer port", not to "your card"?
- Does your GS/OS include the AppleTalk drivers? If not, install them.
- Is you Mac properly set up for file sharing or for AppleShare serving?

> Thanks for the reply.  Looks like this might be harder than I thought.

You're paid for the trouble when it's working :-)

Regards,
Volkmar

-- 
"Wenn ich morgens meinen Rechner anmache (...) ist das kein Problem.
Eine Rechnerin wuerde vielleicht zur Frauenbeauftragten laufen."
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