TCP/IP Support
35 messages in this thread
Is there TCP/IP support for the Ami under AmigaDOS? I would prefer that to
having to run under UN*X.
I would like to set up a small network with a 386-33 running OS/2 2.0, but
don't want to have to run Novell on the PClone.
BobS
Ask your Amiga dealer about Commodore's AS225 software, it's about
$150 and gives you TCP/IP on the Amiga and Commodore's Ethernet
board. I've heard they're beta testing a newer version, too, with
more features.
I'm running the TCP/IP package from Commodore. I quite like it,
though it has some (IMHO) severe limitations. What do you need to do
with it?
I was going to try to connect a PClone running OS/2 with an A2000 so I
could share files and peripherals.
I really didn't want to go through the hassle and cost of setting up Novell
and a separate file server just to do this.
What sort of severe limitations are you talking about?
I tink it would be a good idea for me to find out what limitations exist
before I spend close to a grand on the project. I could spend the grand on
a bigger HD for the Ami and get another tape backup too.
BobS
Robert,
The most serious, IMO, is not being able to export file systems (disks
are probably the closest correct analogy on the Amiga). There have been
occasions where it would have been convenient to mount a directory from the
Amiga on the Unix machine to which my Amiga talks.
Another is a lack of telnet or rlogin support. The remote shell
capability mostly makes up for this, though, it's just not as convenient.
To be honest, I like the TCP/IP package. I hope they will release
another version which is more complete.
MCR – San Jose, CA CIS: 76450,26
Internet: mcr@unison.com
Michael —
>The most serious, IMO, is not being able to export file systems …
If I am correct, that means that I won't be able to get at the Amiga files
from the PC. Curses, there goes the ability to backup the Amiga files from
the PC as part of a regular backup. I was _so_ hoping for true peer-topeer
capability.
Would I be able to transmit files to a device on the PC as if it were an
Amiga device? If that works, I could LHA the hard drive to the SyQuest on
the PC.
One more question, if it isn't too much trouble. Do you know if the Amiga
TCP/IP would support Arcnet as opposed to Ethernet?
BobS
You can use FTP for backup purposes; it works in both directions. (You
could also use the rcp command, if your pc supports an rcp server)
andy
Andy —
As far as I can tell, because I haven't gotten the software for the PC yet,
it does not support an RCP server (whatever that is).
I am sorry if something I said led you to believe it, but I am neither
UNIX, nor TCP/IP knowledgable (I do know what some of the acronyms mean
because I have been working with computers for years, but I have been stuck
with MVS on IBM mainframes). All I was looking for was an inexpensive (and
interesting) way to share files and peripherals between my Amiga and my PC.
I will probably be bothering you, and everyone else on this forum, that is
knowledgable about the subject, when I purchase the software/hardware
(which will cost appx $700 – $800). It would probably be cheaper, but not
as much fun, to buy a QIC-40 compatible tape drive for the Ami and transfer
files that way.
Bob
It's going to come down to how complete the PC package is; the Amiga
package has most everything except an NFS server, ie it has an RCP server,
an FTP server, etc. As long as the PC has at least one of the ways to do
peer-peer itself, you should be able to send Amiga files to it.
andy
Andy —
From what I have been told, the TCP/IP package for OS/2 has everything but
NFS. That is a separate package, at an additional cost. Both packages are
from IBM, so they will probably have every bell and whistle imaginable.
I will probably get started on the project as soon as I can afford all the
software/hardware (within 2 months).
It might be longer though, as my dealer told me that his supplier told him
that Commmodore recalled TCP/IP for the Amiga.
BobS
I don't think that 'recall' rumor is accurate, somehow.
The C= TCP/IP package works fine.
andy
I thought that it was a rumor and posted it as such. I am glad to hear
that it is untrue.
Over the years, I have become very cynical about dealers and suppliers.
I'll check with some other dealers to see whether they have TCP/IP.
Bob
There is a TCP/IP available from Austin Code Works in Austin Texas – C
source included. It is for the PC and includes fairly recent drivers.
Ken —
Thanks. Do you have a phone number?
BobS
(BTW, RCP stands for remote copy program. FTP stands for File Transfer
Protocol. TFTP stands for Trivial File Transfer Protocol. To send a file
using one of these protocols you need a sending program on one end (ie rcp
or ftp) and a receiving program on the other end (the rcp server or the ftp
server) which is listening for rcp or ftp messages over the network.
andy
Andy —
Thanks for the acronym definitions.
I think that the only profession that uses more acronyms than the computer
business is the medical profession. My girlfriend is a nurse and uses as
many acronyms as the people I work with. They use the same acronym as we
do (for something completely different, of course). The worst part is not
realizing the context before translating it.
BobS
What ? Medics use more acronyms ? Computer people better get busy, then,
and make some more.
andy
Andy,
Don't feel bad; medical people have had a lot more time to work on the
problem.
<my wife is a surgeon>
–Ben
> Computer people better get busy, then, and make some more [acronyms]>
We do, it's just that medical technology is progressing at the same speed
as computer technology.
Heard any good acronyms lately?
Bob
We need someone to write a CAAG (Computer Automated Acronym Generation)
program…. 😉
Brian
Robert,
True. You will not be able to mount Amiga devices on the PC. At least I
haven't figured out how to do this if it's possible.
If you can mount a PC device on the Amiga, you can write to the PC device
using LHA. It depends entirely on the PC software you are running.
'Don't know about Arcnet. I use Ethernet.
MCR – San Jose, CA CIS: 76450,26
Internet: mcr@unison.com
mcr —
The TCP/IP package for the PC is from IBM, so it probably has all of the
bells and whistles imaginable. If necessary, NFS is also available from
IBM.
I expect to start on the project in two months, depending on money and the
availability of TCP/IP for the Amiga. My dealer told me that his supplier
told him that Commodore recalled TCP/IP. I don't know if this is true, but
everything should work out within the next two months.
BobS
Robert,
>My dealer told me that his supplier told him that Commodore recalled
>TCP/IP.
Really? I can't imagine why. I have it, it works fine. Could he provide
any details? Was this, maybe, just a rumour?
MCR – San Jose, CA CIS: 76450,26
Internet: mcr@unison.com
Well, I posted it as a rumor and asked for confirmation. I am glad to hear
that is one.
Now I can rest easy. I'll try a different dealer who might have it.
Rumors can be quite insidious. That's why I checked here first.
Bob
Of course, you'd have to restrict your filenames to that rediculous 8.3
format in order to read them.
Vic —
The PC is running OS/2, so if I can set up stuff in High Performance File
System (HPFS) partitions on the PC, I will be able to use the Amiga names,
as those partitions are not restricted to the stupid 8.3 names. It only
took the PC world 7 years after the Ami to start using 255(6?) character
names. Of course, they still have to support the 8.3 names on the DOS
compatible partitions, so copying files from one partition type to the
other is a hassle.
OS/2 also added extended attribute bits that only OS/2 knows about, so even
if you backup and restore from the DOS partitions, none of the DOS backup
programs knows about these bits. You have to use the OS/2 backup program,
which will backup only to floppy diskette or SCSI tape. Optionally, there
is public domain software that will backup/restore the extended atrributes
to a separate file.
IBM seems as bad as CBM for shooting themselves in the foot. Their
advertising of OS/2 has been as universal as Commodore's advertising of the
Amiga. All of the OS/2 zealots are just as unhappy with IBM as the Amiga
fans are with CBM.
BobS
Ah, but IBM has more money to waste on poor marketing than C= does. Never
mind how _stupid_ their "computer in disguise" CDTV ad is…
C= should try to get Newtek or some other 3-D company to show
price/performance benefits against something like Autodesk Animator — in
PC-Centric magazines…. An ad in PC Rag can have incredible results — if
only in raising a "stink."
Brian
– via Whap!
Brian…
I think the best way to sell a system is to solve a problem, fill a need,
etc.
Newtek does this very well, I think. It's something that a lot of other
companies could learn from. Turnkey type solutions, such as the toaster is
designed to be, offer a great deal more value than 'potential solutions' of
hardware and software from parties a,b,c,d and e.
Don't like the 'computer in disguise' ads, hmmm? If nothing else, there is
an interesting about-face in Commodore's marketing department about CDTV.
It was initially intended to be the 'power of a computer without a keyboard
or the technobabble of computers'. Now it's the 'computer in disguise'.
There's a ton of potential in CDTV, I'm crossing my fingers constantly for
it.
Jim
That would probably help a lot. However, there's too much NIH (not
invented here) mentality at CBM to do that.
I was hoping that the series of Byte articles on graphics and multimedia
would help, but no where in the article was price mentioned.
Oh well, maybe someone, somewhere in the CBM hierarchy will get his head
out of his butt long enough to come up with a good idea ( and be able to
sell it to the rest of the management).
Bob
What, are you kidding? The head up the butt syndrome is one reason I have
given up on C=. –Gabe
>The head up the butt syndrome is one reason I have given up on C=.
Me too. Just think … if they had advertised the Ami correctly 5 years
ago, we would probably have some support for it from the major vendors
(Lotus, Borland, etc.).
BobS
Just to clarify for other people reading this thread….telnet and rlogin
support *is* available, but *only* outbound from the Amiga to another host.
In order to get from that host into the Amiga, either rcp, remote shell, or
ftp can be used.
Steve
Steve,
Good point. That was not clear from my message. The telnet and rlogin
capablities _from_ the Amiga _to_ the Unix machine have proved invaluable
on a couple of occasions.
MCR – San Jose, CA CIS: 76450,26
Internet: mcr@unison.com
I want to do something similar – network three Amigas and a few PC's
together. Please let us know if you get this working, and how well it
works. Thanks.
…Steve
Steve —
I hope to start the project within two months, as money becomes available.
Of course, it may become a moot point, as my dealer told me that his
supplier told him that TCP/IP for the Amiga was recalled by Commodore. I
don't know if this is correct, but I will be making some calls this weekend
to see if I can get a copy of it.
BobS