Apologies for the time taken to submit this summary... For those
that requested summaries, hopefully the "condensed version" below
is enough. If more detailed comments are wanted, please send me
E-mail.
The original question:
>---
> We're thinking about giving ourselves access to a local printer
> from our Sparc's: 10/30 and IPC. Sun's suggestion was, of course,
> to purchase a SparcPrinter. I've heard good and bad things about
> the SparcPrinters (from "don't do it -- we've had nothing but
> problems." to "we haven't had a single problem with ours"). We're
> also not real excited about having to purchase upgrade of the NeWS
> software...
>
> Additionally, if possible, we would like to be able to print from
> some Mac's (Centris 610, Mac II's) we have connected to the ethernet.
> Since we can't afford a FastPath gateway to convert from AppleTalk to
> EtherNet-talk, we're looking for another way to get this done...
>
> One suggestion was to purchase an Apple LaserWriter IIg and an
> ethernet adapter and connect it directly to the ethernet. This
> would allow access via EtherTalk to those Mac's that have a direct
> ethernet connection (which most of ours do) and access to the Sparc's
> via the ethernet.
>
> Does anybody have any experience with such a configuration? Does
> it work well? Any comments on the advantages/disadvantages? Any
> possible alternate configurations that we should be considering?
>---
All kinds of replies poured in for a wide variety of configurations
with each person noting a variety of advantages/disadvantages and
experiences. The longer comments are below.
The short answer to my question is: Yes, you can connect an Apple
Laserwriter IIg to the ethernet (after purchasing the correct
transceiver adapter). This will allow any MacIntoshes with an
ethernet connection to print via the EtherTalk protocol. The Sun's
can also print to the IIg after installing the CAP (Columbia Appletalk
Package) software which translates lpd -> ethertalk.
More detailed comments:
SparcPrinters:
--------------
o Much faster than the IIg -- because the SparcPrinter uses the
CPU and memory of the host SparcStation.
-- If you've got the CPU cycles and swap space available, the
SparcPrinter will out-perform the IIg.
-- People who hung the SparcPrinter off of "faster" Sparcs were
pleased with the speed and response - Sparc-2 class or higher.
-- Some people who hung them off and IPX or the like were very
disappointed in the drain on the host machine. This configuration
has also required inexplicable reboots for some managers -- not
good!
o Comments on the NeWSprint software went the full range.
-- One manager said keeping all SparcPrinters on the same version
of the software was an absolute necessity.
-- Another manager ran 3 SparcPrinters with different versions of
the NeWSprint software with no problem.
o The SparcPrinter gets close to the advertised 12ppm.
Apple Laserwriter IIg:
----------------------
o No problems connecting them to the ethernet, however they expect
"ethertalk" protocol. So, some software (see CAP below) is needed
to translate Sun's lpd protocol into ethertalk protocol.
o Several people attested to run similar heterogeneous networks with
very few problems.
o The Apple Laserwriter IIg is older technology.
-- Apple has come out with the Apple Laserwriter Pro 630 to replace
the IIg. Although the IIg is older, with the introduction of the
Pro 630, the price of the IIg dropped significantly.
o The IIg doesn't print at the advertised 8ppm for complicated
postscript files -- more like 4ppm.
o Connecting the IIg to the ethernet is much faster than connecting
it to a LocalTalk network and much more reliable.
CAP:
----o From the CAP FAQ: "The Columbia AppleTalk Package (CAP) implements the AppleTalk protocol stack on a variety of UNIX machines. The main applications provide an AppleShare 2.0 compatible server (aufs), a LaserWriter Spooler (lwsrv), a program to print to LaserWriters (papif). The latter can be used to talk to EtherTalk LaserWriters, LocalTalk LaserWriters on Dayna EtherPrint cards or on a LocalTalk/EtherTalk gateway."
o The software can be obtained via anonymous FTP at: rutgers.EDU src/{cap60.tar.Z,cap60.patches/*} munnari.OZ.AU mac/{cap60.tar.Z,cap.patches/*} gatekeeper.DEC.COM pub/net/appletalk/cap/{cap60.tar.Z,cap.patches/*} ftp.kuis.kyoto-u.AC.JP net/cap/{cap60.tar.Z,cap60.patches/*.Z} src.doc.ic.AC.UK mac/multigate/{cap60.tar.Z,cap.patches/*}
o This software _has_ been compiled under Solaris 2.x.
o This software came highly recommended by quite a number of people.
o It can be a bit of a trick to install -- several people recommended asking somebody that has installed a similar network to avoid CAP installation pitfalls. For info. alt.protocols.appletalk may be able to help with the installation.
HP LaserJets: -------------
o The HP LaserJet 4 came recommended as an alternative printer to be used as a small low throughput printer.
o The HP LaserJet III comes with an ethernet interface -- some hacking was required to get this one to talk to the Sun's.
o The HP Laserjet 4si multi-protocol printer with an ethernet card hot switches various protocols (e.g. ethertalk, lpd-protocol) right on the printer. Out of our price range at around $5,000.
o The HP Laserjet4M at 600dpi and can be configured to accept multiple interfaces at the same time -- a definite alternative -- price range around $2,000.
Misc. Comments: ---------------
o There is a Mac program from Apple called "internet router" that will allow a Mac to do the routing from Ethernet to LocalTalk in the background. If the printer is primarily for use by the Macs, this would be useful. The CAP software would still be needed for the Sun's to translate lpd -> ethertalk
o The Lantronix EPS-1 prnit server speaks TCP/IP, NetWare, LAT and other protocols. Comes with both serial and parallel ports to front-end your printers.
Many thanx to all that replied (hope I didn't miss anyone!):
Mark Anderson <manderso@mitre.or> Liesl Andrico <andrico@parcplace.com> Peter Baumann <baum@kirk.es.go.dlr.de> Daniel R. Bidwell <bidwell@elrond.cs.andrews.edu> Steve Brown <helios!electron.var.com!scb@uunet.UU.NET> David B. Brown <dbrown@lizzard.med.utah.edu> Oleg Chaikovsky <oleg@ddrsrv.dny.rockwell.com> Beth Chaney <bac@ecn.purdue.edu> Mike <davis@ee.udel.edu> Gilbert Detillieux <gedetil@cs.umanitoba.ca> Aydin Edguer <edguer@alpha.CES.CWRU.Edu> Nico Garcia <raoul@Athena.MIT.EDU> Matt Goheen <0005979262@mcimail.com> Kai Grossjohann <grossjoh@schroeder.informatik.uni-dortmund.de> Michael G. Harrington <mgh@bihobl2.bih.harvard.edu> Tanya Herlick <tanya@ora.com> Andrew Hodgson <ash@aaii.oz.au> Cameron Humphries <cameron@cs.adelaide.edu.au> Perry Hutchison <perryh@pluto.rain.com> Jeffrey Marans <jeff@erie.irc.nrc.ca> Sven Maurmann <sven@alkestis.mpim-bonn.mpg.de> Mark J. McIntosh <Mark.McIntosh@engr.UVic.CA> Michael D. Reynolds <reynolds@icgmfg.mke.ab.com> Pete Sardella <sardellp@ccc2.meadow.mdso.vf.ge.com> Shelley L. Shostak <sls@phy.duke.edu> Ron Stamp <rl02@albnydh2.bitnet> Phill St-Louis <phill2@hivnet.ubc.ca> John Storm <storm@geog.utah.edu> Jason L Tibbitts III <tibbs@math.UH.EDU> Mark Wallen <mwallen@ucsd.edu> Ted Whitely <twhitely@tr1072.to.ford.com> Peter Young <pjy@mso.anu.edu.au> Dan Zambon <dzambon@afit.af.mi>
--Michael Zika (SysAdmin in training) Nuclear Engineering Texas A&M University (zika@fatman.tamu.edu)
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Fri Sep 28 2001 - 23:08:00 CDT