On 2007-03-22 13:16:26 -0300, "DJW"
hotmail.com> said:
> On Mar 21, 12:30 pm, Bruce Gordon
btpost.net> wrote:>>> Can you explain what you mean by bridging LocalTalk to Ethernet? Is
>>> that done at the computer that can use both Ethernet and localtalk? My
>>> machine is a PPC 7200 that can use both 10base Ethernet and serial (?)
>>> LocalTalk it is networked to a 6200 and CI and of course the HP
>>> LaserJet 4M. It is the blue & white G3 I am trying to get on that
>>> network and be able to use the printer. Would this mean that the 7200
>>> would have to be on (as a print server) if I could be able send a
>>> print job from the G3 to the LaserJet?
>>
>> Lets start over here and define some terms.
>>
>> AppleTalk is a Protocol that will run on most Hardware Network Ýypes.
>> LocalTalk is a Hardware Network Type that uses a Single Pair of Wires
>> and was the Basic Network that Apple use prior to Ethernet.
>> EtherTalk is the AppleTalk Protcol running on the Ethernet Hardware
>> Network Ýype.
>> Ethernet is a Hardware Network Type that uses two Pair of Wires
>> and is the Basic Network now in use by all Lans.
>> TCPIP is a Protocol used by the Internet and can be carried by most
>> Hardware Network Ýypes, including LocalTalk via MacIP.
>> Serial is NOT LocalTalk. It does however use the SAME Port or
>> Connection as LocalTalk.
>>
>> Ok you have a 7200, that has Ethernet LocalTalk and Serial. The
>> 7200/6200/CI in its standard configuration can have AppleTalk Active on
>> only one External Port at a time. This is the same for ALL MacOS's
>> (Prior to OSX) in their Standard Configuration. This means you can have
>> AppleTalk/EtherTalk running on LocalTalk or Ethernet, but NOT both at
>> the same time. You have choosen to have them run LocalTalk on one of
>> the Serial Ports on your 7200/6200/CI, and connect them via LocalTalk
>> and also connect this LocalTalk Network to your HP LaserJet 4M for
>> printing. Ok so far so good.
>>
>> Now you wnat to bring on to your LocalTalk Network a B&W G3, which has
>> no Serial Ports, and therefor no LocalTalk Connections. There was an
>> outfit that built a Card that went into the B&W G3's that added a
>> LocalTalk compatable Serial Port, that would solve your problem. I
>> don't recall the Name of the Company but I remember that there is
>> such a Hardware Device. I seem to recall it was called a "Stealth
>> Serial Port".
>>
>> You could also bring you network into the 21st Century and add Ethernet
>> Network Interface Cards to you 6200, and CI and move your LAN up to
>> Ethernet from LocalTalk, and buy a small 8 Port Ethernet Hub or Switch,
>> and connect all your CPU's via Ethernet. Your Printer would either have
>> to have a Connection Upgrade to Ethernet, OR you could then get yourself
>> a copy of LaserWriter Bridge and run that one one of the MacOS Systems.
>>
>> LaserWriter Bridge is a SMALL HalfRouter Package Apple came up with to
>> bring Legacy LocalTalk Printers onto Ethernet LANs. What it does is
>> alllows the MacOS to have BOTH EtherTalk, and LocalTalk Active on
>> the CPU, at the same time, and Bridge the Printing Packets from one
>> Network Segment to the other. It is NOT a full BiDirectional Bridge,
>> and was ONLY designed for LocalTalk Printer Traffic. There was also
>> a LocalTalk Bridge beta at one time, that was proported to be a full
>> BiDirectional Bridge, but it never was really debugged and was soon
>> unsupported, and faded into obscurity.
>>
>> The next possibility would be in get yourself a copy of the Univercity
>> of Melbourne's, Software Appletalk Router that IS a full Bidiretional
>> LocalTalk/EtherTalk Bridge System. This would run on your 7200, which
>> has both Ethernet, and LocalTalk Ports, and would bring the B&W G3
>> on to you LocalTalk Network via an Ethernet connection between the
>> 7200 and the B&W G3.
>>
>> OR, you could get yourself a Hardware EtherTalk/LocalTalk Router,
>> like the Shiva FastPath 5 or 4, or the Farallon StarRouter and
>> accomplish the same BiDirectional Bridging of the two Segments.
>>
>> These are your options. You MUST understand that you are dealling
>> with LEGACY Hardware and Software, for all of this, and your not going
>> to find a lot of support for any of this stuff, as it is way out of
>> date and most Network Guru's can't even remember back that far, and
>> those that can, are getting into the Alzheimers Generation.
>>
>> Me one of the few that still CAN, and still use this stuff....
>>
>> --
>> Bruce (semiretired powderman & exFCC Field Inspector for Southeastern Ala
> ska)
>> add a <2> before @
>> Bruce Gordon * Debora Gordon R.N. Bruce's Trading Post
>> P.O. Box EXI Excursion Inlet South
>> Juneau, Alaska 99850 Excursion Inlet, Alaska 99850
>>
www.btpost.net www.99850.net>
> Bruce,
> Thank you for the fantastic and informative reply. I need to digest it
> all and search online for information and availability of some of the
> things you mentioned. I hope you don't mind more questions down the
> road. I guess Ethernet will be a must but also want to get a
> connection between the G3 and the printer. Do not believe I can add
> any new hardware directly into that HP LaserJet 4M. Will study what
> you wrote in regards to that option.
> Thanks again.
> DavidD W R
At one time I recall using a Farallon "EtherPrint?" which was a rather small
box that allowed several LocalTalk printers (mine was a LaserWriter II NTx)
to be attached to an EtherTalk network. There was a required order of power
up for the devices to allow the box to find things. (It might have been a
different box with that trouble but it was the level on minor annoyance of
devices of that era.) The EtherTalk allowed a Mac II to talk to a PC as
LocalTalk on a PC was a real bother. LocalTalk is slow after EtherTalk
has been used for file transfer and some of the LocalTalk boards would only
work on slower PCs. That was when 16MHz was real fast!
