Re: IIgs on a Mac network

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

Steve W. Jackson <steve.w.jackson@mindspring.com> wrote:

> In article <339766EB.3F9C@MacConnect.com>, Geoff Kaiser
> <SuperKais@MacConnect.com> wrote:
> 
> ;> I'd like to put the IIgs on a small network with my 2 other Macs, a 7100
> ;> and a Mac Plus. My goal is just to share small files n' stuff.
> ;> 
> ;> What do I need to do on the IIgs side to set it up? Which version of the
> ;> IIgs system software will I need? Once that's out of the way, what do I
> ;> need to tweak on the II?
> ;> 
> ;> On the hardware angle, will I be able to use plain ol' printer cables or
> ;> LocalTalk cables going right into the back of the Apple II like I can on
> ;> Macs? Is the IIgs that easy or no?
> ;> 
> ;> Thanks for any help anyone can give me....
> 
> Since I haven't actually *done* it, I can't say if it's just that easy or
> not.

As far as the hardware goes, yes it is that easy.  If you want to set up
a simple LocalTalk network with two devices (IIgs and Mac, or IIgs and
printer) all you need is a standard ImageWriter II printer cable between
the two machines.

If you want to connect three or more devices, you need a proper cabling
system: either Apple's LocalTalk drop boxes and cabling, or third-party
PhoneNet (or equivalent).  I use the latter in my LocalTalk network, and
it works great.

(My network currently consists of a PowerMac, ImageWriter II, two IIgses
and a IIe; one of the IIgses and the IIe are rarely used; I will be
adding an SE/30 shortly, and will probably be adding a laser printer at
some stage.)


I've posted articles on how to set up the IIgs for AppleTalk, and they
should be in the FAQ by now.

In summary:

- For a ROM 1, set slot 7 to "AppleTalk", and slot 1 or 2 to
  "Your Card".  The network connection will use the first "Your
  Card" slot it finds (1 or 2 only).  There are some limits on the
  cards that may be placed in the slot (avoid serial and parallel
  cards, but SCSI cards are fine).  Slot 7 cannot be used for a
  card, except for something like an accelerator.

- For a ROM 3, set slot 1 or 2 to "AppleTalk" and connect the
  network to the corresponding port.  The slot cannot be used for
  a card, except something like an accelerator.

- You must boot from a GS/OS system disk with the necessary
  software installed.  Assuming you want to access an AppleShare
  server or a Mac running File Sharing, you need to set up a boot
  disk using the System 6.0.1 Installer.  For a hard drive,
  install "Network: AppleShare".  If you are booting from an 800K
  disk, use "Network: Local Boot", which modifies the disk (it
  will remove Finder, which you could run manually from another
  disk).

  You cannot make use of the AppleTalk connection if you boot
  directly into ProDOS-8.

  As far as system versions go: System 5.0 and later include full
  support for AppleTalk, but I'd recommend using 6.0.1, as it has
  more features and bug fixes.  System 4.0 doesn't have server
  support, but can use network printers.  System 3.2 has both, but
  uses the obsolete ProDOS-16, and is much harder to use (and the
  system software doesn't include the software needed to log on to
  the server).

- If you have a Mac with AppleShare 3.0, you have the option of
  booting the IIgs over the network.  This requires some messy setup.

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