#Networking your Amiga
8 messages in this thread
I have what may be a solution, if you want to look into it. It is possible to
network an Amiga to a PC very cheaply, over the parallel port, with something
called a PARNET cable (which is just a parallel cable with two wires switched
and a couple shorted). I have two Amigas linked in this fashion. The software
was free, and the cable cost about $7.00 to make. You can buy one pre-made for
under $15.00.
Now this is Amiga to Amiga, and allows you to access any files on each other's
hard drives easily (or any device, for that matter). For example, I can access
the 1200's hard drives or floppy drives, and similarly the 1200 accesses my
3000's hard drives, floppies, or CD-ROM drive. Even RAM disks are accessible
this way, and a ZIP drive, or anything would be.
A similar thing exists for Amiga to PC. I believe that it may be included with
ParBench. I also have recently seen a new one made by someone else floating
around. Look for ParBench – it may include what you are looking for.
Basically, if you are willing to put the time and effort, and a little playing
around, you can network your computers for about $10.00. Really!!
And if you don't care about the money, then you should network them with
EtherNet or something. This would cost $400-500, maybe, but could be expanded
to share more computers, even Macs, in the future…
I think networking, either cheap or expensive, is the way to go.
If you want to go REALLY cheap, hook up the Amiga/PC by serial port, and use
terminal programs to upload/download files between them. Seems like a hassle
but maybe not, since copying files and carrying disks back and forth isn't fast
either… but the serial would be slow for a large operation.
I recommend an Amiga to PC PARNET, hands down. I use it, and don't know how I
ever stood carrying disks 6 feet to pop them into the other machine. I can
even run software on the other machine… For seven dollars and an afternoon of
troubleshooting.
Ian,
<<Basically, if you are willing to put the time and effort, and a little>>
<<playing around, you can network your computers for about $10.00. Really>>
Have you ever experienced any problems with your CIA chips as a result of your
ParNet connection? I understand that this is a concern, especially if you are
using a switch box in conjunction with a parallel printer.
Cheers, Marty
ProActive Images Inc.
Never had a problem, but my switchbox consists of me plugging and unplugging
the parallel cable from the 1200. ParNet works perfectly for me. I do believe
that I am using a third-party parnet.device – not the one that came with the
main Parnet distribution, but a 68020 optimized version. All the tools I'm
using came off of Compuserve and GEnie so they are all easily available,
nothing obscure.
Martin,
<Have you ever experienced any problems with your CIA chips as a result of your
ParNet connection? I understand that this is a concern, especially if you are
using a switch box in conjunction with a parallel printer.>
A while ago I thought I'd have to use a switchbox for something on my
computer and was concerned about that very thing. I looked into getting a
quality switchbox (one that will break the connection before making the other
one) but they wound up being VERY expensive. Our solution was to buy an
A/B/C/D switchbox and put peripheral #1 on the A switch and peripheral #2 on
the D switch. This way one is SURE that the connection is completely broken
from one to the other.
I never did have to use the box, but I'm sure it would be safer than an A/B
switch.
Asha
@}–`–,-
I thought Parnet was an Amiga only network. Where did you get the PC version?
Do you know if it would let a PC use a CD32/SX1 setup as a CD drive?
Peter Wade
Autopiloting from London, England
The regular ParNet is Amiga only. I am talking of an Amiga to PC network
thing, that is not nearly as good, but works. I have seen two versions of the
same idea, but I am not the one to ask. I don't have a PC to mess with it.
No, I don't think it would allow you to use the Amiga devices on your PC. The
other way around might be possible. The package(s) are for transferring files
across the parallel port. It may not be nearly as slick as ParNet.
Look on AmiNet for what I am talking about, I forget the name. It is out
there, I'm not making it up.
I got this from the ParBench extra readme file.
1. ATN.LHA —
Amiga Turbo Network. This archive contains the shareware competitor for
ParNET. It allows up to 8 Amigas to be connected VIA their parallel ports with
a special daisy chain style cable scheme. This version is a demo that only
allows transfers of 50k or less. Oh yes, the docs are in german. Anyone have
the time to translate them and send them to me in english? 🙂 I would like to
hear how this program worked for you as I never had the time build the cable.
2. ParPC.LHA –
This file was downloaded from the Deep Thought BBS (former home of what was
known as The Software Distillery and is now the home of Home Brew Software). It
is a set of software for PC Compatibles and Amigas that allow the standard
Amiga ParNET to interchange data with PC-Compatibles VIA a standard Amiga
Parnet cable. included is a schematic for building the interface for the PC
Compatible. This is a pretty major hardware job and so far I know of no one who
has built one for testing. If you do, please drop me a line and let me know how
it worked for you. Also, this file is VERY sparse in the documentation, but
does include source code. I was unable to find any information as to the
distributability of this file except in as much as it was available on a public
doamin BBS and was bundled with ParNET which is freely distributable. If you
know anything more about the heritage of this file please contact me.
3. SerNET24.LHA- This is a serial version of ParNET that is supposed to operate
over Matt Dillons DNET software. I have been unable make this work and would
encourage someone who has this working to inform me as to just how the heck you
got it to work! 🙂 If I can find a way to make this work I will include it in
an upcoming version of ParBENCH as an option. Any help would be appreciated.
Roy,
Have you tried ProNet? It works great. I can not remember if it is here on
CI$ or elsewhere. I use it daily for my CDTV and it offers multi amiga on the
network. Works ALOT better then Parbench and is faster, error free,(No 2.0
Packet Error), and it does not lock up your machine when transfering data!
Have you tried it?
Dwayne On AutoPilot @ 14K 🙂
Bathke Only with an Amiga!