This is the first of three parts.
Many users have asked about connecting Macintosh to a Novell network, and
for up-to-date information on the status of Macintosh NetWare.
The ability of AppleTalk to communicate over broadband networks is done by
using:
1. A FastPath (AppleTalk-to-Ethernet converter).
2. A broadband multiplexer (like those sold by Allen-Bradley: VistaMap
10MBps).
3. Another broadband multiplexer to convert the signal back on to Ethernet.
4. A receiving FastPath to convert back onto AppleTalk.
Complete information about NetWare can be obtained by connecting to the
Novell demo BBS. The number is (800) 444-4472
Compatibility settings are: 8 bits, parity=none, stops=1, 1200-baud; the
access code is NVSOF4.
Here is a brief overview of the Novell information:
With 32 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) reselling NetWare and with
an installed base of over 145,000 file server-based networks, NetWare has
become an unofficial standard in the LAN industry.
Netware-Supported Configurations
--------------------------------
The following is a list of NetWare-supported networks.
BASEBAND NETWORKS
Linear Bus Networks
Asher-G AST PCnet II AST-RSN
AST Starport AST Turbostar AT&T StarLAN
Codenoll Ethernet Cordata InterNet Link Cordata InterNet Link 286
Corvus Omninet Gateway G-Net IBM PC Cluster
IBM PC Network Baseband MICOM-Interlan Ethernet NEC Omninet
Networth vLAN Networth Elan North Star Dimension
Novell NetWare Ethernet Novell NetWare G-Net Orchid PCnet
Racal-Milgo PLANET Racore LAN Pac Santa Clara PCnet/Ethernet
Texas Instruments Ethernet Torus Ethernet 3Com EtherLink
3Com EtherLink Plus Ungermann-Bass Net/ Unisys Usernet-86
Univation StarLAN One Ethernet Western Digital StarLAN
TOKEN-PASSING NETWORKS
Asher-P Star Networks:
Comterm ARCNET
Davong Multilink TeleVideo Personal Mini
IBM Token-Ring Novell S-Net
Kaypro ARCNET
Nestar PLAN 2000
Novell NetWare RX-Net
Proteon ProNET-4
Proteon ProNET-10
Pure Data ARCNET
Standard Microsystems ARCnet
Torus Token-Ring
BROADBAND NETWORKS
Linear Bus Networks
IBM PC Network
Sytek System 6000
Allen-Bradley Vista
IBM Personal System/2
---------------------
Advanced NetWare and System Fault Tolerant NetWare provide workstation and
file server support for IBM's Personal System/2 series of microcomputer
products. Novell also offers a software bridge to link the IBM PC network,
the new Token-Ring Network, and other NetWare-supported networks.
Netware Operating System Software
---------------------------------
Just as DOS was designed specifically for standalone workstations, NetWare
was designed specifically for networking. The NetWare operating system runs
in the file server, which manages shared resources. DOS runs in the
workstations, allowing for local processing.
A software component called the NetWare "shell" lets the file server
communicate with DOS and application software in the workstations. The shell
sends DOS functions to the workstation, but sends NetWare functions to the
file server to be handled by the LAN operating system. NetWare remains
unchanged, regardless of what software is running in the workstations, which
is why NetWare can support many hardware types, and can support multiple
versions of DOS on the network simultaneously.
NetWare operating system software offers several powerful features,
including DOS 3.x compatibility. DOS compatibility allows multiuser
software applications that are developed for DOS to run unmodified on
NetWare. Another feature, internal bridging, permits as many as four
networks to bridge through the file server.
NetWare is fully compatible with NetBIOS, an industry standard that controls
the way software interfaces with IBM and IBM-compatible networks. NetWare's
NetBIOS compatibility means that NetWare supports all software and hardware
designed around NetBIOS, including software and hardware developed for the
IBM PC and Token-Ring networks.
This article is continued in "Macintosh-To-Novell Netware With AppleTalk,
Part 2 of 3."