Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Apple and linux question
From: dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 11:10:28 +1200
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David Empson <dempson@actrix.gen.nz> wrote:

> Terence J. Boldt <apple2@cgocable.net> wrote:
> 
> > I saw some discussion of Netatalk.  There is a patch that supports the IIgs,
> > but I have not tried it yet.  Also, you would either need a
> > Localtalk->Ethernet bridge (available for $$$ anywhere iMac's are sold) or
> > there is a utility for 68030 Mac's to act as a bridge for you.  Sorry, I do
> > not recall the name of it.
> 
> Perhaps you are thinking of Apple's "LocalTalk Bridge" software?
> 
> It is commercial, and hasn't been available for some time.

I take that back.  It appears that Apple have just made LocalTalk Bridge
2.1 publically available.  

<http://asu.info.apple.com/swupdates.nsf/artnum/n11358>

> It runs on a lot more than just 68030 Macs, but has compatibility problems
> with MacOS 8.5 or later.

No change here - the readme file warns about compatibility issues.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editor: GS WorldView - 4/99 - NOTES & ADDITIONS!
From: http://asu.info.apple.com/swupdates.nsf/artnum/n11358

Additional Apple url - *FAIR USE QUOTE text content & information ->  SEE BELOW:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*"The Apple Software Library is a collection of updaters, utilities, and full
software installs to help keep your Apple Products running smoothly. You can
locate a particular software file by either searching our library, browsing our
hierarchy, or viewing a list of the most recent postings. All software available
from this site is covered by the software license agreement included with this
software. Read Download Help if you need assistance downloading software. 

Release Name: LocalTalk Bridge  
Version: 2.1  
Release Date: 04/20/99  
Language:English-North American
Document #:11358

Download file archive sizes - LocalTalk Bridge 2.1.smi Ê 
MacBinary - 195 K 
http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English-North_American/Macintosh/Networking-Communications/Other_N-C/LocalTalk_Bridge_2.1.smi.bin

Binhex - 266 K
ftp://ftphqx.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English-North_American/Macintosh/Networking-Communications/Other_N-C/LocalTalk_Bridge_2.1.smi.hqx

Description

The Apple LocalTalk Bridge is an unsupported control panel that bridges a
LocalTalk network to another network selected from the Network or AppleTalk
control panels. This solution allows for connectivity to higher-speed networks
(for example, Ethernet, Infrared or Token Ring) while maintaining the ability to
print to LocalTalk-only LaserWriter printers or share files with PowerBook
computers that lack high-speed network capabilities. Similarly, when connecting
to an Ethernet or Token Ring only network, the LocalTalk Bridge provides a way
for LocalTalk-only PowerBook computers or Newton MessagePad communications
devices to gain access to network services. Changes from version 2.0 include
compatibility with OpenTransport.

Other Related Information

About this software: Read Me Related Technical Articles: None Available Ê

OS Required
At least System software version 7.1


Software Required

Hardware Required
At least a 68020 processor


Installation Instructions


This software consists of a self-mounting Disk Copy compressed image (.smi)
file. Download this software to your hard drive and then double-click it to use
it. You do not need Disk Copy to access .smi files.

Read Download Help (http://asu.info.apple.com/swupdates.nsf/artnum/n1004) if you
need assistance downloading software.

*See also: GS WorldView Editor additions from: 


LocalTalk Bridge 2.1: Read Me

Article ID: Created: Modified: 60290 4/19/99 4/21/99

TOPIC

This article comprises the Read Me for LocalTalk Bridge version 2.1. This
software was released by Apple 21 April 1999 and is available for downloading
from the Apple Software Updates Web site. Use the following URL to access the
download directly:

http://til.info.apple.com/swupdates.nsf/artnum/n11358.

Requirements A Macintosh with at least a 68020 processor, running System 7.1 or
later.


Description The Apple LocalTalk Bridge is an unsupported control panel that
bridges a LocalTalk network to another network selected from the Network or
AppleTalk control panels. This solution allows for connectivity to higher-speed
networks (for example, Ethernet, Infrared or Token Ring) while maintaining the
ability to print to LocalTalk-only LaserWriter printers or share files with
PowerBook computers that lack high-speed network capabilities. Similarly, when
connecting to an Ethernet or Token Ring only network, the LocalTalk Bridge
provides a way for LocalTalk-only PowerBook computers or Newton MessagePad
communications devices to gain access to network services. Changes from version
2.0 include compatibility with OpenTransport.


DISCUSSION


LocalTalk Bridge 2.1 Information

The Apple LocalTalk Bridge is an unsupported tool used to share LocalTalk-only
devices, such as some LaserWriter printers, PowerBook notebook computers, or
Newton MessagePad communications devices, on an Ethernet, Infrared, or Token
Ring network. With the LocalTalk Bridge, you can access an Ethernet, Infrared,
or Token Ring network while maintaining a seamless connection to your LocalTalk
network. Again, this is an unsupported tool and has been provided solely as a
convenience. Apple makes no warranty or representation, express or implied, with
respect to this program, its quality, performance, or fitness for a particular
purpose.

System requirements for the LocalTalk Bridge

System software version 7.1 or later.

Either classic AppleTalk networking software or Open Transport version 1.1 or
later. For machines running Open Transport, version 1.1.2 or later is
recommended.

Memory requirements: The LocalTalk Bridge driver requires approximately 70K of
RAM to run. Open Transport requires a minimum of 5MB of RAM for computers with
68000-family microprocessors or 8MB of RAM for computers with PowerPC
microprocessors. Open Transport memory requirements are based on total system
memory including virtual memory, minus the size of any RAM disk and disk cache
you choose.

Hardware Requirements: The LocalTalk Bridge requires at least a 68020 processor.
Network interfaces to include one LocalTalk port and an alternate interface
(Ethernet, Token Ring, or Infrared).

Installing the software

The following installation procedure directs you through both a new installation
and updating an existing installation of the Apple LocalTalk Bridge: 1. Drag the
LocalTalk Bridge icon onto your computer's System Folder icon and release the
mouse button before the System Folder automatically opens. The LocalTalk Bridge
will be automatically installed in the Control Panels folder inside your
computer's System Folder. If you get a message indicating that an older version
of the software already exists in this location, click Replace. 2. Choose
Restart from the Special menu.

When your computer starts up again, the LocalTalk Bridge is installed.

Description

The Apple LocalTalk Bridge is an unsupported control panel that bridges a
LocalTalk network to another network selected from the Network or AppleTalk
control panels. This solution allows for connectivity to higher-speed networks
(for example, Ethernet, Infrared or Token Ring) while maintaining the ability to
print to LocalTalk-only LaserWriter printers or share files with PowerBook
computers that lack high-speed network capabilities. Similarly, when connecting
to an Ethernet or Token Ring only network, the LocalTalk Bridge provides a way
for LocalTalk-only PowerBook computers or Newton MessagePad communications
devices to gain access to network services.

The LocalTalk Bridge features dynamic, user-selectable access modes. When access
is set to Private, the LocalTalk devices and services--such as LaserWriter
printers and shared Macintosh volumes--are hidden from users on the Ethernet or
Token Ring network, while LocalTalk-only devices retain full access to the
services on both sides of the network. In contrast, when access is set to
Public, all devices are visible from both sides of the network.

Known Incompatibilities and Limitations

NOTE: The LocalTalk bridge will not function if a router is detected on the
LocalTalk network. The LocalTalk Bridge can only be used on a LocalTalk segment
that does not already have an active AppleTalk Internet Router, LaserWriter
Bridge, hardware based router, or another LocalTalk Bridge.

Switching Interfaces When LocalTalk Bridge 2.1 is installed, switching AppleTalk
from one port to another may cause a crash. The LocalTalk Bridge should be
disabled before switching ports.

Availability of Bridged Devices in the Chooser To insure that bridged devices
are seen or available in the Chooser it is important that the Bridging Device
(the Macintosh running LocalTalk Bridge) is booted and that the LocalTalk Bridge
is loaded prior to booting the other machines in the LocalTalk network.

Device Bridging Limitations and Workstation Performance There is no hard limit
imposed by the code on the number of devices that can be attached to the
LocalTalk segment. However, the number of devices is limited by the LocalTalk
network architecture. If the LocalTalk network is properly repeated or bridged,
there could be as many as 254 devices attached to the LocalTalk side of the
bridge.

"Inside AppleTalk, 2nd Edition" states: "The physical characteristics of the
LocalTalk twisted-pair cable allow it to reliably support a recommended maximum
of 32 devices." So, without a bridge or repeater, the maximum limit is 32
devices.

However, 20 is the recommended number of devices recommended when the bridge is
also being used as a workstation. For more devices than that the Macintosh
should run as a stand-alone bridge, because there will not be enough computing
cycles available to process the user's requests in a prompt manner. However, the
degree of user requested responsiveness and ability of the machine to function
as a bridge is a function of the speed of the underlying hardware and volume of
bridged network traffic. Presumably faster machines under lighter network loads
could remain more responsive to user requests while bridging up to the 32-device
limit. High volumes of network traffic can significantly degrade the
responsiveness of the bridging machine on even the fastest Macintoshes.

Mac OS 8.5 and Mac OS 8.5.1 Compatibility

The Open Transport 2.0 Read Me - Part 1 states the following: Apple LocalTalk
Bridge 2.1 is compatible with Open Transport.

However, Apple has done only limited testing with Apple LocalTalk Bridge under
Mac OS 8.5. LocalTalk Bridge 2.1 is not believed to be completely compatible
with Mac OS 8.5 though no specific incompatibility information is available.

Network Assistant performance over LocalTalk bridges

The Apple LocalTalk Bridge can affect the performance of Network Assistant.
Performance degrades when transferring data or sharing screens between
workstations on a LocalTalk network and an Ethernet network.

To improve performance, set up screen sharing and file copying to the LocalTalk
bridge workstation (and any workstations connected via that bridge) separately
from the rest of the workstations and use a computer connected to an Ethernet
network to administer the LocalTalk computers, not vice versa.

Token Ring Zones Inaccessibility on the Bridge Computer

If you install the Apple Internet Router and the Apple LocalTalk Bridge on the
same computer, and both are running simultaneously, the bridge computer won't
have access to Token Ring zones. To remedy this problem, remove either the
router or the Bridge.

AWS95 & A/UX Compatibility

The LocalTalk Bridge software is not compatible with A/UX; therefore this bridge
software cannot be run on A/UX or AWS 95 systems. The Bridge software needs
AppleTalk version 58.1.5 or higher to operate, while the AppleTalk
implementation in A/UX is based on AppleTalk version 56."
<-end of fair use quote-

Copyright 1998 Apple Computer, Inc.