steve@dcdwest.dcdwest.com (Steve Meloche) (11/25/90)
Over the course of the Amiga's history, a number of interesting programs have been developed in the public arena for inexpensively networking amigas together. The ones I am aware of use DNET as a basis. First there was a NET: thingy for the serial port (with which I have had only limited success), then it was modified to work over the parallel port. The big problem for me, with my A1000, is that I already have three things competing for the parallel port and one or two for the serial port. What I would like to know is: can the parallel or serial versions of these networks be modified to use the floppy drive port with a special cable? Something like the following: Amiga #1 Amiga #2 .______________. Ext. Floppy Ext. Floppy .____________. | ._______. | ._________. Special cable ._________. | | | | Hard | +---+ _____ +-----------------+ _____ +--+ | | | Disk | | |_________| |_________| | | | |_______| | |_____.______| |______________+--- Peripherals (serial or Parallel) | more peripherals The floppy port is something that everybody has (I think) and even if an external floppy is installed it has a pass-through connector, which is not true of my modem, printer, digi-view, etc. This would work the same way as the other versions of the NET: device - each Amiga would have access to the devices on the other machine (even floppies?? - hmmmm... that might be a problem!) I guess the fundamental question is a hardware one. I have no idea what is on the floppy port, or even if there is any way for software on the computer to get the needed access to this port, but I would think it would be possible. In my mind this means of connection would be much more useful to most Amiga owners than the serial or parallel port configurations, which steal our precious ports away. I just can't afford to use them for this reason. So anyway, net gurus - is it possible? Would it be as fast as the other ports? Anxiously awaiting replies... (should they be in c.s.a.tech or c.s.a.hardware?) Steven Meloche _____ _____ _____ | ` | ' ` | ' ITT Aerospace/Communications Division | | | San Diego, CA __|__ | | dcdwest!network.ucsd.edu!ucsd!... (last I checked) (p.s.: over the years I have seen several people on c.s.a sell their Dpaint II for $20 or $25 (usually after buying Dpaint III) but I am never quick enough to get it. If anybody else is feeling like doing such a thing, let me know by e-mail. thanx! Hey, it's worth a try, right? :-) )