MAC NETWORKING

USING APPLETALK

Alex PATERSON

http://www.vision.net.au/~apaterson/computer/mac_networking.htm

Updated 16 November 2002

MASTER INDEX of articles written, posted online or recommended by Alex Paterson

INDEX OF COMPUTER ARTICLES written, posted online or recommended by Alex Paterson

NETWORKING MACS USING APPLETALK

Computer networking simple means connecting two or more computers together in order to transfer or share files between computers. This article provides a step by step set of instructions on how to network two Macs together using Appletalk.

For the purpose of an example, the following article describes the process to 'mount' (i.e. make visible on the desktop) a Powerbook 1400's icon onto the 'desktop' of a Mac 8500 in order to exchange files between the two computers.

NOTE 1: There is no reason why the process could not be reversed - i.e. mount the Mac 8500 onto the desktop of the Powerbook 1400 or to have both computers mounted on each other's desktop.
NOTE 2: The procedure spelt out below specifically applies to older style Macs that use a serial port and printer cable to connect the computers together. i.e. the 'classic' Appletalk setup.
NOTE 3: The following instructions also apply to iMacs or G3/G4 Macs using ethernet ports, however one must first connect the Macs together using a single cross-over cable and then select "Connect via Ethernet" in the 'AppleTalk' control panel prior to carrying out the rest of the instructions listed below.

Alex Paterson (March 2001)

PROCEDURE

1. Shutdown both computers.

2a. For Serial Port use a standard Mac printer cable to connect the Macs together via each computers' printer port.

2b. For Ethernet, use a single cross-over ethernet cable to connect the Macs together via each computer's ethernet port and then after startup select "Connect via Ethernet" in the 'AppleTalk' control panel.

3. Startup both computers.

4. On both computers, launch 'Chooser' (located in the 'Apple Menu') and in each respective window select 'AppleTalk' to 'Active'.

5. On both computers, close the 'Chooser' window.

6. On the PB1400 select 'Control Panels' from the Apple Menu.

7. In the PB1400 'Control Panels' window select the 'Sharing Setup' Control Panel.

NOTE: 'Sharing Setup' is called 'File Sharing' in SYSTEM 8.x and later

8. In the PB1400 'Sharing Setup' window fill in the 'Network Identity' fields with appropriate information.

e.g. Owner name: Owner of the Powerbook 1400. e.g. 'Joe Bloggs'.
e.g. Owner Password - suggest you leave this field blank.
e.g. Macintosh Name - use the same name as assigned to the Powerbook 1400 Hard Disk. eg 'PB1400'.
Click ONCE on the 'File Sharing' START button to start file sharing.
DO NOT start 'Program Linking' as this is not necessary for file sharing and can cause problems.
Close the 'Sharing Setup' window.
Close 'Control Panels' window.

9. On the Mac 8500 launch 'Chooser' from the Apple Menu

In the Chooser Window click ONCE on the 'Appleshare' icon. (located in top left hand corner)
The name of the Powerbook 1400 hard disk will appear in the top right-hand corner of the Chooser window e.g. 'PB1400'
Double click on 'PB1400'

ATTENTION: The following is not intuitive and as such can be confusing.

10. On the Mac 8500 you will be presented with a new window saying:

"Connect to file server "PB1400" as

Registered User
Name: The computer defaults to the 'owner' of the Mac 8500, not the PowerBook 1400.
Change this name to the owner of PowerBook 1400 e.g. 'Joe Bloggs'
Click OK

11. You will be presented with a new window called 'PB1400'

NOTE: This window appears because the PB1400 hard disk may comprise of more than one partition (volume).

Select the items (volumes) on the PB1400 you wish to access.
Click OK

12. The PB1400 Appleshare Icon (or icons) should now appear on the MAC 8500 desktop. Treat it/them as just another volume or hard disk.

NOTE 1: Files can be copied backwards and forwards between computers using the MAC 8500.
NOTE 2: Appleshare file transfer is relatively slow, only about 200k/min - 300k/min maximum which is not that much faster than the internet.

13. To DISCONNECT the network, select Appletalk to 'Inactive' in the Chooser of both computers and then disconnect the printer cable from both computers.

NOTE: File transfer between computers can be carried out at a much faster rate (10 - 100 times faster) using either:

Ethernet (if both computers are fitted with Ethernet Cards) or
a SCSI cable between computers, with one of the computers assigned SCSI Disc mode in order to mount it on the desktop of the other computer.
See: 'Networking Macs using SCSI' by Alex Paterson (article incomplete)

_____________________________

'NETWORKING MACS USING SCSI' by Alex Paterson (article incomplete)

ABOUT Alex PATERSON

Alex PATERSON is a former airline pilot, now living in Queensland, Australia. He writes articles and advises on issues pertaining to aviation, politics, sociology, the environment, sustainable farming, history, computers, natural health therapies, esoteric teachings and spirituality.

He can be contacted at:

email: apaterson@vision.net.au

Photograph of Alex Paterson

COPYRIGHT DETAILS

The document, 'Mac Networking' is the copyright © of the author, Alex Paterson. All rights reserved by the author. Not withstanding this, the document may be reproduced and disseminated without the express permission of the author so long as reference to the author is made, no alterations are made to the document and no money is charged for it.