Subject: Re: //gs LocalTalk Port
From: hirsch@air.steve.net (Steven N. Hirsch)
Date: Sat, Jul 04, 1998 1018$ EDT
Message-id: <slrn6pseia.9m.hirsch@air.steve.net>

In article <1dbkmbl.cj0y97zxqq3qN@dempson.actrix.gen.nz>, David Empson wrote:

>Can everyone please use the correct terms, or this is going to get
>confusing.

Thanks..  This thread was becoming a morass of misinformation.

>That is probably the easiest option (it might be called an AppleTalk
>card, but it is really a LocalTalk card), assuming there is software
>support for it.
>
>Another solution might be an Ethernet connection (running EtherTalk),
>with an EtherTalk-to-LocalTalk bridge of some kind (e.g. LocalTalk
>Bridge running on a Macintosh, or a dedicated external box).

(David's wonderful examples trimmed for brevity)

>I've never used Linux, so I don't know what its AppleTalk support is
>like, but the rest of it is well defined.

I use Linux extensively, and was responsible for coding and
contributing the Apple II AFP support to netatalk (free Unix-hosted
Appletalk server).  My home network has, at various times, used
LocalTalk boards and Ethernet <--> LT bridges for serving my Mac and
A2 collection.  

Supported LTPC adapters include the COPS family (aka Farallon,
Tangent, Daystar Digital) and the original Apple LocalTalk PC card.
The Apple card does not interoperate with the //gs built-in port, but
will talk with an Apple // Workstation card and/or Macs.  It's some
sort of timing problem that I've never had the motivation to chase
down.  My Daystar/COPS LT-200 adapter works with anything, BTW.

The Apple LTPC and COPS drivers are now included in the development
Linux kernels.  Jay Schulist has put together a package which makes
these available under the "production" 2.0.3x series kernels (found in
commercial distributions like RedHat, Suse, etc.):

ftp://ftp.uk.linux.org/pub/people/jschlst/AppleTalkSuite-1.03.diff.gz

Due to persistent problems with the aging U-Mich Netatalk
distribution, I recommend Adrian Sun's (asun) package.  This is
available from:

ftp://ftp.u.washington.edu/public/asun

For those accustomed to a point-and-click, plug-and-play world, I
quote from "The Wizard of Oz": "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas
anymore..."  The Linux environment is sound and stable, but requires a
modicum of programming background and motivation for best results..

While I will gladly answer questions pertaining to the Apple II ProDOS
AFP services and/or my patches supporting Tangent-style adapters under
Jay's COPS driver, I don't have the time or interest in supporting
Unix system administration or package installation.  

Steve