Re: Ethernet, Appletalk, Linux, etc

[Jack Friess <jfriess@wctc.net>]

In csa2.comm, Nathan Mates wrote:
> 
> In article <5700ab$qti@nyx10.cs.du.edu>,
> Will Baguhn <wbaguhn@nyx10.cs.du.edu> wrote:
> >Actually, last i checked.... Linux can handle Appletalk.  Check out
> >the Linux 2 kernel stuff.
> 
>    True, *but* the serial ports in a PC (even the 16550As) can't
> handle the 234,000 synchronous communication mode needed to do
> Appletalk over serial ports. However, it can send out and recieve the
> Appletalk packets inside ethernet packets so with a Mac on ethernet,
> or with a ethernet <-> appletalk gateway, you can communicate. Thus,
> this feature is pretty much useless for Apple II owners.

This is all true.  In our test lab we have our Macs coming into an NT 
server over ethernet through a Apple Internet Server (AIS) and IP 
Router.  From any Mac we can see the NT as a server (through the 
Chooser) and on the NT, of course, see the Macs.  It's neat.  And 
you're right, Nate, not any good for the A2s without LocalTalk and 
TCP/IP.
 
>    There are a few Appletalk for PC boards out there (mostly the ones
> made by Apple), but from what I can tell, they're pretty rare. No idea
> if Linux has the support for one of those yet; if not, it might be
> simple to add in.

We would really like to bring the Macs into the NT (or even Linux) 
with one of these cards.  We're experimenting with a COPS 
(www.copstalk.com) LT-I card.  This card is supposed to have NT 
support (drivers, etc.) but none of our network experts could get it 
working--even after numerous calls to their tech support.  We've now 
switched to Linux to see if we can get that card to work there.

What does this have to do with Apple IIs?  Well, the network system 
for the Apple IIs we are using involves serial connections to 
Linux/PINE and using a terminal program like ProTerm.  We would like 
to have as simple as network system as possible--one LAN server 
(rather than three: NT as LAN server, Linux for Apple, and AIS for the 
Macs).  So, if we need Linux for the A2s, why not use it also for the 
Macs and PCs as well?

Will B. is right (up there) about Linux having LocalTalk support.  
It's just that we are missing a Unix/Linux driver for the COPS 
LocalTalk card.  (COPS is encouraging people to write one, but is not 
committing any resources themselves.)  We are starting to research in 
the Linux and NT user groups, but it is very time consuming and we 
haven't had much luck.

So, Nate, or anyone else out there, if you have any leads, or better 
yet, interest in helping us to "add in" a driver, please let me know.


Jack Friess
Sevens Point, Wisconsin, USA