Networking without ethernet via AppleTalk

[TheNixer]

I'm full of questions this week...

I wasn't getting enough 68k Mac time lately so I packed up my SE/30 and cleared off a spot on my desk for it at work. So far, mission accomplished. I've been using it on my lunch breaks and before and after work. I now have a networking dilemma, however. I have to use Windows 7 for work so I'm not looking to connect my SE/30 running System 7 to my Windows machine. I do have a graphite Clamshell iBook running 9.2 that I would like to have talking to the SE/30 for backup/file transfer purposes. So here's what I have:

(1) A clamshell iBook running OS 9.2.2 w/(if it helps) Chooser 7.6.2.

(2) An SE/30 running System 7.0.1w/(if it helps) Chooser 7.0.

(3) A Keyspan 28X A USB to Serial adapter with a serial cable running from the Keyspan to the modem port on the SE/30.

How can I get the two to talk without ethernet? Should I update the SE/30 to, say, 7.5? The iBook seems to be looking for an ethernet connection in the Cooser window and the SE/30 doesn't have that option since it's version 7.

 

[Gorgonops]

The manufacturer says that your serial adapter does not support Localtalk networking. (I don't *think* there are any USB converters that support Localtalk, but someone might correct me on that. Supporting RS-422 isn't enough by itself to do it.) So there's no way you're going to be able to use the normal "chooser" method to network those two.

The simplest solutions to your quandary is either an Ethernet card for the SE/30 (yeah, I know, not easy), one of those Localtalk->Ethernet converter boxes, or an older Beige Mac that has both sorts of ports to act as a go-between. The only other choice I can think of offhand is to either use a serial comm program on both systems to transfer files, or set up a SLIP/PPP TCP/IP connection. (Highly nontrivial.)

 

[TheNixer]

Well dang. I bet I could still use something like Claris Works (since I have that for both) for file transfers but I really wanted something networkable. I'll hunt around tonight for an ethernet card for the SE/30. I'm sure I've got one somewhere. I'll still need to update the Chooser on my SE/30 for ethernet. The floppy drive in my SE/30 is shot but I do have a CD with 7.5 on it and an old AppleCD drive. Maybe I'll bring the SE/30 back home with me this weekend and update the OS and put an ethernet card in it.

Thanks again Gorgonops.

 

[Bunsen]

or set up a SLIP/PPP TCP/IP connection.

viewtopic.php?t=1393

how to get files between my little Powerbook Duo 280 and Intel iMac and, better yet, getting her on the Internet / My only tools: a KeySpan USB to Serial adaptor /
Then it hit me -- I have a UNIX based machine sitting in front of me. One that surely has a PPP daemon. /

I am now cruising the internet, telnetting, FTPing, and other wonderful things on the Powerbook Duo 280 / The best part: no docks or additional cables to buy.

Admittedly, this does involve installing OS X on the Clambook, if you have no other OS X/Unix machines around.

 

[TheNixer]

Wow, that was quite a read. Thanks for that link Bunsen.

I'd like to keep the clamshell running 9.2.2 but I do have a 10.0 CD somewhere. I like 9 on the iBook though so I'll probably leave it alone. I'm using the clamshell because I can easily use it as a bridge between home and work. I keep things on the SE/30 that I'd also like to access at home and vice versa. I wish we had Macs at work but we use a SCO ANSI emulator to connect to other computers. Worse yet we use a lot of macros and schedulers that I'd have to re-write - and I'd have to sacrifice a Mac from home. They wouldn't care if I brought a Mac in but there's no way they'd buy me one for work.

I'm going to thoroughly trash a room tonight looking for that ethernet card.

 

[Bunsen]

but I do have a 10.0 CD somewhere

I would suggest 10.2 at a minimum, 10.3.x in preference.

It's entirely possible that there is some way of setting up a PPP link like the one described under OS 9, but I would have no idea how you go about that. Another option (if that ethernet card doesn't turn up) is to install linux on some other hardware, like a spare x86 box or suchlike.

In fact ... and this would be the long way around to be sure, you could try installing linux on the iBook and running OS 9 inside MacOnLinux