Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!batcomputer!caen!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!olivea!uunet!shl!phil
From: phil@shl.com (Phil Trubey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.comm
Subject: Re: Options on Speeding up LocalTalk, or...
Message-ID: <1991Jun28.005926.22073@shl.com>
Date: 28 Jun 91 00:59:26 GMT
References: <43675@cup.portal.com>
Distribution: usa
Organization: SHL Systemhouse Inc.
Lines: 43

In article <43675@cup.portal.com> rak@cup.portal.com (Robert Allen Kim) writes:
>What can I do to speed up a network of three Mac II (II, IIcx, II LC) 
>computers, LaserWriter IINT and an AppleTalk Imagewriter?
>
>They are all LocalTalk now.

What's slow?  Are you just using the LocalTalk for printing, or do you have
file sharing across the network as well?  If all you are doing is printing, 
then it probably isn't LocalTalk that is slowing you down - it could be
the speed of the NT.

>Sitka's (Formerly named Tops) FlashBox is supposed to get "80% of EtherNet
>speed", but I've heard that there have been conflicts (crashes).

Don't know.

>10BaseT will allow the continued use of the dedicated telephone wires in
>place.  But what are the drawbacks to 10baseT?  Does it need to be slowed
>back down to talk to the LaserWriter and Imagewriter?  What hardware is neede
>and at what cost?  What software?  Systetm 7.0 compatible?  UGH!

You can't slow down 10BaseT Ethernet.  The printers do need to stay on 
LocalTalk, however.  If you went with 10BaseT you would 
have to do the following:

- purchase 3 ethernet cards for the macs.
- purchase a 10BaseT concentrator
- do one of:
   a) buy a LocalTalk to Ethernet gateway (Shiva EtherPrint, Cayman Gatorbox,
         Shiva Fastpath, etc.).
   b) Buy a software router and have one of the Macs act as a LocalTalk
         to Ethernet gateway (these programs can run in the background
         under Multifinder while you're doing other things).  Apple sells
         a package called the Internet Router that does this, and other
         companies offer similar packages.

Hope this helps.

Phil Trubey                     |  Internet: phil@shl.com  
SHL Systemhouse Inc.            |        or: phil%shl.com@uunet.uu.net
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