PHYSICAL ADDRESS: (MAC Address, MAC=Media Access Control) Each Network port has a physical address encoded onto it's chips. You CAN'T change this. You'll see software that claims to let you, but it doesn;t really.. it just changes what the packets going over the port SAY the address is.

LOGICAL ADDRESS: this is your IP address (eg 192.168.10.1) that you set in the TCP/IP control panel. You can set logical addresses for AppleTalk too, but unless you have an AppleTalk Router (ala AppleShare IP) you'll never have to set this manually.

BRIDGE: a bridge connects one type of network to another. Think EtherTalk to LocalTalk bridges, or a Mac running LocalTalk Bridge software from Apple.

REPEATER: makes your network larger by relaying messages coming in one port, out the other. You'll RARELY have to deal with these, unless you have a bunch of really old LocalTalk equipment.. but you will deal with something related called a...

HUB: a bunch of repeaters all wired together. Anything that comes in one prot goes out alol the others. Hubs are stupid, and are completely physical in nature, no firmware or anything like that.

SWITCH: These are smart hubs. They keep a table of physical addresses, and forwards packets only intended for that computer. So Port 1 has Mac A on it, Port 2 has Mac B, and Port 3 Mac C; Mac A sends a message for Mac C, and the packets it sends contain the physical address for Mac C. The Switch reads the packet, and sends the packets out over Port 3, and Port 2 doesn't hear a thing. Use switches whenever possible, instead of hubs.

ROUTER: Routers use the LOGICAL ADDRESS to determine where to send information it receives. It can also be programmed to be smarter still and sort by protocol type. this will be discussed later.

there is an example of some of what I'm referring to in my post in here: topic.asp.TOPIC_ID=175.html

So, Next, we need to discuss the ports you will run into on cards:

ETHERNET: There are 4 kinds of ports you'll run into. They are...

• AUI (ThickNet) which is a DB15 connection, just like Mac video. top speed is 10 Megabits per second (Mbps). Expensive, and rarely used except inside wireing closets to interconnect equipment.


• ThinNet is coaxial cableing, 75 ohms (I think!) Hardly EVER used now, 10Mbps like ThickNet and a pain in the butt to use and maintain in general.


• RJ45 connections are the 8 pin phone-style ones you see most often. These use sheilded or unsheilded Cat 5 cabeling. if you use 4 wires (2 pair) then 10Mbps is your top speed, but useing all 8 (4 pairs) of wires will allow 100Mbps.


• AAUI or APPLE AUI is the little thing that most of the older Macs have that you need an adapter to use with anything else. top speed is 10Mbps.

that's all for now I think. What else Networking wise does anyone need to know?

I'll put in a list of the software I use tonight (ie when I'm at MY computer and can see :-)

~Marchie

~Chaplain Marchie

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that's all for now I think. What else Networking wise does anyone need to know?

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What software is this?

~Marchie

~Chaplain Marchie

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AFP?
What software is this?

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dana

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that's all for now I think. What else Networking wise does anyone need to know?

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Tis a good summary methinks and one that's worth keeping up to add to every time a particular "what is a..." or "how does a ...." question comes up.

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OSX won't -share- its files with AFP/AppleTalk, only AFP/IP ...
- dana

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"...the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do."

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OSX won't -share- its files with AFP/AppleTalk, only AFP/IP ...
- dana

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Easily fixed.

Open up the NetInfo Manager, and go to /config/AppleFileServer. Find the attribute "use_appletalk." This is set to 0 by default; change it to 1. Presto!

For the record, I got this from a page on System 6 Heaven.
http://www.euronet.nl/users/mvdk/osx.html
It describes various tricks to get OS X and the Classic Mac OS to play nice together.

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Anyways, on a more technical note, on 68K Machiens Shareway IP is a good tool to use in conjunction with AppleShare 4, which gives you the power of AppleShare and IP use. That's what I used on my 840AV.

Also, for running headless servers, Timbuktu 3 is the best. Just set it to use Appletalk, because even if for some reason TCP/IP goes down or you need to disconnect cables (or an accident), AppleTalk will reset itself up whereas 68K Macs may not regrab an IP from Routers or ISP. (So, Appletalk provides a good network solution that is tolerant of failures or disconnection of physical media.)

It's been a lifesaver when TCP/IP fails for some reason or I accidentally pulled the wrong Power Plug..Appletalk automagically pops back up but TCP/IP stays down.

shaktiman

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