[comp.protocols.appletalk] Mulit vendor network quest

RGRE@MTUS5.BITNET (01/12/90)

I am looking for some suggestions or insights for a networking project I'm
working on.  Our Publications/Photo Services department would like to have
their various hardware communicate with each other, mostly for file transfers.

The type of equipment involved includes: three Mac SEs, a Zenith PC, two
IBM PS2/70s, two okidata printers, a laser printer, and a Compugraphic
Intergrator which serves as a front-end to a MCS 8400 Typsetter.

Currently, these machines (excluding the Macs) are on-line with a UNISYS
mainframe and communication is acheived through upoloading and downloading
files through the mainframe.

My goal is to network these various machines together directly and eliminate
the requirement of going through the mainframe.  Can anyone give me any
helpful suggestions of what hardware and/or software might work best in this
type of configuration?  Any insight on systems that I should avoid would also
be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.