Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.comm
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!umich!terminator!usenet
From: rjc@css.itd.umich.edu (Robert John Churchill)
Subject: UPDATE: Mac as an X terminal over a serial line
Message-ID: <1991Apr24.060749.29487@terminator.cc.umich.edu>
Keywords: SLFP MacTCP MacX
Sender: usenet@terminator.cc.umich.edu (usenet news)
Organization: Univ. of Michigan ITD Consulting & Support Services
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 91 06:07:49 GMT

Mark S. Johnson writes:
  
>Most of the mail I received was "tell-me-what-you-find-out" in nature;
>instead of individual responses, I'm just posting to the net.
>
>The bottom line (based on several informative replies) is that the Mac
>CANNOT (yet) be used as an X terminal over a serial line under the
>MacOS.  One CAN use SLIP and MacX under A/UX, however.
 
Actually, it is possible.  I'm using a SLFP developed here at the
University of Michigan (its buggy, though, and I can't redistribute
it, sorry) with MacTCP and MacX to dial in to my office's Unix machines
over my 9600 modem.  Works fine, usually, unless the SLFP hits one of
its bugs (such as buffer overflow, I believe).  Quite SLOW though.
Running an X-Windows application using Motif widgets usually takes over
5 seconds to recognize a mouse click, for example. Works with System 6.0.5
and System 7.0fc2.
  
It would be great if Apple would develop a good SLFP driver, I agree.
  

--
  Robert_John_Churchill@um.cc.umich.edu