AppleShare Pro: System 6.x Created CD-ROMs

I have a custom CD-ROM disk that was shareable over AppleShare 3.0.x, but does not seem to be shareable over AppleShare Pro. The problem seems to be with AppleShare Pro not recognizing CD-ROMs that were created with a System 6.x type desktop. The CD-ROM appears on the Apple Workgroup Server (AWS) 95 desktop, but is not being shared.

I tested a CD-ROM that was known to have been mastered on a System 6.x volume. The dialog box message that is given when the (System 6.x type desktop) CD-ROM is inserted into the drive is, "The volume "xxxxx" could not be prepared for use with AppleShare Pro". The only option given is an "OK" button, which dismisses the dialog box and the CD-ROM volume appears on the AWS 95 desktop. If the AppleShare Admin program is then run, the CD-ROM does not appear in the list of available volumes. This CD-ROM cannot therefore be shared over the network.

The CD-ROM I used for testing was the "Bill and Dave's Excellent CD (Release Version)" from the Developer CD series. Interestingly, the Finder window of this mounted CD-ROM showed it to be locked, but didn't show the non-writable (crossed-out-pen) symbol. Another System 7.x formatted CD-ROM (October 93 Developer's CD) was mounted to compare it to the behavior of the System 6.x formatted CD-ROM. This CD-ROM appeared on the desktop and was available for selection in the AppleShare Admin program as a shareable volume. In the Finder, it had a locked icon as well as a non-writable icon in the Finder window for that volume.

Does this mean that System 6.x created CD-ROMs cannot be used with AppleShare Pro?

AppleShare Pro is not able to share System 6.x based CD-ROMs. The CD-ROM must have System 7.x style desktop files on it for it to be shared on an AWS 95. This limitation is a result of A/UX not allowing the desktop files for a volume to be on a separate volume. This is required when System 6.x based CD-ROMs are shared.

To illustrate, when the "Phil and Dave's Excellent CD (Release Version)" CD-ROM is first mounted on a System 7 Macintosh, the Desktop files are created and stored in the "Preferences" folder within the "System Folder". The Desktop files for the CD-ROM are on the boot volume and A/UX can't do this.

Under A/UX, it is not necessary to have System 7 style Desktop files to see the contents of the volume, but they are necessary if the volume is to be shared.