[comp.sys.next] NeXT & Macintosh

alandail@applelink.apple.com (09/26/90)

I'm possibly interested in obtaining a NeXT to compliment my Macintosh. 
I don't want to have to duplicate every single piece of hardware though.
Is it possible to do any of the following:
connect a LaserWriter II SC to a NeXT
print on a NeXT from a Macintosh
connect an Apple CD-ROM Drive do a NeXT
use a NeXT as a file server for a Macintosh
access an AppleShare filesever from a NeXT

I'm willing to put an ethernet board in my mac to help with this, but I do
not want to have to buy 2 printers (i would sell the laserwriter for a NeXT
printer if that would help), 2 CD drives, 2 big hard disks, 2 backup systems,
etc.  I would like to be able to treat all of the peripherial as if they
were connected to both machines.


thanks,

Alan Dail--
Alan Dail
NASA/Langley Research Center
ALANDAIL@applelink.apple.com

rca@cs.brown.edu (Ronald C.F. Antony) (09/29/90)

In article <1990Sep26.131604.4013@abcfd20.larc.nasa.gov>, alandail@applelink.apple.com writes:
|> Is it possible to do any of the following:
|> connect a LaserWriter II SC to a NeXT
yes
|> print on a NeXT from a Macintosh
should ne possible with networking software
|> connect an Apple CD-ROM Drive do a NeXT
if the mac is able to support NFS and can access the CD-ROM using NFS
|> use a NeXT as a file server for a Macintosh
yes, has been done here at Brown (in the language dept.) but I'm not sure what
software they used. Probably NFS.
|> access an AppleShare filesever from a NeXT
should work if there is NFS for the Mac
|> I'm willing to put an ethernet board in my mac to help with this
you probably have to do this.

-- Ronald
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists
in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the
unreasonable man."  Bernhard Shaw | rca@cs.brown.edu or antony@browncog.bitnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

eps@toaster.SFSU.EDU (Eric P. Scott) (10/01/90)

In article <51568@brunix.UUCP> rca@cs.brown.edu (Ronald C.F. Antony) writes:
>In article <1990Sep26.131604.4013@abcfd20.larc.nasa.gov>,
>	alandail@applelink.apple.com writes:
>|> Is it possible to do any of the following:
>|> connect a LaserWriter II SC to a NeXT
>yes

Is it useful?  The SC is a NON-PostScript printer (unlike the NT
and NTX).

					-=EPS=-

simon@cs.ualberta.ca (Simon Tortike) (10/05/90)

eps@toaster.SFSU.EDU (Eric P. Scott) writes:

>In article <51568@brunix.UUCP> rca@cs.brown.edu (Ronald C.F. Antony) writes:
>>In article <1990Sep26.131604.4013@abcfd20.larc.nasa.gov>,
>>	alandail@applelink.apple.com writes:
>>|> Is it possible to do any of the following:
>>|> connect a LaserWriter II SC to a NeXT
>>yes

Along the same lines, can I connect a LaserWriter II NT to a NeXTstation?  If
so, must I use the RS232 connection---and then is it easy to get the right
cable?  Or would it be better to buy router software for the Mac, hook up
the LaserWriter on AppleTalk, and access the printer via the ethernet from
the NeXT (the Mac having an ethernet card)?

Thanks,
--
W. Simon Tortike,                     | tel    : 403/492-3338
Dept of Mining, Metallurgical         | fax    : 403/492-7219
      and Petroleum Engineering,      | CA*net : simon@cs.UAlberta.CA
University of Alberta,                | uucp   : simon@alberta.uucp
Edmonton, AB, CANADA T6G 2G6.         | CA*net : simon@mmpe.mineral.UAlberta.CA

rca@cs.brown.edu (Ronald C.F. Antony) (10/06/90)

In article <51568@brunix.UUCP> rca@cs.brown.edu (Ronald C.F. Antony) writes:
>In article <1990Sep26.131604.4013@abcfd20.larc.nasa.gov>, alandail@applelink.apple.com writes:
>|> Is it possible to do any of the following:
>|> connect a LaserWriter II SC to a NeXT
>yes

sorry, this was wron, except you want to write a driver of your own...
I overlooked the SC after the LaserWriterII. You might want to upgrade
to an NT.

Ronald
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists
in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the
unreasonable man."  Bernhard Shaw | rca@cs.brown.edu or antony@browncog.bitnet

rca@cs.brown.edu (Ronald C.F. Antony) (10/12/90)

In article <simon.655144046@mmpe> simon@cs.ualberta.ca (Simon Tortike) writes:
>eps@toaster.SFSU.EDU (Eric P. Scott) writes:
>
>>In article <51568@brunix.UUCP> rca@cs.brown.edu (Ronald C.F. Antony) writes:
>>>In article <1990Sep26.131604.4013@abcfd20.larc.nasa.gov>,
>>>	alandail@applelink.apple.com writes:
>>>|> Is it possible to do any of the following:
>>>|> connect a LaserWriter II SC to a NeXT
>>>yes
>
>Along the same lines, can I connect a LaserWriter II NT to a NeXTstation?  If
>so, must I use the RS232 connection---and then is it easy to get the right
>cable?  Or would it be better to buy router software for the Mac, hook up
>the LaserWriter on AppleTalk, and access the printer via the ethernet from
>the NeXT (the Mac having an ethernet card)?

Two things:
First I was wrong stating that the LaserWriter II SC can be connected
to a NeXT. I overlooked the SC and thus thought that it was a
PostScript printer. This is not the case and it would take quite some
hacking to use the SC with a NeXT.

Second, the NT CAN be connected to the NeXT. But if you have the
option to go with the ethernet, you probably want to do this. I don't
know the exact datatransfer rates of apple-talk, but they probably
higher than the 19200 baud you get from the serial connection. So data
transfers should be faster over the ethernet than over the serial
line. This is especially important when you print files with bitmaps
in them. The disadvantage is, that the more hard- and software is in
volved in a certain setup, the easier it is to get into trouble...

Ronald
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists
in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the
unreasonable man."  Bernhard Shaw | rca@cs.brown.edu or antony@browncog.bitnet