Re: network

[oaaland@aol.com (O Aaland)]

>David Iverson writes:

>I have just aquired an Apple //e and am wondering if this particular
>machine can be networked and, if so, what are it's limitations?
>Thanks,
>David Iverson

The Apple //e can be networked in several different ways however most of them
were designed for educational use. Apple's solution was using a WorkStation
Card in the //e (it must be enchanced - come up with //e on the screen when
first turned on) and then use Local Talk Connectors to connect to other
computers and printers on the network system. If using more than a printer
there must be at least one Mac to serve as a file server.  Starting with System
7 on the Mac it is possible to share files without using AppleShare software.
Versions 2 and 3 of AppleShare running on the Mac will allow Apple IIs to be
booted over the network using the Mac hard drive. For a personal network this
is probably the best way to go. The biggest limitation of this system is the
price and availability of the WorkStation Card. If you can find one, it will
probably cost more that buying a GS which has AppleTalk capability built in to
it. When using an Apple //e on this system you need to be careful on the Mac
hard drive to keep the file and path names compatable with ProDOS names.

One of the first practical network systems was made by Corvus Systems. It was
alright in its time but is very slow if you need to boot a classroms of Apple
IIs. There is also a system made by Digicard that works very well. Here again
this system is designed for educational use. A master CPU can control the
system and determine what is allowed on all the other machines on the system.