From: rmh@taligent.com (Rick Holzgrafe)
Subject: Re: MacX25?
Organization: Semicolon Software
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 19:41:32 GMT

In article <1992Dec31.040637.2808619596@ultramac.uucp>, michaelf@psg.com
(Michael Fetzer) writes:
> 
> it has become apparent I may be able to make an X25 connection through tymnet
> to one of my hosts. Asking around, I got some info from a netter stating there
> was a product called MacX25 out there.

Yes, there is, but offhand I'd guess it's not what you need. Read on...

> Questions: where can I get it? I assume, it is like MacTCP and available on
> some net site? Archie turned up nothing, but I may have searched to narrowly.

It's not available for download, and it's not available on store shelves.
(MacX25 is mainly intended for large corporate organizations; you may find it's
too expensive for your purposes.) Try APDA, they probably know about it. Failing
that, call Apple general information and see what you can track down.

> Also, are there special harware requiremtns? I assume that since it's a
> regular dial in, my Supra v.32bis modem in synch mode can do the trick?

When originally shipped (early 1990, I think), there was no switched X.25, and
MacX25 required a leased line. (Translation: it wouldn't work with a modem.) I
don't know whether its capabilities have been enhanced since then.

MacX25 requires a NuBus serial communications card, also available from Apple.
(And, of course, a Mac that has a free NuBus slot.) The card can be configured
either for four RS-232 connections, or two V.32 connections (to the leased X.25
lines mentioned above). The card is required because it contains a 68000
processer and a biggish chunk of RAM; the X.25 protocol engine actually runs on
the card, not on the Mac.

All that is for the server software. To use it, you also need the client
software, which includes MacPAD, a CTB virtual terminal that lets you use MacX25
for virtual terminal connections. The client software can be run anywhere on an
AppleTalk network that also includes the server; that is, it doesn't have to run
on the same Mac as the server. The client package also includes a set of MPW
libraries and stuff to let you access the PAD and/or the server from your own
custom code.

The server Mac does not have to be dedicated to MacX25. It can be used as a
regular Mac, so long as the X.25 traffic is not too high. The server will
support up to 32 simultaneous virtual circuits, but be prepared to dedicate it
to MacX25 if you really have a large number of simultaneous active circuits.

Additional software requirements include ADSP (for client/server communications)
and A/Rose (for communication between Mac motherboard and NuBus card.) These are
bundled with System 7, and I think they're included with MacX25 for System
6.0.x.

Disclaimer: I worked on MacX25 for Apple, but it was several years ago and my
memory is fuzzy on the details. Find whoever's marketing it and ask them for the
real info.

Advice: All things considered, you're probably best off just dialing up Tymnet
yourself. The fact that they use X.25 needn't concern you: they provide a simple
virtual terminal interface that your existing modem and software should have no
trouble with.

> Mike
> 
> -- 
> michaelf@psg.com       uunet!m2xenix!michaelf

-- Rick Holzgrafe, a member of the Taligentsia
   Rick_Holzgrafe@taligent.com
   rmh@taligent.com