akenning@pico.oz (Alan Kennington) (12/12/89)
In article <32333@auc.UUCP> dag@auc.UUCP (Daniel Gibson ) writes: >Help!!!!!! >I am looking for any information on building a communication network >using MIDI. If you know of any work being done in that area let me know. [...] >Dan Gibson [...] Back in 1985-1986 when I was in Kentucky, I remember there was an awful lot of talk about using the MIDI port of the Atari ST for a LAN. I haven't read the newsgroup for a while, because it has too many items per day, but I reckon that if it can be done, then they should have worked it all out by now. 4 years should have been enough. A l a n Kennington.
steve@thelake.UUCP (Steve Yelvington) (12/14/89)
In article <448@pico.oz>, akenning@pico.oz (Alan Kennington) writes ... >In article <32333@auc.UUCP> dag@auc.UUCP (Daniel Gibson ) writes: >>Help!!!!!! >>I am looking for any information on building a communication network >>using MIDI. If you know of any work being done in that area let me know. >[...] >>Dan Gibson >[...] > >Back in 1985-1986 when I was in Kentucky, I remember there was an awful lot >of talk about using the MIDI port of the Atari ST for a LAN. I haven't >read the newsgroup for a while, because it has too many items per day, but >I reckon that if it can be done, then they should have worked it all out >by now. 4 years should have been enough. Every MIDI-LAN announcement that I saw back in those days turned to vapor, but recently I saw an inexpensive LAN called SGS Net. One of the local dealers has it in stock, and says it works. I have not tried it. Here's a description, from memory (which may be faulty): A server with a hard drive runs a program that monitors the MIDI line for data requests. The server program runs in the background and the Atari ST can be used more or less normally. Each ST node runs a program that installs a virtual drive; all i/o requests to that drive are redirected to the network. File locking is supported. The documentation includes some C source examples that may be useful in writing your own networking applications, such as e-mail. The physical connections require a MIDI cable that connects to a small box. The box then plugs into a shielded coaxial cable that forms the network's backbone. I don't know whether they have to be hooked up in a ring, a string, or what. As I recall, it theoretically will allow you to interconnect 32 computers, but you should kep in mind that the MIDI port is not very fast by LAN standards. The E. Arthur Brown Co., a mail-order firm in Alexandria, Minnesota, that has a good reputation, lists the SGS Server/Node startup package at $149.95 (U.S.). That package supports two machines, and includes software and hardware. (You may have to supply your own coax; I don't remember.) Each additional node is $99.95. E. Arthur Brown can be telephoned at (612) 762-8847. I have no connection with the above firms. -- Steve Yelvington at the (frozen enough to skate!) lake in Minnesota UUCP: ... pwcs.StPaul.GOV!stag!thelake!steve
kent@sun.ufnet.ufl.edu (Kent Phelps) (12/15/89)
I am told that the December issue of Keyboard magazine has an article covering
MIDI and LANS. I haven't seen it so I am not sure what it covers.
--
Kent Phelps | Internet: kent@sun.ufnet.ufl.edu
University of Florida | UUCP: ... ????
Digital Design Facility| Phone: 904-335-8322