Apple Remote Access: Not Seeing Some AppleTalk Devices

I have an ethernet-based AppleTalk network with a few computers and printers, and I use Apple Remote Access (ARA) to dial into a remote ethernet-based AppleTalk network. When I connect, I can see only some of the remote network's servers and printers, or I can no longer see some local servers and printers in the Chooser. If I connect via ARA from other computers on the local network, some devices show up while different ones disappear.

Is this a known issue, and is there a way to keep this problem from occurring?
Yes, this is known issue that occurs when a client on an extended network (ex: ethernet, Token Ring) w/o AppleTalk routing connects via ARA to another extended network w/o AppleTalk routing.

Here are the boundaries for connecting via ARA in these circumstances:
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LOCAL NETWORK - All AppleTalk devices' network numbers must either be in the startup range (65280-65534) or the network numbers must be the same as the network number of the ARA client Mac.

REMOTE NETWORK - All AppleTalk devices' network numbers CANNOT be in the startup range. They can be anything but within the startup range. They do not need to agree with the ARA server's network number.

Any devices that do not meet these boundaries will not be visible from the ARA client while connected.

WORKAROUNDS

- Set the AppleTalk control panel to "Remote Only" or to a serial port when connecting via ARA. However, this will prevent access to the local network while using ARA.

- Use an AppleTalk router to change the network numbers for all the devices on the local and/or remote network. You would only have to install and run the router temporarily (a few minutes). Each device would need to be restarted to ensure they all acquire a new network hint. Once this is done, you could then remove the router.

PARTIAL WORKAROUNDS

For missing local computers:
Reset the PRAM of each Macintosh computer on the local network that cannot be seen while connecting via ARA. You do not need to reset the PRAM of the ARA client Macintosh. Resetting the Macintosh computer's PRAM will set the network number to a random number within the startup range.

For missing remote computers:
Manually change the network number of any missing devices as follows:


This will change the network number and ensure it acquires a new network hint while still allowing it to auto-negotiate its network node address in case of conflicts.

For missing local LaserWriters:
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to reset the network number of a LaserWriter. In order for a LaserWriter to acquire a new network number, it must communicate with an AppleTalk router. If this is not possible, you can manually change the network number of all other local devices to match the network number of the printer as follows:
- Use a network utility such as MacPing or GetTheirAddress to determine the network number of the printer. - Open the AppleTalk control panel and switch to 'advanced mode'.
- Check the 'User Defined' box and enter the network number of the printer. Make sure you use a unique node number. - Save changes and restart the computer.
- Reopen the AppleTalk control panel and uncheck 'User Defined'.

This will change the network number and ensure it acquires a new network hint while still allowing it to auto-negotiate its network node address in case of conflicts.

For missing remote LaserWriters:
The network number for the LaserWriter needs to be set outside of the startup range. In order to do so, the printer must communicate with an AppleTalk router. The router could be removed once the LaserWriter has taken the new network number from the router.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012