From: chris@lindblat.cc.monash.edu.au (Chris Younger)
Subject: Re: Software IP gateway between LocalTalk and EtherTalk? (summary)
Organization: Monash University
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 07:29:28 GMT

A few weeks ago I asked this question:

>I am trying to locate some software that will run on a Mac attached to both a
>LocalTalk network and ethernet network that will act as a gateway.  I am
>aware of both Apple's and Farallon's products but understand that these only
>gateway AppleTalk traffic.  I am after something that will gateway TCP/IP
>traffic.  There are only 4 Macs on the LocalTalk segment so we can't justify
>purchasing a hardware gateway solution.  Specifically we want the Macs on
>LocalTalk to be able to create telnet sessions to hosts on ethernet.

>One department here is using PCroute with an ethernet and LocalTalk card in
>a PC to do the job.  Unfortunately the LocalTalk card is very old and
>unidentifiable.  We tried using a Dayna LocalTalk card but the PCroute
>software didn't recognize it.

>Thanks for your suggestions

This is a summary of the responses I got and the solution we ended up using.

One person suggested using the Versaterm Pro package as the gateway.  I looked
into this and found that we'd need to run the Versaterm telnet on each Mac
instead of the cheaper NCSA telnet.  Because of cost this line wasn't
pursued any further.

I got suggestions for various software solutions in the Mac but to work at
their best they need to take over the whole Mac.  The Mac that was to be used
was a Mac LC II.  Since this in effect makes the Mac unusable as anything
other than the gateway it is actually an expensive solution.  Products that
were suggested include:

	MultiGate Mac
	SuperBridge from Sonic Systems

At the moment SuperBridge is a AppleTalk only gateway that consists of an
init that runs on a Mac with ethernet and LocalTalk network connections.  Soon
to be released is SuperBridge/TCP which is SuperBridge plus a DDP-IP
gateway.

Many people also suggested hardware solutions that we can't justify in this
case.  I should point out that in other places on campus where we can 
justify the cost of a hardware solution we use the Webster Multigate product
that performs perfectly.

Another suggestion I received was to use Farallon's Liason software AppleTalk
router and point it to a Webster box to do the IP in AppleTalk encapsulation.

What we ended up doing was to purchase a Farallon LocalTalk card for the PC
and install it in an old PC running PCroute.  We didn't use the driver
software that came with the card but the software that the other
department mentioned above uses in their PCrouter with the old unidentifiable
LocalTalk card.  This solution works perfectly for us.  The Macs on LocalTalk
can now run telnet to access the hosts they need.  They don't have access
to any external AppleTalk zones but this isn't something we need.  The
LocalTalk card cost around A$500.  We envisage that we will only need to use
this solution for about 12 months before the Macs are upgraded and will have
ethernet cards in them.

I have a few more details available on some solutions, so if you want the whole
lot then just ask me!

Chris

==============================================================================
Chris Younger - Systems Programmer   Internet: chris@lindblat.cc.monash.edu.au
Computer Centre, Monash University   Phone:    +61 3 565 4794
Clayton, Victoria  3168, Australia   Fax:      +61 3 565 4746
==============================================================================