#Heterogenous Networking!
35 messages in this thread
Can anyone offer assistance with this particular problem, please?
I have an Amiga 1500, a Mac Quadra and a Pentium PC between which I need to
move large numbers of files from time to time. I have an Ethernet card
(10-base-2 and 10-base-5) for the Amiga and some software called 'Amiga Client
Software for Novell Netware'. I have an adaptor for the Apple network port
that offers a UTP socket. I have a triple interface Ethernet card for the
Pentium, which runs Windows for Workgroups.
The question is, how can I link this lot together – cost effectively – to allow
me to transfer files at reasonable speed between all three systems? I really
don't want to have to set up a Novell 3.1 server just to achieve file transfer,
but the other options aren't obvious.
If you like knotty problems, exercise your little grey cells on this one –
please!
Thanks,
Phil.
TCP/IP software might be the answer. I'm pretty sure that shareware
versions are available for all three platforms. I'm not sure what "network
port" your Mac has but if it is an ethernet type then it could be done.
The one remaining issue would be the "funny" Mac file format. You might
need an additional piece of software to translate when moving files to and
from the Mac. I use such a setup at work to connect Amigas, PCs and a Unix
machine for file transfer and logon sessions. The two Amigas also run a
peer-to-peer network software package (Envoy). At home I have 2 Amigas
networked with Enlan-DFS 2.0 which is a very nice peer-to-peer system
based on Decnet protocol.
The FTP facility would handle file transfer although NFS would work
even better. With FTP you specify what file to "get" and where to "put"
it. Works OK for individual files. With NFS a drive or directory on
another machine would appear to be a just like a local drive which is MUCH
more convenient.
AmiTCP for the AMiga is here somewhere. But I don't think it has NFS.
AS225 from Commodore (commercial version) has NFS but I don't think it is
available at this time.
Goin' AP
…..Mark Sterling
Mark,
MS> The two Amigas also run a peer-to-peer network software package
MS>(Envoy). At home I have 2 Amigas networked with Enlan-DFS 2.0 which is
MS> a very nice peer-to-peer system based on Decnet protocol.
Maybe you can set me straight, please. I have 2 A3000s which I wish to
network but only occasionally. I really only need to transfer files, but
actual networking might be a plus.
I had a serial-port-to-serial-port cable made up in an attempt to use Twin
Express, but that was a fiasco (mostly because of no GUI with me being a
GUI person).
Would any of the network setups of which you spoke be of use to me?
Please respond. Thank you.
Dick,
Both the peer-to-peer networks I spoke of are primarily for Ethernet
connections. If you don't have ethernet boards then you might try other
options. I see that there is an NFS for AmiTCP which should work over
serial lines with a SLIP connection. I haven't tried this but maybe
someone who has could speak up. There is always Parnet if your parallel
ports are free. All of the above could keep you working within the GUI
domain as remote file systems would appear as devices that are accessible
from standard file requestors.
Goin' AP
…..Mark Sterling
Mark,
If this is of any use to you and you cannot find it anywhere, I can
Cmail it to you.
NetFS — network file system for AmiTCP
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Timo Rossi
Version 0.56 (19-Mar-94)
NetFS is a network filesystem for Amigas running the AmiTCP protocol
stack.
Requirements:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
. AmigaOS 2.04 or later (AmiTCP requires it anyway)
. AmiTCP version 3.0 or later.
. Some sort of network interface that has a Sana2 driver and works
with AmiTCP (Ethernet, ArcNet, SLIP, CSLIP, PLIP or something other).
Regards,
Michael Schumacher
Formula 1 on Autopilot
Michael,
Thanks for the offer. I'm not using AmiTCP at this time as I have
AS225r2. I hate to fool with something that ain't broke and AS225 works OK
for most things I need. I mostly log on to the Unix machine as a term to
run Unix applications and do the occasional file transfer. Envoy provides
resource sharing between two Amigas and their printers.
If NetFS is not on CI$ then you might upload it so others could get it.
Heck, I might give it a try on my two machines at home. I have been
meaning to set up a SLIP connection to my Unix machine at work. Right now
it has only a regular dial-up port.
Goin' AP
…..Mark Sterling
Mark,
I'd be interested in any pointers you might have. I've got a situation
similar to yours in that I've been using amigas as dumb terminals on my
unix box at work. It also has a dialup connections that I often use at
night from home. I'd really like to be able to transfer files to and from
the Amigas. What exactly do I need to do this?
-Richard
Utilities like Kermit, or sz on the Unix side will allow you to do file
transfers to your Amiga. Do you have those on your Unix box at work?
Unfortunately no sz or kermit on the system. My current plan is to use
VLT to dump the ascii source for sz into the Unix box and compile it
there.
A Unix system without even kermit is pretty darn lame.
In alot of ways, this Unix installation is pretty darn lame. No man pages
and alot of other stuff was left out.
On the other hand, it's mind boggling how efficient the thing is. This is
an attendance, grading system for the Oakland Public Schools deparment of
adult education with over 10,000 active students and about 10 times that
many in the database. we got 20 terminals, 6 printers, and 4 optical mark
scanners spread out over 5 separate sites all running without a cough on a
wimpy 68020.
-Richard
Are you using ethernet to connect locally? I'm using the Rlogin
program with AS225 TCP/IP and ethernet cards to connect to the Unix
box as a dumb terminal. I was able to use the termcap files from
AS225 on the Unix box with good success which allows things like
function keys to work. For dialup I use JRcomm which has a vt100 emu
that works great for me.
The Unix box does not have NFS at this time but I do use the FTP
function to transfer files to and from the Unix machine. I assume
AmiTCP would have FTP which should work fine. If you have NFS on the
Unix box then your Amigas could be clients with AmiTCP. I don't have
file transfer working from the dialup port. I think Kermit would work
if I had it running on the Unix box. I'm really dumb about what it
would take to set up a Slip connection. Goin' AP …..Mark Sterling
Thanks for the info Mark. No local ethernet here. I tried JRcomm but ended
up using VLT. The dialup line is the one I really want to use for file
transfers.
-Richard
Richard,
Although I don't have it working; I would think that getting Kermit going
would be the easiest way to accomplish file transfer. VLT has Kermit and
there is a Kermit for about any Unix out there. I don't have a compiler
for my Unix so I can't just grab the source. I'm using ISC Unix from
Sunsoft.
Goin' AP
…..Mark Sterling
Zmodem is probably a better way to go. I downloaded RZSZ.TAZ from the
unixforum. I uuencoded it on my amiga and pasted it through vlt into the
cat utility on the unixbox. Needless to say, it took awhile but made it
over pretty nicely. Guess what? No uudecode on the unix box either. Guess
I should have checked first. It's kind of strange that with everything
that's missing from this unix system, there actually is a compiler in it.
The source code is also available on the unixforum so I guess I'll go that
route. You may actually want to try this file for your dialup connection.
-Richard
Richard,
Zmodem would be great! What exactly is RZSZ.TAZ? Is it in object form? I
do check in over at the Unixforum from time to time. I think I do have
uudecode on my Unix machine but no compiler. I wonder if the program would
run if not compiled on my ISC Unix version on a 486/66. What kind of Unix
do you have?
Goin' AP
…..Mark Sterling
Mark,
Actually that file, RZSZ.TAZ is in the SCOFORUM. I mistakenly attributed
it to the UNIXFORUM. I think it should work for you. It contains the
executeables. It works real well for me with my internet server. I finally
got sz compiled on my Unix box but didn't fair so well with rz. Not too
good at writing code myself but I can compile it and make some minor
adjustments as needed. The rz thing needs more than minor adjustments.
-Richard
Mark,
Ok, I'll check if the file is in the library of AmigaUser. If not, I'll
upload it.
Regards,
Michael Schumacher
Formula 1 on Autopilot
Mark,
As far as I know, the only DECnet implementation for the Amiga is TSSnet
from Thunder Ridge, which is based on the MAC version of TSSnet from
Thursby Software System, and which the Amiga port has helped debug. Some
things are just more obvious when you actually multitask <g>. I don't
believe Enlan is based on DECnet. But then again, contrary to popular
belief, I HAVE been wrong on ocassion B-)
Also, I believe that AmiTCP has the NFS client, though not the server.
DJ
On AP from Queens, the thrill and excitement of the Big Apple
Where a little paranoia keeps you healthy and sane …
DJ,
NetFS, which I mentioned in an earlier message, has both, client and
server.
Regards,
Michael Schumacher
Formula 1 on Autopilot
I need to remember to ask about it, but I've heard something about Enlan having
somethign DECnet in its past…
The words "ENLAN-DFS uses the DECNet protocol" are printed on page 21
of the ENLAN reference manual <wink>! On the other hand, I would
have sworn up and down that if one had a network already setup with
DEC's PathWorks, ENLAN would easily integrate into that environment.
Unfortunately, I can't readily find a reference to that rumor. Oh
well, doesn't matter — I don't have PathWorks! 🙂
Page 5, Enlan-DFS manual, "Enlan-DFS uses the DECnet network protocol
as its base…you can be assured ENLAN-DFS will cooperate on
pre-existing LAN installations." I guess there are at least two
DECnet implementations on the Amiga. Enlan-DFS seems pretty dang nice
to me! Fast and very transparent. I have heard of TSSnet didn't
Syndesis used to market it? I don't have AmiTCP so I'm not
completely sure if it has just client for NFS. I've been using
AS225r2 and haven't tried the NSF stuff in it either. Goin' AP
Yes, Syndesis once did have a DECnet for the Amiga. In December 1992, I bought
out my business partners, and the DECnet product was turned back over to them.
They were/are doing business as Thunder Ridge, Inc.
Yes, TSSnet is marketed by Thunder Ridge, which used to be part of
Syndesis. Have you actually used Enlan in a DECnet/Pathworks environment,
i.e. do you use DECnet addresses (area.node)? Can you SETHOST to a VAX
using Enlan? Does it use NCP and NFT or equivalent? Just curious …
DJ
On AP from Queens, the thrill and excitement of the Big Apple
Where a little paranoia keeps you healthy and sane …
DJ,
Too bad you're not close by — it would be fun to see if ENLAN-DFS
would work in the Pathworks environment 🙂
ENLAN does use the DECnet addressing scheme!
I don't know anything about SETHOST, NCP, nor NFT 🙁
EdV
Enlan does use the DECnet style adresses where the node address=area
number * 1024 + node number. I can't find any reference in the manual to
SETHOST, NCP or NFT. Apparently these are run on a remote DEC host or are
unimplemented in Enlan. I don't even know what they mean. I have zip for
experience with DEC stuff.
Goin' AP
…..Mark Sterling
SETHOST does remote logins (like rlogin in TCP/IP), NCP sets network
protocol configurations (Network Control Program) and NFT does file access
and transfer. You probably have similar utilities.
DJ
On AP from Queens, the thrill and excitement of the Big Apple
Where Santa's always got a brand new bag …
DJ,
Thanks for the explanations of SETHOST, NCP and NFT. They do have their
counterparts in TCP/IP. I don't think Enlan has such facilities on a
DECnet system. It is primarily a peer-to-peer Amiga network that utilizes
the DECnet protocol underneath. It did come with a shareware utility that
allows viewing the front screen on a remote machine and even controlling
the keyboard and mouse input including reboot.
Goin' AP
…..Mark Sterling
In a nutshell, unless I already had a NetWare server, I'd go with TCP/IP —
that is my setup here (though my setup includes OS/2, Sun and Amiga without
Mac).
Mark's answer sums up most of the "whats". If you want more details (including
some of the whys and the hows), you might take a look at my book, "Connect Your
Amiga."
Or keep asking your questions here (actually, over in AmigaUser/networking
might be more appropriate).
I was going to suggest Dale's book, but I see he's already done that<g>.
Robb
To Mark, Dick, Michael, Dale & Robert –
Many thanks for your comments so far. I will now digest these and see what I
can come up with!
I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks again.
Phil
Philip,
You might try the Networking section of the AmigaUser forum, where Dale
Larson, N.E.A.L. (Networking Expert At Large), roams. You might also
check out his book on networking, Connect Your Amiga, available from IAM –
check out the IAM section in the AmigaVend forum for ordering info.
DJ
On AP from Queens, the thrill and excitement of the Big Apple
Where a little paranoia keeps you healthy and sane …
We don't have a section in AmigaVend — I have to send in a new application for
that since the first one was ignored.
I could've sworn … getting senile, I guess 🙁
DJ
On AP from Queens, the thrill and excitement of the Big Apple
Where a little paranoia keeps you healthy and sane …