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

[laer@nospam-customized.com (Laer Haider)]

volkmar.friauf@koeln.netsurf.de (Volkmar Friauf) wrote:

>Laer Haider <laer@nospam-customized.com> wrote:
>
>> I've just received an Mac IIsi that I plan on using as a peripheral
>> for my IIgs.  What I hope to do is connect the IIgs to the Mac using
>> AppleTalk, and connect the Mac IIsi to the Win95-Ethernet LAN in my
>> house which has a proxy Internet server on my main PC box.  Is there a
>> way to do this?  Here are some details that you might need:
>
>You're even using the same Mac as I do :-)

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.

>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 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?

>> I've connected the IIgs to the Mac via Slot 1 (serial printer port) on
>> the IIgs and connected to the serial port on the Mac, and I installed
>> the AppleTalk drivers on the IIgs.  AppleTalk is "on" in the control
>> panel (had to move the RAMFast card to slot 2), and slot 1 is set to
>> "your card."  The IIgs doesn't see anything either.  Is there a
>> special cable needed for this AppleTalk connection?
>
>You need two AppleTalk connectors for each, Mac and IIgs. You can either
>use the Apple-brand connectors which require special LocalTalk cables,
>or you can use the cheaper "PhoneNet" connectors which can use telephone
>cables. - As Nathan would say: There's no need to support the fruity
>logo here.

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

>But let's have a look at your AppleTalk settings. On the IIgs, you don't
>only have to switch AppleTalk "on" in the GS/OS control panel, you also
>have to adjust your slot settings: Slot 7 must be set to AppleTalk, Slot
>2 must be set to "Your card" (for the RAMFast) and Slot 1 to "Printer
>Port". Now you can plug the AppleTalk connector into the printer port of
>the IIgs.

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

>To receive data from the Mac, you either have to install AppleShare
>server software or - much cheaper - make use of Mac OS' built in
>networking capabilities by starting file sharing in the "Sharing Setup"
>control panel of Mac OS.

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:

"Once you have Appletalk set up on the various machines, you'll need
to decide how to connect them. If there are only 2 machines and both
are connecting via the serial port, a printer (i.e. null modem) cable
between the two will suffice. If you want to connect more than two
devices, you can use either Apple's Localtalk wiring scheme (expensive
and pretty much phased out) or the 'Phonenet' style connectors that
let you run ordinary phone wire between the different machines. Look
for phonenet hardware at computer stores or mailorder catalogs."

I'm trying to connect only between my IIgs and Mac.

>Now you should be able to connect your IIgs to your Mac. But this was
>the easy part - connecting the Mac IIsi to your PC network shouldn't be
>too hard, too, but I don't know about using the Mac as a bridge to
>access your PC network from the IIgs. I'm currently waiting for my
>freshly-ordered PC to arrive (which means that I'm leaving the fruity
>logo after more than a decade). When it's here, I should be able to tell
>you more.
>
>Volkmar

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

--
Laer Haider     laer@nospam-customized.com
Remove the obvious to e-mail me.