gmclean@watdcsu.waterloo.edu (Ged McLean - Systems Design) (06/07/89)
I am about to move to the West Coast of Canada, my wife is a freelance writer and is planning to maintain her contracts with at least one local firm. WE are trying to figure out how to hook up a link from our IBM-PC system to their top of the line MAC network. I know nothing about MAC's, so I would like to solicit advice as to how I can obtain the necessary software and install the capability to transfer files between our two sites. What follows is a description of the problem, I would appreciate any suggestions for software, packet switching networks and testing procedures. 1. THE DATA: Ceal writes copy, using our IBM-PC. Presently we need only to transfer ACSII files from one site to the other. In the future, if things go well, we will buy a MAC system and look to transfer graphics, galley proofs and eventually images over this link. 2. THE IBM-PC site: We have a plain IBM XT compatible with all the necessary connections for running a 1200 baud modem. I currently use this for remote access to the university computers. 3. THE MAC site: The company has a _big_ network of MAC stuff. We're talking about 4 MAC II systems, all hooked up to a big disk, with a MAC SE acting as a file server. These are connected via ethernet. Then, there is an APPLESHARE network coming off the SE, which runs the laserprinter and the Modem, among other things. The modem is pretty impressive, with a rate of 19.2 kbaud. 4. REQUIRED OPERATION: We forsee the following operating scenario - The company will have some information for Ceal, and so will dump it all into a file with a pre-specified name. We will then connect from victoria, fetch their file and send our file of finished work. Presto, we should be done. So, what I need to know is: 1. What kind of software can we get to sit on this APPLESHARE network to handle incoming call automatically, while still allowing this company to operate as normal. 2. What kind of software do I need for the PC, or can I just use PC-TALK or KERMIT? 3. What's the cheapest way to hook up from one side of the country to another? Thanks in advance for input, thanks also fro reading this long winded posting. Ged McLean gmclean@watdcsu.waterloo.edu ged@image@waterloo.edu