>From: "Vaughan, John" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 10:26:20 -0600
>How do I connect a Laserwriter IIg to my 8600 via printer/serial cable, plus >run File Sharing and my network-shared broadboand Internet connection via my >built-in Ethernet port? The whole Appletalk concept is messing with me, and >I can't figure out how to make it all work. Right now, I've got the >Laserwriter IIg connected to the Mac's printer port, I've got Appletalk >running over "Ethernet built-in", and I've got TCP/IP running over "Ethernet >built-in". Internet works, file sharing works, but in the Chooser, when I >click on LaserWriter 8, there is no printer there. And, yes, the printer is >on. If I put Appletalk to "Printer Port", the printer shows up. > >WHAT's THE DEAL? I feel like this is such a basic question after using Macs >for 15 years, but I'm open to input. Thanks in advance. You've fallen into Apple's Serial vs. LocalTalk trap. The Laserwriter II in all its incarnations (II, nt, f, g) is an AppleTalk printer. That isn't a serial port on the printer. It is a LocalTalk port. You must connect it to your Mac using a LocalTalk (or Ethernet connection is also available on the IIf and IIg). This means that it is not a serial printer. That's why you can't get it to work unless you enable AppleTalk at the Printer port. You see, while the Printer and Modem ports are called Serial ports they actually serve double duty. Use them one way and they are serial ports. But, if you point the AppleTalk network protocol at one of them, it transforms into a LocalTalk port. AppleTalk is the network protocol--think of it as analogous to a language. Localtalk is the hardware medium, analogous to ethernet or token ring. So, your IIg does not work as a serial printer. The only way to print to it is for it to be connected to your ethernet network, or to a LocalTalk port. In order for your Printer Port to be a LocalTalk port, you must activate AppleTalk for that port. Of course, when you do that, AppleTalk is no longer active on ethernet. Okay, that's the problem. There are at least three possible solutions: 1) The IIg comes equipped with an ethernet port. Just hook the thing up to your ethernet hub with an ethernet cable. Assuming you have a hub and have a spare port. But hubs are super cheap. Get a simple 8 port ethernet hub for under $30 and you're set. 2) Get the LocalTalk Bridge or LaserWriter Bridge software and install that on your Mac. That will let you use AppleTalk on both your printer port and your ethernet ports. There may be issues with compatibility with later OS versions. 3) Get an AsanteTalk LocalTalk to Ethernet bridge. Use it to bridge from your ethnernet network to the LocalTalk port on the printer. I'm not sure why you would do this, when you could just hook the printer directly to the ehternet, but maybe your enet port on the printer is busted or something. Jeff Walther -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
