Getting LocalTalk(Ethertalk) to work in OS 9

[bunnspecial]

With as long as I've been playing with Macs, I'm actually a bit ashamed to have to ask this, but I'll swallow my pride and ask it anyway.

I recently picked up a Wallstreet(292mhz). The HDD was blank when I got it, so I initialized and installed the retail 9.2.1 disk(I haven't updated it to 9.2.2 yet, although I don't think that should matter for my current problem). 

I like having my computers at least be internet capable if possible, so one of the first things I do on a fresh OS 9 install is download Classilla. In the past couple of weeks, I've been having issues getting IE to download Classilla or really anything else. With everything else, this hasn't been an issue as I've just gone the USB route but I can't locate my Cardbus USB card at the moment. I thought I had either a ZIP or LS-120 that would fit a Wallstreet/PDQ, but the only thing I can put my finger on at the moment is a Lombard/Pismo ZIP. I don't want to waste burning a CD(although it might not be bad to have) so I figure some sort of direct file sharing is my best option.

The problem is that, for the life of me, I can't get EtherTalk to work. I've tried a couple of different computers, all running either 8.6 or 9.x.

Here's my process-on both computers I've first been hooking them together with an ethernet cable. I then go in and turn on AppleTalk via Ethernet on both computers. I then go into File Sharing, set my user name and pasword, and click "start file sharing."

If my understanding is correct, I should then be able to go into Chooser and see the other computer from the "Appleshare" option. I've also tried searching using the provided IP address, but still can't locate the other computer.

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? I feel like it's probably something obvious, but again whatever it is seems to be out of my reach.

I certainly can do it over serial or even IrDA if needed, but obviously ethernet is going to be fastest and seemingly the most painless option.

 

[bunnspecial]

Alright, I ended up doing it over IrDA with a Pismo. It actually wasn't as slow as I expected.

I've never done an IR transfer before, and it's interesting to see it in action. In a way it's a pain in the rear to keep line-of-sight, but at the same time it's a great 1990s novelty that's still very usable today.

I'm actually sitting here now with the connection still open and transferring additional programs.

 

[Cory5412]

Now I need another PowerBook so I can play with IR networking. Thaaaanks

Ethertalk/localtalk are a different, non-ip protocol. In order for it to work, you will probably either need to hook both Macs up to your main LAN or to a switch, or use a crossover ethernet cable.

I believe once you have sharing on and both systems configured in the AppleTalk control panel to use Ethernet, you go to Chooser on the client system and choose AppleTalk on, and then you should be able to just select from the list.

If AppleTalk is on on your normal file server running either OS 9, the right version of Netatalk, NT4/2000/2003 Server, or early versions of OS X, then you should be able to see that as well, if you connect an Appletalk client to the machine.

 

[bunnspecial]

Ahh, a crossover cable is probably what I was missing. I was using a straight through cable.

Granted between two OWR Macs, a serial cable is probably easiest.

With that said, I've loved playing around with IR transfers. Back in the day, I had a Compaq Armada with an IR port, but never had anything I could connect it to. It definitely has its downsides. It doesn't have to be dead straight line of sight, but inadvertently bumping one of the computers during a transfer can cause problems. Still, it's great to see 1990s wireless technology at work, and surprisingly enough it's not that slow. It is a bit awkward between two Powerbooks since they have to be back to back. I need to get one of my Bondi iMacs set up since that would be a lot easier.

I also have a module that I expect would work with any desktop. It has a serial port then a pass-through ADB. I've never played with it, but I suspect it needs extensions to work that I don't have and would be difficult to track down.

 

[bibilit]

Only used IRTalk once (5300 and 1400) worked pretty well.

In fact some devices can only talk together that way (thinking about Palm devices i also collect)