SHEPHERD@UVPHYS.BITNET (08/18/88)
I would like to share a LaserWriter between our Apollo token ring
and a single Macintosh (plus or SE).
Anybody have ideas on the best (cheapest,easiest) way to do this?
Much appreciated
Michael Shepherd (shepherd@uvphys.bitnet)krowitz@RICHTER.MIT.EDU (David Krowitz) (08/18/88)
Well, the cheapest method is to run an SIO line from the Apollo to the Laserwriter
and simply switch back and forth between the two machines. When you want to use
the Mac, you disconnect the Apollo SIO line, set the Laserwriter to the Appletalk
("LocalTalk") setting, and toggle the power to re-initialize the printer. When you
want to use the Apollo, you connect the SIO line, disconnect the Appletalk line,
set the printer to the 9600 baud setting, toggle the power, and wait until the
test page has been printed before starting /com/prsvr (this last point is critical).
This can be a real pain if you are frequently using both machines.
If you can spare the money, IPT sells an AppleTalk interface board for the DN3000/4000
with software that allows the Macs on the Appletalk network to send their printer
output into the print queue on the Apollo network. The Apollo print server then
sends the files (including any that originated on the Apollo network) to the printer
via the AppleTalk interface. This can really speed up the printing of bitmaps from
the Apollos, since the AppleTalk network runs at something like 240,000 baud while
the RS232 (SIO) interface is limited to 9,600 baud. The IPT package sells for on
the order of $1500. Your Apollo sales person should have the info on it.
You should be aware that the older Laserwriters (the ones with Postscript version 24,
or maybe it was 23) are not completely compatible with /com/prsvr. Bitmaps frequently
have white streaks in them when they are printed. Newer Laserwriters with version 36
and later do not have this problem (ie. most Laserwriter Plus and all Laserwriter II
printers should be OK). You can check the Postscript version of your machine by
connecting an SIO line, going into EMT in raw mode, and typing a command which I
can't remember right now. The Apollo software support office told me what is was.
Presumably, they have it written down somewhere.
-- David Krowitz
krowitz@richter.mit.edu (18.83.0.109)
krowitz%richter@eddie.mit.edu
krowitz%richter@athena.mit.edu
krowitz%richter.mit.edu@mitvma.bitnet
(in order of decreasing preference)