jeff@drexel.UUCP (Jeff White) (12/13/88)
We just recently got hold of the Apple Responder and NodeCheck applications (to monitor the usage of a Localtalk network), and would like our lab's Mac's (a Plus and a Mac II) to be the central monitoring facility (it also houses the department's Vax). Here's the setups: Net A has 6 Pluses, an IW II and LW+, all connected using Apple Localtalk connectors. Net B, which our Plus is currently part of, is 5 or so Pluses, using Localtalk connectors (our Plus is the end of the line). Net C is a lab of 15 Mac II's, using Compunet (Phonenet) connectors. What I'd like to do is bring the end of each net to our lab, connected up to a 6 or 8 jack RJ11 patch panel, each net extended using 4 conductor phone cable. Three of the jacks would be end of the lines for Net's A, B, and C, while 2 other would be an In and Out for our local lab's net. This would allow our Mac's to be patched into any other net, as well as being in series when connecting 2 other nets. Now, my questions: 1. Can Phonenet cable be sucessfully mixed with Localtalk cables? 2. What is the wiring from Localtalk to Phonenet. Phonenet is 2 conductor, Localtalk is 2 plus a shield. I assume when wiring the two, you just ignore the shield? 3. Combining 1+2, can Phonenet (2 cond) cable be used to connect two Localtalk (3 cond.) type networks? 4. With the Apple Localtalk connectors, the terminating resistor is built into the transceiver, and is automatically disconnected when a cable is plugged in the jack. Since my 'patch panel' will now be the end of the line, I will have to supply the termination? With the Phonenet connectors, a 120 ohm terminating resistor (mounted in a RJ11 plug) is supplied. Can I use this value to terminate the Localtalk nets (if not, what is the proper impedance)? 4. What are the signs that you may be having problems with the net (some stations not appearing to others, for example)? The NodeCheck program I think will probably be the best tool for observation. On a related note, I have installed the Responder driver on most of the connected systems, and I haven't had any problems with it. However, some of the systems still use the MiniFinder, and the program doesn't install (nodename and machine type come up as unknown). Is there any way to get these types of INITS (probably the same with Pyro and Vaccine, for example) to install themselves before the MiniFinder starts up? Thanks for any help people can provide. Jeff White Drexel University - ECE Dept. rutgers!bpa!drexel!jeff