[WinMac] Re: Network Virgin, Part I of II
Dan Schwartz(expresso[at]snip.net)
Sun, 29 Nov 1998 11:44:35 -0500
Good morning, Carol!
For starting out, you are in better shape than your partner, since the
Performa needs a network card... And probably a bit more for network
printing. I’m breaking this into 2 letters -- One for your site, and one
for your partner’s site.
--------
Basically, we need to separate the file and print services at each site
into 4 distinct tasks, with each being tackled in an effective, *standards
based* manner.
Let’s start with your site:
A) Sharing a printer is relatively simple, since most likely you own a
PostScript laser printer. Just hook the x86 machine into the parallel port
input of the printer and off you go;
B) Sharing files is also relatively simple, since your Macs already have
ethernet:
B1) Just drop a decent ethernet card into your x86 box and get a hub (if
you don’t already have one. Asante makes a nice multi-platform 10/100 PCI
card for $39.95, based on the DEC 21140 chipset. [In fact, you can get two
more of these cards, drop them into your Power Macs, and watch them explode
in speed!] In any case, you’ll definitely want a PCI network interface card
(NIC), for bus interrupt purposes. [In fact, if you throw out/replace all
of the ISA cards with PCI cards, you’ll have a plug & play machine
regardless of the operating system used];
B2) Once you have the hardware in place, you need to determine the best
way to share files. You need to determine if you want the Macs “bend” to
fit the PC, or vice versa, and this is highly dependant on the operating
system on the x86 box. (more in B3, below).
At this point, I’ll digress a moment for both sites: All each of you need
is or one box on each site to be running NT/Server, and (virtually) all of
the cross-platform problems, hacks, and “issues” will evaporate. Just load
NT’s Services For Macintosh, and this will force the PC to “bend” to the
Macs. [It’s worth noting that I was a Mac evangelist for the longest time,
until I bought a DEC Alpha and loaded an NFR copy of NT/Server I was given
by a dealer... I was hooked.]
The big decision, again, is if you want the Macs "bend" to fit the PC, or
vice versa. When crossing platforms, in the general case, you need to find
some form of commonality. With the Mac in the equation, this can get very
tricky very fast because of the MacOS’ unique file format: Unlike any other
platform (such as DOS, VMS, Unix, NT) the Mac uses files with two “forks:”
The Data Fork, and the Resource Fork.
The Data Fork is relatively straightforward: This is the contents of a
file, and when crossing platforms the Data Fork contains the actual “meat”
of the file.
The Resource Fork is what separates the Mac from any other file format:
It is very fragile, and requires special handling. Fortunately, only MacOS
platform-specific applications (such as SimpleText, PhotoShop for Mac,
etc...) and older applications’ generated files. Fortunately, most modern
Mac applications generate so-called “cross-platform” files that don’t have
this delicate Resource Fork.
This last scenario, with Mac applications generating cross-platform
files, however needs to be taken with a grain of salt. If you send
individual files, then you can skate by if you watch your P’s and Q’s.
However, for sending Mac files en masse to another platform (such as for
backup purposes), you need to take better care to protect these fragile
Resource Forks:
B2a) If the x86 box already has NT/Workstation on it, then using either
DAVE, PC MacLAN, or upgrading to NT/Server with Services for Macintosh will
work nicely. NT File System (NTFS) provides integral support for multiple
streams, although at present only Services For Macintosh uses more than one
stream. [Thanks are due Paul Bunn <mailto:paul@UltraBac.com> for pointing
this out to me.];
B2b) If the x86 box doesn’t have NT on it, consider upgrading to
NT/Server. If not, use Miramar Systems PC MacLAN
<http://www.miramarsys.com> (formerly known as AppleShare Client for
Windows). Since you (most likely) already have Finder File Sharing turned
on, so you can pass files between your Macs, then your PC will become a
client to the Macs.
B2c) Key to the decision is to decide which platform will be the server,
and which will be the client. ¶ B2a describes where the PC will be the
server and the Macs as clients; while ¶B2b describes the Mac(s) as the
server(s) and the PC as the client.
C) Which way do I go? Personally, I would recommend packing all of your
problems into upgrading your PII box to NT/Server, and here’s why:
C1) You instantly protect the fragile Resource Fork when storing Mac
files. This also opens up the door to tape backups of the Mac files on the
PC, without slowing down the Macs;
C2) You create a central point for your files: This way, you can turn OFF
performance sapping Finder File Sharing and pick up about a 20% speed
increase on the Macs;
C3) You can also turn ON Print Spooler for Macintosh, allowing you to
speedily flush print files out of your Mac to release the Mac much more
quickly. This is especially helpful in QuarkXPress.
C4) You can also pack all your remote access duties (Internet access)
onto NT’s RAS: With this, you unhitch the modem(s) from your Mac(s) and NT
will manage all the connections for you.
---------
More, for your partner, will follow shortly.
Yours truly,
Daniel L. Schwartz,
Electrical Engineer.
Dan's Macintosh Consulting
Suite 1306
1840 Frontage Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-2205
609-795-8965
-----------------------------------------------------------------
<mailto:expresso@snip.net>
Webmaster for <http://www.faulknerstudios.com>
-----------------------------------------------------------------
At 07:25 AM 11/29/98 +0000, Carol wrote:
>I always feel like a bad guest popping up on a list long enough to ask a
question &
>then silence. I've been a lurker on this one for months.
>
>My problem is this.
>
>I'm a Mac-based graphic designer with a Windows-based business partner
half a country
>away.
>
>We've compromised in that I've talked her into designing our sites on a
Mac and
>continuing to keep the books with Quickbooks on a Windows box.
>
>I'm sending her my 3-year-old Performa. Ain't much but it'll get her
started. She's
>sending me her mid-range Pentium 2. Our Pentiums need to transfer secure
bookkeeping
>files through Quickbooks on a day to day basis. Our Macs can ftp.
>
>My office:
>Mac 8500/G3 card with 9GB Ultrawide SCSI Cheetah
>A new G3
>The Pentium 2
>
>I would like them to share printers but not mandatory. I will be printing
only
>business reports off the Pentium. I would like them to share a backup
option which
>I'm exploring now. That's a whole other topic. The Macs sharing files is
more
>important than having the PC attached.
>
>Her office:
>Opposite of mine - several PCs and only 1 Mac.
>She will want to share files with the Mac. She has a lot of Lotus Word Pro
stuff. The
>Performa has no ethernet card but does have a slot. I removed the internal
modem a
>long time ago to give it another serial port.
>
>My questions.
>
>Do PC's also network through ethernet like Macs.
>If I buy a ethernet hub & cables, do I buy something like Dave or
PCMaclan. I've
>looked for some reviews of the two but haven't found much. Does this
software install
>on the PC?
>
>Would my partner do the same in her reverse situation.
>
>Will she need something like PowerPrint for the Mac to use her PC printers
. Even if
>she networks?
>
>I know I'm asking a lot. Anyone just kindly wanting to point me to a good
URL or two
>would be appreciated.
>
>Carol V
>
>
>
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