Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!shoemake
From: shoemake@Apple.COM (Mike Shoemaker)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk
Subject: Re: PC access to Appleshare server
Summary: AppleShare PC version 2.0
Message-ID: <32800@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 30 Jun 89 01:57:23 GMT
References: <1029@cernvax.UUCP>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA
Lines: 57

In article <1029@cernvax.UUCP>, jmg@cernvax.UUCP (john gerard) writes:
> We need access from a PC to an existing AppleShare file server on EtherTalk.
> I know everything would be lovely if we were using TOPS, but I believe that
> TOPS is not AppleShare-compatible. Is there any suitable software?
> The nice thing would be to leave the PC connected onto Ethernet, possibly
> with a different Ethernet card to the one that it has now. Less nice would
> be to equip it with a LocalTalk card and make a LocalTalk with it and a
> Kinetics box (a bit expensive!).
> 
> Softwarewise, I guess that some file conversion programs would be sometimes
> necessary, though I am told that Excel and Word are OK.
> 
> I do know that we could change the AppleShare server to be Novell, but
> that would be a bit costly also.
> 
> Products available now? or RSN?
> 
> Mike Gerard

AppleShare PC version 2.0 from Apple was announced June 12 with delivery in
the 3rd Quarter.  It allows access to AFP compatible servers (AppleShare,
AlisaShare, PacerShare, Netware with the AFP add-on, etc.), plus
it also allows a DOS application to do transparent printing to LaserWriters
or networked ImageWriters.  The DOS application outputs Epson command
codes they get translated to PostScript or ImageWriter commands.
AppleShare PC also works with applications that output postscript --
It just passes the postscript straight to the LaserWriter.

Version 2.0 supports DOS 4.0 and now works with other network cards besides
our own LocalTalk card.  It currently works on Ethernet, LocalTalk, or
TokenTalk using:
	Apple's LocalTalk PC card (for traditional bus)
	3Com EtherLink II MC card for microchannel
	3Com's EtherLink II (3C503) card for traditional bus
	IBM's TokenRing card (Microchannel & traditional bus)

The interface between the protocol stack and the network driver is 'open'
(it adheres to the Apple/Novell Open Data-Link Interface specification)
so drivers can be written for nearly any card to work with AppleShare PC.

The only file 'conversion' done by the product is DOS-Text to Mac-Text and
back (CR/LF pair to just a CR plus character set conversion where possible)

It does set the file/creator when copying files to a Server so you can double-
click on it from the Mac and launch the right application.

A potential 'fly in the ointment' for your specific case:  AppleShare PC 2.0
is AppleTalk Phase 2 compliant which means you need to convert the rest of
your net to Phase 2, or use the new Apple Internet Router with the Upgrade
Utility to provide the Phase 1/Phase 2 mapping.  The router is reasonably
priced and will run in the background on any mac plus or better.

Hope this helps.

Mike Shoemaker
Apple Computer, Inc.
Network Systems Development