german@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Gregory German) (01/11/91)
I have looked over a couple of articles on Apple's newest entry into
Ethernet networking (Info World 1/7/91, clari.nb.apple) and would like
more information.
From what I read Apple is announcing a networking system that is supposed
to grow into a plug and play ethernet for Macs. The products described
are Ethernet cards for the LC and Nubus slots that have a small non-standard
(not 10baseT, AUI or BNC) connector that would connect to an external
non-standard transceiver. This Apple transceiver is externally powered
and is ordered in the flavor needed to connect to your standard ethernet
connector (10baseT, AUI or BNC).
Does anyone have any additional details? Pricing was mentioned in the
article, but I am interest in technical details.
My gut reaction is that this is not the best move they could have made.
The requirement for an externally powered external transceiver is a
step backwards from 10baseT equipped machines. If I have a department
wired for 10baseT then all I have is a short twisted pair jumper cable
from the phone jack to the RJ-45 on the 10baseT card. What could be
easier? I can crimp a custom jumper cable in 5 minutes. The external
would not be any more trouble than say a phone net connector IF it did
not require an external power source.
I would hope that Apple would rethink their position on this and endorse
a true standard like 10baseT, rather than head off too far down this path.
--
Greg German (german@sonne.CSO.UIUC.EDU) (217-333-8293)
US Mail: Univ of Illinois, CSO, 1304 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801
Office: 129 Digital Computer Lab., Network Design Officesanders@parc.xerox.com (Rex Sanders) (01/15/91)
In article <1991Jan10.220644.4237@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> german@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Gregory German) writes: >From what I read Apple is announcing a networking system that is supposed >to grow into a plug and play ethernet for Macs. The products described >are Ethernet cards for the LC and Nubus slots that have a small non-standard >(not 10baseT, AUI or BNC) connector that would connect to an external >non-standard transceiver. This Apple transceiver is externally powered >and is ordered in the flavor needed to connect to your standard ethernet >connector (10baseT, AUI or BNC). > >Does anyone have any additional details? Pricing was mentioned in the >article, but I am interest in technical details. I cornered "Dr. Network" in the Apple Booth at MacWorld with similar concerns. Here's the scoop: - Apple's new connector is non-standard. The secondary connectors ARE standard i.e. AUI, BNC, and 10baseT. - You don't need external power for BNC or 10baseT connectors. - You don't need external power for AUI if you have a Mac II series machine with "big enough" power supply, like II, IIx, IIcx, IIci, IIfx - the new connector will supply the power. - You need external power for AUI for the under-powered CPUs like LC and IIsi. - Several non-Apple vendors are supplying the secondary connectors. Most strongly resemble LocalTalk/PhoneNet connectors. - Apple's implementation of BNC (thin) Ethernet is self-terminating, so you can daisy-chain Ethernet just like LocalTalk. Reasonable extrapolation: - Many of the trade magazines predict Apple will have on-motherboard Ethernet in future CPUs. Rather than using the Sun approach of thick or thin only, Apple's developed a scheme to let you attach whatever flavor of Ethernet you like. - The trend in Apple CPUs is to provide less and less power to the outside world. The new connector provides enought for BNC and 10baseT, but not enough for the relatively high power consuming AUI Ethernet. Hence, the need for external power. - Like you, I initially thought this new scheme is a kludge. However, thinking ahead to changing Ethernet media (from AUI to 10baseT, for example) which would you rather do: - Replace network boards - Add AUI to 10baseT converters to all the Macs (kludge) - Replace the secondary connector for "real" 10baseT Opinions from: -- Rex Sanders, Macintosh Support Specialist sanders@parc.xerox.com