Re: Stupid GS Networking Question

[shack@onyx.southwind.net (Randy Shackelford)]

David Empson (dempson@actrix.gen.nz) wrote:

: > The school I work at has about 30 Apple IIgs computers. We recently
: > purchased the site license for Apple II MECC software ($250 from The
: > Learning Company -- worth it) and I am trying to set up an Appletalk
: > network to run the Mecc stuff. Using a donated LCII as a server and a
: > slew of phone net connectors, I set up System 6.0.1 floppies in the GSes
: > and found that the network will not go beyond ten GSes.

: I assume you are using System 7.x File Sharing on the server?  If so,
: you've just discovered one of its inherent limits.  Changing computers
: will make no difference.

Yep file sharing has a hard coded limit of ten connections.

: To be able to have more than ten clients, you will have to run the full
: AppleShare server software.

: If you use AppleShare version 3.0, the IIgses can even boot over the
: network and won't require a local boot disk.

Plus 4.0 requires an '040 and 5.0 and up take a Pmac. You can run 3.0 on a
lowly 68000.

: Apart from the number of users, the full AppleShare server adds many
: useful features, such as administration tools, potentially acting as a
: print server, and faster performance.  It ties up more resources on the
: machine than File Sharing.

Actually you can set the amount of time devoted to file server processing
via a slider. That's another thing hard coded into file sharing.

: AppleShare is commercial, but you might be able to get hold of a cheap
: copy of version 3 from somewhere.

I saw a still shrinkwrapped copy of 3.0 for $60 in a store not long ago.
And I thought paying $400 for it five years ago was a good deal.

: As far as the multiple server option goes: that should work fine.  If
: you have no need to communicate over the network between the servers, it
: would be a good idea to break the network up into separate segments
: (server and its block of clients).  This will reduce confusion for the
: users (seeing more than one server), and will improve network
: performance.

If you have more Macs than money on hand it's not a bad idea
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