#BIG transfer
9 messages in this thread
Strange situation here. We will soon have a CD ROM recorder system
built around a Mac platform. The software will write CD ROM discs in
IBM format (ISO 9660), as long as we can get the IBM files inside the
Mac. For small files, this is no problem – we could transfer them
across our ethernet, or bring over a floppy. But what about one of
our offices that might want to transfer, say, 500 meg of info at
once? We could easily store that in the Mac on our big hard drive,
and write it to the CD recorder, but how do I easily get it into the
Mac. That much data going through a busy ethernet would probably
trash the net for awhile. I could simply take a hard drive to the
PC, load the data and bring it back the the Mac, except that all Macs
use SCSI hard drives and few PC's do. I'd appreciate any
suggestions.
Even if you had a PC with SCSI, wouldn't the formatting on the hard
disk be different from the MAC to the PC? Or can the MAC handle
PC-formatted hard disks?
Worst case you could back up the PC to tape then restore it to your
Mac and make your CD from there. Or of course you could send it to
us <g>
All you need to make a PC SCSI compatible is a host adapter card.
Good ones are available for less than $200. Or you could use tape
instead of a hard drive. I assume you are using software on the Mac
like AccessPC or SoftPC that allows you to manipulate DOS files on
the Mac, right?
Thanks to Kathy and all others on this thread.Yes, we will be using
software to allow the Mac to see and manipulate DOS files. Actually,
now, my network folks tell me that we CAN do a big transfer like that
over the ethernet backbone. It will trash the net for awhile (ca 10
minutes?) but they will allow it on off hours. We are going to test
it. If it works, a network transfer will be easiest. I didn't
realize you could get an SCSI adapter for the PC so cheaply…
I wonder if any of the PC Exchange / Access PC / Dayna DOS Mounter type
software for the Mac can handle a PC-format SCSI drive. SCSI is certainly
becoming more popular on the PC, especially for high-capacity, high-speed
drives.
I'm trying to solve a similar problem. Right now, I'm assembling a CD-worth of
data on an Amiga. For this first disc, I'll send a Unix 'tar' format 8mm data
tape to a One-Off Shop. Eventually, I'd like to get an in-house one-off
machine, but I'd like the freedom to assemble the data on any of the three
platforms: PC, Mac or Amiga, or even all three at the same time.
One possibility is NFS file server software on the Amiga, and NFS client
software for the Mac and PC. Right now, I'm moving files by hand using TCP/IP
and 'ftp' and 'rcp'.
Another is the tape backup method: DATs and Exabyte 8mm drives handle gigabytes
with ease. I've got 'tar' for the PC and Amiga, but not for the Mac.
Good question – if I can (some day!) arrange a test, I will. Also, besides the
issue of whether the DOS mounter or equivalent could allow the SCSI PC drive on
the mac, is the whole issue of hard drive driver software. Murky at best…
John, Check with Software Architects in Bothel WA. Their Mac formatting
software allows for DOS partitions and access via DOS Mounter. Phone is
206-487-0122 and fax is 206-487-0467. Kerry, Osaka, Japan