[comp.sys.amiga.misc] Amiga networking

DET1@BNANDP51.BITNET (06/20/91)

        Sorry, I'm not able to reproduce the past messages on the subject with
this environnement. But there was a discution about the ability of a single
company to write the whole soft and hard network solution that everybody needs.

        I read in the last Amiga Revue (French magazine) that progressive
peripherals & software (PP&S), designed a network compatible with AppleTalk
and having twice his speed in an amiga-only environment. I didn't try this
network, but I'm writing here just to say that it exists (and if it is as
powerfull as what I read, this is the best micro solution for local area
networks).

        Jean-Francois Stenuit
        The Lazy Coder

gblock@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Gregory R Block) (06/21/91)

From article <7AEEC22960400D79@BNANDP51>, by DET1@BNANDP51.BITNET:
>         I read in the last Amiga Revue (French magazine) that progressive
> peripherals & software (PP&S), designed a network compatible with AppleTalk
> and having twice his speed in an amiga-only environment. I didn't try this
> network, but I'm writing here just to say that it exists (and if it is as
> powerfull as what I read, this is the best micro solution for local area
> networks).

The card you refer to is the "DoubleTalk" card.  Here's some info:

The DoubleTalk Network System provides two types of network
solutions;Link Amigas with AppleTalk(TM) compatible computers, or use
the exclusive DoubleTalk(TM) protocol for high-speed, Amiga-only network.

	-  Up to 32 Amigas(TM) may be networked, or an unlimited
	   number of Macintoshes(TM).

	-  Provides Bridge support capability.

	-  No dedicated server system is required.

	-  Multi-Tasking design.

	-  Comes with Network Manager, the state-of-the-art in network
	   management software.

	-  Add or change passwords at two security levels.

	-  Can share large RAM disks and special peripherals.

	-  Supports network-distributive software, such as 3-D 
	   Professional, to take advantage of the processing power of
	   several networked Amigas(TM).

The DoubleTalk network system comes complete with a plug-in network
card, extra serial port, PhoneNet connector, NetWork Manager software,
utilities, and manual.  Available for Amiga 500, 2000, and 3000.

Includes the NetMail system, for sending and reading network mail.

Amiga is a trademark of Commodore Electronics Ltd.  Apple, Apple
Macintosh, and AppleTalk are trademarks of Apple Computers, Inc.

(Posted directly from their ad, April '91 AmigaWorld, page 35, top half)


There.  :)

One thing I didn't notice.  A while ago, someone in CSAA said that
there was no network-distributive software available for the amiga.
Well, I guess 3d-Professional is.  Must be nice to link 9 Amiga
3000's, and do a raytrace...  :)

Greg

-- 
Socrates:  "I drank WHAT????"
LMFAP:  "Next time you see me, it won't be me."
Wubba:  "A dream is nothing more than a wish dipped in chocolate and sprinkled
with a little imagination." (From my poem, "A Dream")			-Wubba

billc@cryo.rain.com (William J. Coldwell) (06/22/91)

In article <13260@uwm.edu> gblock@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Gregory R Block) writes:
>From article <7AEEC22960400D79@BNANDP51>, by DET1@BNANDP51.BITNET:
[Quesition about DoubleTalk deleted]
>The card you refer to is the "DoubleTalk" card.  Here's some info:
[PP&S ad deleted]
>	-  Supports network-distributive software, such as 3-D 
>	   Professional, to take advantage of the processing power of
>	   several networked Amigas(TM).
[most stuff deleted]
>There.  :)
>
>One thing I didn't notice.  A while ago, someone in CSAA said that
>there was no network-distributive software available for the amiga.
>Well, I guess 3d-Professional is.  Must be nice to link 9 Amiga
>3000's, and do a raytrace...  :)

We haven't link 9 together, but we have linked 4 with 040 equipped 3000s.
Take a look at some of the renderings that will be on display at AmiExpo
in DisneyWorld next month ;-).  It is possible for us to hook 32 together
since AppleTalk Rev1 supports up to 32 nodes per zone.  If we use a bridge,
it could be more, but since the Ray Tracer sends scan lines, it would only
be useful up to 32000 nodes (since that's the limit of 3dpro2 and the RT
module) ;-).

>Greg
>with a little imagination." (From my poem, "A Dream")			-Wubba

--
William J. Coldwell      Internet: billc@cryo.rain.com     I ZROCK!
Amiga Attitude Adjuster  UUCP: tektronix!percy!cryo!billc  3-D Pro 2.0!
Cryogenic Software       BBX: CRYO @ 503/257-4823 [ORPOR]  CSA 40/4 Magnum!
   This message was brought to you by the Number '3' and the Letter 'D'.

gblock@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Gregory R Block) (06/22/91)

From article <billc.3658@cryo.rain.com>, by billc@cryo.rain.com (William J. Coldwell):
> We haven't link 9 together, but we have linked 4 with 040 equipped 3000s.
> Take a look at some of the renderings that will be on display at AmiExpo
> in DisneyWorld next month ;-).  It is possible for us to hook 32 together
> since AppleTalk Rev1 supports up to 32 nodes per zone.  If we use a bridge,
> it could be more, but since the Ray Tracer sends scan lines, it would only
> be useful up to 32000 nodes (since that's the limit of 3dpro2 and the RT
> module) ;-).

Holy christ.  Uhh, if you don't mind me asking, how fast was a
raytrace on 1 040 amiga, and then how fast on the 4 040 amigas?  Do
you think it would be possible to get near-realtime raytraces???
(Just a passing VR thought...)

Greg

-- 
Socrates:  "I drank WHAT????"
LMFAP:  "Next time you see me, it won't be me."
Wubba:  "A dream is nothing more than a wish dipped in chocolate and sprinkled
with a little imagination." (From my poem, "A Dream")			-Wubba

billc@cryo.rain.com (William J. Coldwell) (06/23/91)

In article <13306@uwm.edu> gblock@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Gregory R Block) writes:
>From article <billc.3658@cryo.rain.com>, by billc@cryo.rain.com (William J. Coldwell):
>> We haven't link 9 together, but we have linked 4 with 040 equipped 3000s.
>> Take a look at some of the renderings that will be on display at AmiExpo
>> in DisneyWorld next month ;-).  It is possible for us to hook 32 together
>> since AppleTalk Rev1 supports up to 32 nodes per zone.  If we use a bridge,
>> it could be more, but since the Ray Tracer sends scan lines, it would only
>> be useful up to 32000 nodes (since that's the limit of 3dpro2 and the RT
>> module) ;-).
>
>Holy christ.  Uhh, if you don't mind me asking, how fast was a
>raytrace on 1 040 amiga, and then how fast on the 4 040 amigas?  Do
>you think it would be possible to get near-realtime raytraces???
>(Just a passing VR thought...)

As a _very_ rough explanation, a ray trace that took 30 minutes on a stock
3000 took about 12 minutes 040/3000.  With 4, the time was about 4 minutes,
since there is overhead with packets and packet collision.  This is with
AppleTalk, and nothing has been tried on a higher network since I havent'
finished porting the network interface to SANA.  As for RT-RT (;-)), I don't
believe we will see that with a single 040 machine in anyway, unless there
is some severe lack on shadowing, shading, reflections, etc.  Since the
machine is now becoming fast enough, we are working on a radiosity renderer
module for 3dpro2.

>Greg
>with a little imagination." (From my poem, "A Dream")			-Wubba

email: 3dpro@cryo.rain.com to get CryoNews automatically e-mailed to you
when it's ready.
--
William J. Coldwell      Internet: billc@cryo.rain.com     I ZROCK!
Amiga Attitude Adjuster  UUCP: tektronix!percy!cryo!billc  3-D Pro 2.0!
Cryogenic Software       BBX: CRYO @ 503/257-4823 [ORPOR]  CSA 40/4 Magnum!
   This message was brought to you by the Number '3' and the Letter 'D'.