Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!uwvax!dogie!uwmcsd1!ig!jade!violet.berkeley.edu!edmoy
From: edmoy@violet.berkeley.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: TOPS info, please
Message-ID: <6543@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: 12 Jan 88 18:27:59 GMT
References: <53@qucis.UUCP> <351@uvicctr.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@jade.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: edmoy@violet.berkeley.edu ()
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Lines: 35

In article <351@uvicctr.UUCP> klash@uvicctr.UUCP (Karl B. Klashinsky) writes:
>Now, for my question:  Any TOPS users out there that can tell me how
>the Sun to Mac connection is done?  It seems to me that there must be some
>kind of AppleTalk/EtherNet gateway.  Or does the Mac plug into the Ether?
>Or does the Sun plug into AppleTalk?  If it requires a box, how much?  etc,
>etc. -- Any info appreciated.

We had TOPS running on a UNIX box (a MicroVax II in our case) a month or so
ago.  We have an evaluation copy of a product from Mt. Xinu, called Xinet,
that implements AppleTalk protocol over an EtherNet connection.  Then we
have a Kinetics FastPath (EtherNet to LocalTalk/PhoneNet gateway) to bridge
the two networks.  For the most part, everything works as one would expect.
Files on the UNIX box appear as regular icons in Finder windows.

We are currently testing the CAPS/AUFS/KIP software from Columbia and Stanford.
It uses the same hardware configuration, but uses AppleShare rather than TOPS
protocol.  It has some advantages like the ability to access regular UNIX
files (Xinet currently only lets you access Mac-compatible files).  Also,
the printer support is fairly extensive, allowing the Macs to print on UNIX
laser printers, and UNIX users to print to LaserWriters on the LocalTalk
network.  You can even set it up to have a print spooler on UNIX for a Mac
to LocalTalk-connected LaserWriter.  Best of all, its free (get it anonymous
ftp from sumex.stanford.edu).

When people all get back from vacation, we will be doing a more extensive
evaluation of the two system.  When I get a chance, I will post the results
on this net.

Edward Moy
Workstation Software Support
University of California
Berkeley, CA  94720

edmoy@violet.Berkeley.EDU
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