Re: Ethernet card- alternatives?

[derek@slab.slip.uiuc.edu (Derek Taubert)]

In article <tbcCGB8uv.CnB@netcom.com> tbc@netcom.com (Mike Garvey) writes:
> In a prior missive, Soenke Behrens <behrenss@Informatik.TU-Muenchen.DE> 
> eloquently scribed this stuff:
> 
> >Not only Asante makes them. Get the manufacturer to give you a complete
> >set of the vendor-specific SCSI commands they use and I'm sure Derek
> >would be willing to incorporate support.
> >
> >Much luck with the vendor, though :)

Exactly.

> I've had experience with Ethernet/LocalTalk converters from Asante
> (AsantePrint), Dayna (EtherPrint), and Compatible Systems (Ether*Write).
> Asante OEMs their product from Compatible Systems BTW.  Anyway, these
> devices DO work but they don't speed up the inherently slow LocalTalk side
> of the connection, in fact they can slow it down a little due to
> packet-forwarding overhead.

We're not looking for Ethernet/LocalTalk converters, we're looking for standalone Ethernet devices to interface directly to the IIgs.

> Compatible Systems makes a more expensive box (c. $900) called the
> Ether*Write Plus (or NPR, I forget which) which supports TCP (main use to
> get all those PS printers to respond to lpr <g>).  I think this is what
> you're looking for.

Nope.  I've got a TCP protocol stack implemented, I just need a physical device capable of sending raw packets over ethernet (period).  With that, I can use it for TCP/IP applications, and possibly even EtherTalk support.

> Regarding price; with the demise of the EtherTalk card, you have very few
> options: Ethernet/LocalTalk converter, bridge or router.  Even with the
> software solutions for the latter (i.e. Novell Router, CAP, etc.) you still
> wind up paying less for the converter.  Besides you need another computer
> for the software (Netware Server, Mac (AppleTalk Internet Router), or NFS
> server).

This is exactly why we aren't going these routes.  We're still looking for solutions comparable to the late EtherTalk card.

--
Derek Taubert                   |  Ask me about TCP/IP for the Apple IIgs!
d-taubert@uiuc.edu              |  Really, I'm serious!
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