Re: Connecting Apple IIgs to Ethernet LAN

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

John <jmholmes@swbell.net> wrote:

> In article <1e3qusx.8wxm5k1lgipp6N%dempson@actrix.gen.nz>, 
> dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) wrote:
> 
> >There is also an adaptor box which mounts on the back panel of the
> >machine, which provides the card with a pair of Mini-Din-8 serial ports.
>
> My mom works at an elementary school (a science and technology magnet school)
> where they have a computer lab that has at least 25-30 enhanced apple //e
> machines all running localtalk using a Mac SE/30 as the server. It's been
> awhile since I have closely checked out the arrangement that they have going
> on there, but it seems that each of these machines have a card in there that
> accepts a localtalk connector directly.

There are two possible ways of interpreting your comments, so I'll
answer both of them.   :-)

Apple II cards don't reach as far as the back panel of the machine, so
connecting a cable to them requires either of two solutions:

(a) Run the cable through a hole in the back panel and plug it directly
into the card.  This usually involves a ribbon cable, and is commonly
done with parallel printer cards, as well as the old Disk ][ controller
card.  It was the most common method used on the original Apple ][ and
the ][+.

(b) The card provides a connector which mounts onto (or is screwed into)
the back panel of the machine, with a cable running to the card
internally.  You then connect the external cable to the connector on the
back panel.  This is the preferred method with the IIe and IIgs, which
provide back panel cutouts that fit D-25, D-19 and D-9 connectors.

The Apple II Workstation Card needs two Mini-Din-8 connectors, and there
was no way to mount these directly into the back panel, so Apple used a
small plastic box which screws into one of the D-25 holes and pokes out
the back of the machine.  There are two Mini-Din-8 connectors on the
face of this.  It connects to the Workstation card via a couple of ten
pin ribbon cables.


The second possible interpretation of your message is that you are
disputing the Mini-Din-8 part and claiming that LocalTalk cables
(Mini-Din-3) plug straight into the connector box.

This is certainly not the case with my Workstation card, and is not
mentioned in the manual.  You still need a LocalTalk or PhoneNet drop
box to connect the Workstation card to the network.

In particular, the second port on the Workstation card is available for
use a limited function serial port, specifically for connecting a
non-networked ImageWriter II.  (This port can be selected using the
CHOOSER.II application.)  This has to be a standard serial port.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P O Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand