Hardware for AppleShare 3?

[tdiaz]

I'd like to setup AppleShare 3 on something for use with Apple II's and Classic Mac OS.

Trying to figure out what to shoot for, figuring that I'd like to use an SSD and store it's contents on a sparse disk image mounted from a server.

So, something that can run AppleShare 3 with IDE and at least 100Base-T Ethernet.

A Powerbook 150 would almost be perfect though there's no real ethernet options.



Ideally, Netatalk 2.x from a shared HFS+ sparse disk image would do, too. But HFS+, .DMG and *nix? Hmmm... Wonder what Netatalk would do if it was sharing from HFS+ anyway, since it seems to be dialed in for file systems that do not natively support resource forks.

Resource Forks are just a mess with ._DotUnderscore.
.AppleDouble isn't nearly as bad.

 

[MacTech68]

IIRC IDE is only ATA(16) on older Macs that can run 'Classic Networking' as well as 'Open Transport Networking' - so an SSD is really wasted, unless I'm missing something.

Since AS3.0.x requires System 7.0 or later, 4MB RAM or more and at least a vanilla 68000 CPU, I'd probably look at something like a 68040 running 7.1 or 7.5.x - Note that I can't find specific reference to AppleShare 3.0.x running on an 040 CPU.

However, you won't get 10/100 ethernet until you get to a PCI based Macintosh so that means a PPC 601 or 603/604. You'd need to find a card with Mac drivers for system 7.5.2 or later. Often the drivers can be patched to run on the same chipset of another manufacturer. (Yes, there is a 10/100 CommSlot II card out there but these are extremely rare).

Yes, you could go with a Powerbook with PCMCIA with a 10/100 card but finding working cards with drivers and/or breakout cables (often missing) is difficult.

NOTE:
I've never used AppleShare but used vanilla AFP on MacO 8.6 and even used Apple's "LocalTalk Bridge v2.1" software to pipe AFP shares to machines without ethernet via the "Localtalk" serial ports - slow as **** and sometimes crashes, but it got the job done.


Ultimately, there are so many variables, it's difficult to give a definitive answer.

Can you explain why you wish to run AppleShare rather than just personal FileSharing on an older OS ? (Curious)

 

[tdiaz]

Because I don't want to mess with spinning disks long term and there's very few SSD/Like options for SCSI, hence the desire for a Mac that supports IDE since I've got a couple 40 pin SSDs as well as plenty of those CF card adapters.

Otherwise an LC III or Quadra 605 would fit the bill, save for 100 Base-T being rare. I've got all kinds of 10 Base-T stuff. But with 100 Base-T, accessing from current OS's won't be a huge bottleneck.

In the era of when all we had was 10Base-T and RG-58, I've used IP Net Router, Vicom Gateway, and LocalTalk Bridge. Some 10 Base-T stuff hates being plugged into 100/1000 Base-T hardware to where you've got to put a hub in between. I've got PCI NICs that are supported by 7.x and up. There's also Farallon cards for Comm Slot II that do 100Base-T.

While Personal File Sharing does support the original AppleTalk protocol. (Pre-Phase II), it does not network booting.

I've been using NetAtalk 2.x from a FreeBSD server that I setup in 2010, but I've experienced oddities at times with resource forks over the years and want to try a native file system under it.

I've thought about adding HFS Plus and Sparse Disk Image to the latest *nix that I can still use Netatalk 2.x with. (Appletalk needs to be in the kernel). Netatalk 3 does not support A2Boot or less than ASIP.

Though I'm unsure what Netatalk 2 would do if the filesystem it was sharing from was HFS Plus since it's expecting to be using a filesystem that does not natively support resource forks.

 

[MacTech68]

I'm loathed to recommend a PowerMac 6200 (for the IDE drive) due to the number of power supplies I've fixed over the years (and many that take out the PWM and associated components).

You could go with a Powermac 63xx (also with IDE) - which is the first with a PCI slot for a 10/100 card. But these are pretty slow.

Or you could do what I did and put a 5500/250Mhz motherboard into a 6300 case. You get LC-PDS, PCI, SCSI, IDE, Localtalk and ATI acceleration.

Just depends on what systems AppleShare 3 will install onto. It also really needs to be a MacOS that will allow "Classic Networking". Some of the later PPCs don't allow it IIRC.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Quadra 605 with either a SCSI-to-IDE adapter or a SCSI2SD, and a PDS slot Ethernet card.