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From: evan@ndcheg.UUCP (Evan Bauman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Networking questions
Message-ID: <335@ndcheg.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 29-Nov-87 22:27:51 EST
Article-I.D.: ndcheg.335
Posted: Sun Nov 29 22:27:51 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 2-Dec-87 22:13:18 EST
References: <2280@Shasta.STANFORD.EDU>
Organization: Univ. of Notre Dame
Lines: 45
Keywords: MacServe, Tops, System Folders

In article <2280@Shasta.STANFORD.EDU>, udell@Shasta.STANFORD.EDU (Jon Udell) writes:
> I have a few questions concerning networking.  We plan on networking two
> SEs, a Plus, and two 128s (upgraded to Pluses) to a hard disk and a
> laserwriter.  We hope to partition the hard disk somehow (HD Partition or
> a networking program) so that there is one set of applications for each Mac.
> We would also like to have globally accessible partitions and password
> protected partitions if possible.  Now for the questions:
> 
> Is it possible to store multiple systems on the hard disk?  I've heard
> rumors to the contrary.  This would be extremely useful given that
> MultiFinder spools to the system disk.  Conversely, spooling appears to be
> useless (for all but one Mac) without this.

First, I'll have to say that having just one disk to serve 5 active Macs might
be inadequate.  You may want to think of adding another cheap 20MB SCSI disk.
It is NOT possible to have all the system folders reside on the one hard disk.  Macs
without hard disks must be booted from a floppy.

> 
> Does anyone have any networking program recommendations?  A consultant I
> talked to recommended MacServe over Appleshare, but didn't know anything
> about TOPS.  The ComputerWare salesman I talked to recommended TOPS over
> MacServe, but gave me promotional literature for TOPS IBM.

We have a dozen Macs and a laswewriter on appletalk sharing one 30 MB disk
using MacServe.  Most of the time, only 2 or three Macs are active, so we don't
run into problems.  MacServe will add the partitions and passwords to your
hard disk.  MacServe is easy to setup and maintain.  Backups are a little
difficult though.

> 
> Assuming that multiple system files can be stored on the hard disk, is there
> any way to automatically boot the Macs from the hard disk (or automatically
> switch systems after booting)?

As I said, you cannot boot a Mac over appletalk.  There was some discussion
here previously about Apple's intentions regarding this.  I think the answer was
that it has low priority at Apple.  They may do it for the Mac ][.
You can switch system folders, but we have found this to be wasteful.  You need
to boot from the floppy, so why not keep using that system?


	Evan Bauman
	Univ. of Notre Dame
	..!iuvax!ndcheg!evan