Re: Appletalk or GS/TCP?

[shack@deimos.frii.com (Randy Shackelford)]

In article <19961210230613254942@dempson.actrix.gen.nz>,
David Empson <dempson@actrix.gen.nz> wrote:

[big snip]

>AppleTalk is not a very convenient method for sharing files between a
>IIgs and PC, for several reasons:
>
>1a. LocalTalk interfacing hardware on the PC is rare.
>1b. EtherTalk interfacing hardware on the IIgs is almost nonexistant
>(and not publically available).

But you don't really need such a thing. I have a Kinetics Fastpath working
as a localtalk-ethernet bridge on my network, so I can leave my Quadra and
SE/30 on ethernet and still use my localtalk printers and share files with
my IIs and localtalk Macs. I would expect you could connect a peecee to the
ethernet side as well. You could use a software solution like Apple's
Localtalk Bridge running on an ethernet connected Mac in lieu of a hardware
box like the Fastpath.

>2a. The IIgs cannot act as a server.
>2b. AppleShare-compatible server software for a PC is difficult to
>locate (assuming it exists at all).

I hear tell that Windows NT has Appletalk support now. Ditto Linux.

>2c. Assuming you could locate such software, it is quite possible that
>it would have a limited implementation of the appropriate protocols,
>which would not support logging onto the PC from an Apple II.

If they support AFP, I'd expect no problems.

>If you have a Mac available as well, then a few more options are opened
>up:
>
>1. You can easily transfer files between the IIgs and Mac over
>LocalTalk.
>
>2. Assuming the Mac has Ethernet hardware, it should be reasonably easy
>to transfer files between the Mac and a PC which also has Ethernet
>hardware.

Using the network or Appletalk control panels to switch between localtalk
and ethertalk constantly is a pain in the tookus though.

>The idea of using TCP/IP to transfer files directly from the IIgs to a
>PC is a moot point at present, because TCP/IP support has yet to be
>released.  When it is available, you still have the problem of setting
>up a physical connection between the machines (LocalTalk is not likely
>to be supported by TCP/IP software on the PC, and Ethernet is not
>available on the APple II).  This means you might still have to use a
>Mac as an intermediary (e.g. a LocalTalk to Ethernet gateway), or some
>additional external hardware, or a direct serial connection between the
>machines (using SLIP or PPP).

My Fastpath can route TCP packets if so configured, plus there's always 
Apple's IP Gateway software for routing TCP over localtalk.
-- 
Randy Shackelford                                 
shack@frii.com