david@wolfen.cc.uow.oz (David Wilson) (09/22/88)
We have the following network in our department: ===================================================== Ethernet | | | +--------+ +--------+ +--------+ | MacII | | KFPS-3 | |Sequent | +--------+ +--------+ +--------+ | | --------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------------ Localtalk | | | More macs laserwriter The localtalk for the MacII running A/UX is provided by a SuperMac CommCard. This allows A/UX users to spool printouts to the laserwriter. If a mac user on the localtalk network wishes to login to the A/UX system using telnet he goes via the KFPS-3 onto the ethernet and into the Mac II. Question 1: Has anyone implemented a layer of software that would allow the CommCard to appear as though it were an ethernet card so that telnets to this machine would not need to go out onto the ethernet [and presumably let a MacII running A/UX to be networked without an ethernet card]. This software would encapsulate TCP/IP inside Appletalk packets as well as allowing utilities such as ifconfig to be used. Question 2: If such a layer of software were written, would it then be possible for a MAC II with both interfaces to replace the KFPS altogether, performing routing between the Localtalk and ethernet networks? David Wilson Department of Computing Science, University of Wollongong david@uowcsa.cs.uow.oz.au
paul@unisoft.UUCP (n) (09/25/88)
In article <5298@wolfen.cc.uow.oz> david@wolfen.cc.uow.oz (David Wilson) writes: > >The localtalk for the MacII running A/UX is provided by a SuperMac >CommCard. This allows A/UX users to spool printouts to the laserwriter. >If a mac user on the localtalk network wishes to login to the A/UX >system using telnet he goes via the KFPS-3 onto the ethernet and into >the Mac II. I designed the CommCard and did all the software ..... >Question 1: Has anyone implemented a layer of software that would > allow the CommCard to appear as though it were an ethernet > card so that telnets to this machine would not need to > go out onto the ethernet [and presumably let a MacII > running A/UX to be networked without an ethernet card]. > This software would encapsulate TCP/IP inside Appletalk > packets as well as allowing utilities such as ifconfig to > be used. Yes ... this all works now, 'in the lab', it needs to be 'productised' the main piece of work required to be done is to make a 'nice' system installation script that is straight forward for even naive users, this is VERY difficult, they have to have their hands held through IP addresses (and their translations to Appletalk addresses) etc (probably the nicest thing about Appletalk is that users don't have to do anything like this ... so this is what they expect) One nice thing you get from this is the ability to log into A/UX over Appletalk using NCSA Telnet using only LocalTalk cabling .... this seems to be what most people want ... >Question 2: If such a layer of software were written, would it then be > possible for a MAC II with both interfaces to replace the > KFPS altogether, performing routing between the Localtalk > and ethernet networks? Yes - this also works, it's not a cost effective replacement for a K-box (who wants to buy a Mac II, A/UX and a CommCard, a K-box or gatorbox is much cheaper and just sits in the corner out of the way). I've also done an EtherTalk interface for the CommCard system (using the Apple Ethernet board, so you can do gateways but I'm waiting for that interface to settle down). Paul Campbell -- Paul Campbell, UniSoft Corp. 6121 Hollis, Emeryville, Ca E-mail: ..!{ucbvax,hoptoad}!unisoft!paul Nothing here represents the opinions of UniSoft or its employees (except me) "Nuclear war doesn't prove who's Right, just who's Left" (ABC news 10/13/87)