Re: AppleTalk to Ethernet bridge software for Mac?

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

Mark Cummings <figjams@primus.com.au> wrote:

> I'm just at this stage myself, and I have installed Apple's LocalTalk Bridge
> software.
> I am not certain what LocalTalk Bridge can do, supposedly I can see stuff on
> the ethernet side from the LocalTalk side.

It allows all AppleTalk protocol traffic to travel in both directions
between LocalTalk and Ethernet.

As far as the IIgs is concerned, this means you should be able to access
any Ethernet-connected Appleshare file server, as long as it is able to
useg the AFP protocol running over the AppleTalk protocol stack (ASP,
ATP and DDP), and is able to accept the limited password transfer
mechanisms supported by the IIgs.

For example, you won't be able to access a machine running Mac OS X
Client, because it only supports AppleShare over TCP/IP.  You might be
able to access a Mac OS X Server machine.

You should also be able to access any Ethernet-connected Postscript
printer which supports the AppleTalk PAP protocol, but you will run into
major compatibility issues with most printers newer than an Apple
LaserWriter II.

In theory, you could also access Ethernet-connected ImageWriter II and
LQ printers, but I don't think you'll find many of those.

For a Mac on the LocalTalk segment, things are a little brighter.  You
should be able to access any facilities provided by Ethernet-based
computers which support the AppleTalk protocol stack, including a wider
range of printers and file servers.  I'm not sure what the situation
would be with TCP/IP support - in theory, the MacIP protocol allows
TCP/IP to be transported over LocalTalk, but I don't know whether
LocalTalk Bridge will be able to handle it.

> Would I, for example, be able to use a printer or CD-ROM connected on my PC
> from any Mac or GS on the AppleTalk side ?

If the PC was running WinNT Server 4.0 or PCMacLan, it might work for a
CD-ROM drive.  As far as a printer is concerned, the PC would have to be
able to act like an AppleShare print server, and you would need an
appropriate driver on the client machine.  For the IIgs, this would
limit you to the same set of network-capable printers (LaserWriter,
ImageWriter II, ImageWriter LQ).  For a Mac, you would need the
appropriate network printer driver.

> Also can I see stuff the other way. ie can I use my AppleTalk ImageWriterII
> from my PC through the LocalTalk brige, or is it only one way ?

Anything on the Ethernet should be able to access servers (including
printers) on the LocalTalk network.  In this case, the PC would need to
be able to act as a client for AppleTalk printing.  I'd expect that
PCMacLan would support this, but I doubt NT Server would.

> Currently I have the printer port connected to a printer, the modem port set
> as AppleTalk and connected, and the ethernet card is connected to the
> ThinNet. The problem I'm having at the moment, is the printer busy light is
> flashing like the printer is receiving data, and I can't print.

LocalTalk Bridge needs to take over the serial port, and I suspect it
may be limited to using the printer port (I haven't used it for a
while).  If the control panel doesn't offer any choice of port, then
this is very likely.

You should have the Mac configured to use the Ethernet for its AppleTalk
connection.

There is one other restriction worth noting: if you have any AppleTalk
routers on the Ethernet, then LocalTalk Bridge won't work.  It must be
the only router on the network (TCP/IP-only routers don't count).