Help with AppleTalk Connection on MacPlus using Zuluscsi

I’m trying to use AppleTalk to a Netatalk service. I already have an SE/30 on 7.5.3 (using Zuluscsi Wifi to connect) which is working well to connect and know the Netatalk service is working (with Phase 2 Ethertalk option active). I can also see the service on my modern Mac and share files to the SE/30 this way.

What I am trying to do is get a MacPlus (2MB) via a Zuluscsi to connect to AppleTalk.

I have the MacPlus working to connect to the network, can ping my router and know MacTCP setup correctly with a manual connection option. But I have an issue with the inability to choose Ethernet Altnerative in the Network Control Panel, and nothing shows up in the Chooser when I have AppleTalk active.

I am also having abnormal behavior with “address errors” occurring at times when trying to choose Ethertalk in the Network app. This forces me to restart with the SHIFT down to be able to boot properly. I then have to delete the MacTCP prep file for it to work again.

It may be the version numbers of the software that I’m using?

Here is the list of version numbers…
System 6.0.8
Appletalk 58.1.4 (via Network installer)
MacTCP 2.0.6
DaynaPort SCSI /Link 1.2.5
MacTCP DNR

I have a hard time understanding if there are other dependancies?

I might end up resorting to a LocalTalk connect from the Plus to the SE/30 to get it to work with the SE/30 acting as a bridge?

Thanks for any help. I’ll try to get images of the control panels and error.

If there is no connectivity coming from the router to your plus when you use the Network Control Panel to switch from LocalTalk to Ethernet Alternative, then it won’t be able to open the EtherTalk connection and it will go back to using LocalTalk. So make sure you’re getting connectivity from the router before trying to switch. Since it’s WiFi and not a cabled connection this may not be the case. AppleTalk over Wi-Fi is hit or miss. You may have to reinstall the driver that created the Ethernet Alternative.
Network Software Installer 1.4.4 should be installed after the driver.

I have finally got it to work with your suggestion of installing the driver first and then the Network Installer.
However it is really wonky and on reboot it crashes with an address error.

The whole selection of Local talk is full of error dialog boxes stating that it can't switch to EtherTalk and it resets to LocalTalk.

Images of initial selection below
View attachment IMG_3389.jpeg

Then with fiddling around with selection of Appletalk, turning it off and on I finally see the EtherTalk(A) dialog.
And can select the Ethertalk Alternative. Initially, if I try to select the Ethernet Alternative it will error and reset to Local talk.



This is the error at start up, I can get around it with holding the SHIFT button, but not always.
If I doesn't load, I have to then open my disk on SheepShaver and delete the prep files for Appletalk and MacTCP.

With the errors you're getting, you may want a fresh Mac OS install to work with. After you re-install the OS...
This may sounds strange but in the Mac TCP Control Panel instead of using EtherTalk A, instead use Ethernet Built-in. You need to manually enter an IP address from your network subnet, something like 192.168.x.z then click the "more button"and enter subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 use the manual setting and set the router IP and the domain IP. For domain name just enter a period and for the domain IP just enter your router IP.



EtherTalk A is for use with a MacIP Server.

Still having weird behavior with the set up after a fresh 6.0.8 install on the Zuluscsi SD.

I can get it finally to connect to the AppleTalk server. But reliability on reboot it has an address error.

This is using the following:
MacTCP setup using manual settings and the choice in the Control panel of "Ethernet Built-in"
Network setup using "EtherTalk Alternative" -- Appletalk 58.1.4 and Ethertalk 2.5.7

To get to the above selections involves me trying repeatedly to change from the default "LocalTalk Built-in" to "EtherTalk Built-in" with frequent errors. The first is the warning: "Changing your Appletalk Connection will interrupt current network services and they will have to be reestablish; Are you sure you want to change form LocalTalk to EtherTalk?" -- I say "OK" and then a dialog box with "Switching your Appletalk connection. One Moment Please" is displayed.

Following this and error: "Could not switch to EtherTalk due to an error. Your connection will be reset to LocalTalk".
Then another error after this: "Could not switch back to LocalTalk due to an error. Your connection will be reset to built-in LocalTalk"
Then I go to the MacTCP and reenter Network to attempt to change again to "EtherTalk Alternative"...sometimes the above errors re-display and sometimes it works.

If it works, the I can enter the Chooser and mount the the file server without issue.

BUT.....

If I restart the computer, it displays an "Address Error" and doesn't allow me to boot.
If the above sequence occurs, then on this boot, I cannot get the SHIFT button on boot to allow me to load.
I need to go to the SD card and remove the MacTCP prep file and the Appletalk prep file to allow the boot.

I'm not quite sure why the issues, unless this is "expected" or perhaps just a result of using the Zuluscsi and the DaynaPORT drivers.

Thanks for any further insight....

Can you try connecting over LocalTalk first?

I've read a few reports that indicated "issues" with using the BlueSCSI WiFi feature, which also uses DynaPORT drivers. All of my BlueSCSI devices are WiFi enabled, but I haven't bothered with the feature. Probably should have picked up an original AirPort when I had a chance, but eh.

Given your situation, having a bridge plus a MacIP server as a backup is a good idea.

The classic MacOS networking stack is somewhat fragile, and the Dayna driver is also somewhat fragile. Here's how I'd suggest you go about troubleshooting this:

1. Start again with a fresh OS installation. Check that the AppleTalk version supplied with the OS works via LocalTalk.
2. Install the Dayna drivers. Make sure that this version of the Dayna drivers says it's compatible with the Plus. Check that LocalTalk still works properly. Do not upgrade AppleTalk beyond what the Dayna drivers bundle. Do not install MacTCP. Do not touch anything else.
3. See if WiFi works then.

I updated the firmware on my zuluscsi. Seems to work a bit better with getting the Appletalk server to show up and log into it.....but......
On reboot I continue to get the System Address Error, can't get around it even with holding shift down.

I need to remove the prep files and sometimes even reinstall the system to get it to boot again.

If anyone has a image to use that this works on for either BlueScsi or Zuluscsi for a MacPlus I'm interested on the version numbers that you got it to work with and the sequence of installs....

I did get local talk to work on my MacPlus with a IIci using LocalTalk bridge.. but you need to use the Classic Networking on the IIci side machine. Open Transport won't share the port.

IIci, 7.5.5 with OT1.3. EtherTalk connection available to a OS X Server 10.2.7 machine.


SE/30, 6.0.8, using LocalTalk connection through the IIci via LocalTalk Bridge to see the OS X box.

Mk.558 said:

SE/30, 6.0.8, using LocalTalk connection through the IIci via LocalTalk Bridge to see the OS X box.

Click to expand...

Yes, I remember doing this exact setup and I can tell you it works great. Even works well with MacIPGateway that @mactjaap has. In this case you don’t need an AppleTalk router, you’re just bridging the two ports similar to what IP NetRouter does. You cannot create zones with it though.

Thanks for the guidance. Got it working on the MacPlus using 6.0.8 and a localtalk cable to the IIci -- running 7.5.5 and OT with LocalTalk Bridge enabled.

You can create zones with mactjaap's VM suite, you just use atalkd for doing that and you'll have to configure macipgw to seed a particular zone.

Mk.558 said:

You can create zones with mactjaap's VM suite

Click to expand...

Oh I see, I didn't know that. Very nice.