Re: Appletalk or GS/TCP?

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

Matt Portune <mportune@telerama.lm.com> wrote:

> Awhile ago I mentioned that I wanted to set up a drive-sharing mini-network
> with my GS and PC.  I never got any replies saying whether or not I could do
> it, so I tried to gather up as much info as possible from old magazines,
> manuals, etc.  From what I gather, Appletalk on the GS is rather limited when
> it comes to 2 way drive/file sharing, is this true?  Would I be better off
> building a network based on TCP between the 2 machines instead of Appletalk?
> Would I be able to log into the GS with the PC, and vice versa?
> 
> Are there ANY sources of info I can read to find out more about Appletalk on
> the GS?

I'm a pretty good source of information on IIgs Appletalk.  :-)

The IIgs is fine as an AppleShare client, but doesn't have any server
facilities.  This means that if you want to share files between a IIgs
and Mac, the IIgs can log into the Mac, but the Mac cannot log into the
IIgs.

It is not possible to share files between two IIgses over an AppleTalk
network (unless someone writes some server software).

AppleTalk is not a very convenient method for sharing files between a
IIgs and PC, for several reasons:

1a. LocalTalk interfacing hardware on the PC is rare.
1b. EtherTalk interfacing hardware on the IIgs is almost nonexistant
(and not publically available).
2a. The IIgs cannot act as a server.
2b. AppleShare-compatible server software for a PC is difficult to
locate (assuming it exists at all).
2c. Assuming you could locate such software, it is quite possible that
it would have a limited implementation of the appropriate protocols,
which would not support logging onto the PC from an Apple II.

If you have a Mac available as well, then a few more options are opened
up:

1. You can easily transfer files between the IIgs and Mac over
LocalTalk.

2. Assuming the Mac has Ethernet hardware, it should be reasonably easy
to transfer files between the Mac and a PC which also has Ethernet
hardware.


The idea of using TCP/IP to transfer files directly from the IIgs to a
PC is a moot point at present, because TCP/IP support has yet to be
released.  When it is available, you still have the problem of setting
up a physical connection between the machines (LocalTalk is not likely
to be supported by TCP/IP software on the PC, and Ethernet is not
available on the APple II).  This means you might still have to use a
Mac as an intermediary (e.g. a LocalTalk to Ethernet gateway), or some
additional external hardware, or a direct serial connection between the
machines (using SLIP or PPP).

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