Xref: utzoo comp.protocols.appletalk:2203 comp.dcom.lans:3115
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cwjcc!hal!nic.MR.NET!umn-cs!peiffer
From: peiffer@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU (Tim J. Peiffer)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk,comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: Ether <-> Appletalk
Keywords: Ethernet LocalTalk connection
Message-ID: <14194@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU>
Date: 6 Jul 89 14:16:19 GMT
References: <433@thunder.UUCP>
Reply-To: peiffer@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu (Tim J. Peiffer)
Organization: CSci Dept., University of Minnesota, Mpls.
Lines: 46

In article <433@thunder.UUCP> raday@thunder.UUCP (Alan Day) writes:
>
>A problem occurs since the Macintosh network we want to connect to the MIPS
>machine must be, due to local practises, located at some distance from the
>beast. The best solution, for future expansion, seems to be an Ethernet
>cable running between the buildings [the interstate highway] with LocalTalk
>"ramps" attached at either end. [A MIPS Tech Support person seemed to think
>that uShare could run directly off the MIPS Ethernet connection but could
>not confirm beta soft/hard-ware configurations. If so, only one "ramp"
>would be needed.]
>
>From the literature we've collected, it seems that FastPath and GatorBox come
>equipped with their own file server software, something that, with uShare, is
>unnecessary. Similarly, it seems that the Kinetics card for the SE will only
>allow that machine to be connected [hence not an Etherenet "server"]
>
>Question: Could some more knowledgeable souls verify if our understanding of
>the above is correct? Could someone suggest an alternative solution with an
>Ethernet "backbone"? [Our dep't has 13 Macs on two, faculty & student,
>networks at present.]

	We have some experience with Ether/Local talk.  We have a network
	of macs and printers that number about ~3000 on kinetics fastpaths.
	With the Fastpaths in place, the ethernet is for all intensive
	purposes transparent,  we have sites in Minneapolis that print out 
	on printers in Duluth, and we have both Minneapolis and Duluth 
	providing appleshare file service to clients on opposite campuses.

	It seems that the Cayman Gator box will do this and more, such as
	their version of TOPS - a sun NFS server for appletalk.  We haven't
	gotten a copy, because of production backlog.

	For our UNIX hosts, we run Columbia Appletalk Protocol (CAP) software
	which will allow our unix hosts to be appleshare hosts - effectively
	another Large appletalk device.  This has two beneficial side effects.
	We now run UNIX spooled printing on appletalk to postscript printers.
	We can now also dump our Mac harddrives to the UNIX hosts.  This saves
	time on backups, and the aggravation of having to deal with hundreds
	of those little floppy discs.

	I hope this helps - I don't have any experience with the MIPS.xxx
	machines.

Tim Peiffer		peiffer@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu or
Comp Sci Dept		...!rutgers!umn-cs!peiffer
U of Minnesota, MPLS MN