Re: Simple IIGS-Mac network - boy i feel stupid

[dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <3ovn7f$brk@news.ysu.edu>, Eric S. Ford <ag471@yfn.ysu.edu> wrote:
> 
> More "dumb" questions:
> 
> 1.  Are external hard drives (attached to the Mac server, of course) also
> "accessible" through an Appletalk network or just the internals?

Any partition on any Mac hard drive (including removable drives such as
SyQuests) can be shared.  So can CD-ROM drives.

> 2.  An IWII attached to a GS via Appletalk requires its own Appletalk card,
> what about an IWII connected to a Mac server?  Can it be shared via Appletalk
> without its own card? 

A Mac running System 7's file sharing cannot act as an AppleShare
Print Server - you have to be running the full AppleShare server
software for that.  Any networked printers are completely independent
of the Mac.

I believe there is software called "GreyShare" which allows a Mac to
act as a server for a locally connected printer, but I don't know what
printer types are supported.  (This would require using both serial
ports of the Mac, of course.)

Can anyone fill in details about GreyShare?

> What about a DeskJet 500?

A DeskJet?  You don't mean DeskWriter?  A DeskWriter can be connected
directly to a LocalTalk network.  A DeskJet would have to be plugged
into the other serial port of the Mac.  You would need a DJ500 driver
for the Mac to be able to use the printer (I assume there is one).  I
don't know if GreyShare would work with this printer.

> 3.  What is the oldest Mac (i.e. cheapest alternative) that will support the
> role of server and accept external, scsi drives?

The Mac Plus.  An SE or later machine would be a better option, as its
SCSI port is faster than the Plus.

> 4.  What is the longest "practical" distance between server and client?

Whatever the maximum length of a LocalTalk network is.  According to
the documentation I have here, that is 1000 feet (total for all
network segments).

> 5.  Where can I read about all this type stuff on my own and avoid imposing
> my ignorance on others, however willing they might be to help?

Pass.  Some details are provided in Apple's "AppleTalk Network System
Overview" book.  The copy I have here is pretty old - it predates
System 7.  It is probably more technical than the average user needs.
There may be a later edition or another manual that is more user
oriented.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand