Re: Networking a Mac+ and IIgs?

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

In article <CyJF1w.Gu1@undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca>,
Timmy <tshaynes@undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
> 
> I've got an interesting question... I want to network my Mac+ (4 megs RAM,
> 40 meg SCSI) and my IIgs (1 meg RAM, no HD.. :(  ).  I want to network them
> so that I can avoid getting a SCSI card for the GS but still use (at least
> part of) the 40 meg SCSI that's on the Mac.  Is this possible?

Yes, but it isn't particularly nice to use.  A LocalTalk network
transfers data at about the same speed as a 3.5" drive.  A local SCSI
drive is much faster.


There are two options you can use for software on the Mac.

- System 7.x, with Personal File Sharing enabled.

- AppleShare 2.0 or 3.0.  This is very expensive.  I've heard that
version 4.0 doesn't support Apple II access, so you may need to find
an older version.


If you use Personal File Sharing, the IIgs must boot from a floppy.
If your largest drive is 800k, you cannot fit all of the system
software on the disk, and will have to boot without Finder.  You can
then log onto the file server and run Finder from there (as an
application).  Personal File Sharing is much more convenient if you
have a hard drive on your IIgs, because you can run the full system
software locally.

The full AppleShare server software allows you to boot from the file
server, so you can set up all of the IIgs system software (including
Finder) on the server.  The major disavantage is the speed: booting
over the network is pretty slow.  You can also go for a slightly
faster option which involves booting from a local disk then switching
to the file server part way through the boot.


In either case, you need the full set of System 6.0.1 disks for the
IIgs (or at least the Install, SystemTools1 and SystemTools2 disks).
You can probably also use System 5.0.4 or 6.0, but I'd recommend 6.0.1.

With Personal File Sharing, you need to set up an 800k boot disk with
AppleShare support software on it.  With the full AppleShare server
software, you need to set up the software on the server, and/or a
local boot disk.  In all cases, the 6.0.1 Installer's "Customize"
option provides access to the appropriate items.


To enable AppleTalk on the IIgs, you need to configure the Control
Panel appropriately and boot from a system disk which includes
AppleShare support (or boot over the network if you are using
the full AppleShare server software).

On a ROM 1 IIgs: set slot 7 to "AppleTalk", and either slot 1 or 2 to
"Your Card".  The AppleTalk network must be plugged into the
corresponding port (i.e. the printer port if you set slot 1 to "Your
Card").  You cannot put another I/O card in slot 1, because the
AppleTalk firmware will conflict with it (both use the slot 1 screen
holes).  You can put disk controller cards (e.g. SCSI cards) in slot 1.

On a ROM 3 IIgs: set slot 1 or 2 to "AppleTalk".  The network should
be plugged into the corresponding port.  Slot 7 can be used for your
own card.  Setting it to "AppleTalk" will make no difference (just
waste another slot), unless you have some really old software that
assumes the IIgs's AppleTalk support code is in slot 7.


On the hardware side, you need a cable to connect the machines.  If you
don't need to connect anything else to your network (such as a
printer), you can get by with a simple ImageWriter II printer cable
(Mini-Din-8 at both ends), plugged into the Mac and IIgs printer ports.

If you want to connect more devices, you need some proper cabling.
You can either use Apple's LocalTalk cabling system (which is quite
expensive) or a third-party alternative such as "PhoneNet".

The LocalTalk kit requires a "drop box" for each machine, and cables
to connect each pair of drop boxes.

The same goes for third-party alternatives, but they use dirt cheap
telephone cable and connectors.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand