Re: //e workstation card questions

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

In article <18972EKDADRKNVMQOKL@ods.sol.net>,  <dreamer@ods.sol.net> wrote:
> 
> I would like to know what computer(s) I can use as the file server,

A Macintosh is the best bet.  You can either use a Mac running System
7.0 or later with "File Sharing" installed and enabled, or run the
full "AppleShare" server software.

AppleShare version 2.x takes over the whole Mac, and can only run with
Mac System 6.x.

AppleShare version 3.x works with Mac System 7.x and can work with
other programs (multitasking).

AppleShare 2.x and 3.x allow the IIe to boot over the network,
downloading the system software from the file server.  AppleShare 4.x
and later do not support this any more, but can still be used as a
file server with a local boot disk.  System 7's "File Sharing" does
not support network booting.


You cannot use an Apple II as a server.  No file server software has
been written.

You might be able to use a UNIX machine running CAP (Columbia
AppleTalk Package, I think) as a server, but I don't know if it
supports the Apple II properly.

> and whether I could use a network to work on files that are on my BBS
> without disturbing the BBS itself.

Is it running on an Apple II?  If so, you can't access the files on
the BBS over the network.  If it is running on a Mac, and you are
using AppleShare 3.x or later, or System 7's File Sharing, then you
can access files on the server from other computers while it is
running other software.


You can also use the network to share a LocalTalk printer between
several computers.

> I'd also like to know pricing and availability of the cables needed
> (localtalk I believe they are now?).

LocalTalk is Apple's cabling system.  A "drop box" is required for
each computer, plus LocalTalk cabling is required between the computers.

There are much cheaper alternatives: "Modunet", "Phonenet" and similar
systems use telephone cable between their drop boxes, and the whole
system is usually less than half the price of equivalent LocalTalk cabling.

If you have an existing network, you may be forced to use the existing
cabling system, unless you can get an adaptor to connect between
LocalTalk and PhoneNet/ModuNet.  (I have heard that this type of
adaptor is reasonably easy to get, but I've never seen one.)

> Finally, if anyone has any info on the DigiCard D-Net card, and how it
> could be used in a network (would it work with LocalTalk?), etc...I also
> have the Digicard Shared Resources controller, which has an 80Mb HD and
> serial and parallel ports built into it.  Any info on these two items
> (aside from the devdocs for the drive) would be very much appreciated!

Sorry, never heard of this.  I suspect it is completely incompatible
with AppleTalk.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand