Sharing files, connections, and hardware (YAU PC)

by Alan Zisman (c) 2000. First published in Vancouver Computes, April 2000

Richard Jeffery wrote:
 
 I'm working with an outfit that uses iMacs networked peer to peer.  Is there any easy way to plug a PC into that set up? [apart from file  sharing protocols - it's the networking bit I'm not sure about]

And fconte wondered:

I work at an economics department which uses both PCs and Macs. Our web server is Mac-based. Mac users also use that Mac-based server for sharing folders through AppleShare. How can I allow PC users to view those same folders?
 
As well, A2Z pondered:

What is the best way to network Mac & PC w/ Windows 98 using Ethernet cards?

Alan Zisman answered:

There?s a commercial product, pcMacLan from Miramar Systems (www.miramarsys.com) that does just that-- it installs the AppleTalk networking protocol on the  PC, allowing it to be part of an existing Mac network.

If you want to do the opposite, connect a Mac to an existing Windows network, take a look at Dave from Thursby Systems (www.thursby.com). Each costs about CDN$225?but have downloadable working demo versions.

Sannah Jansen wondered:

I've read your answer about networking with a Mac and a PC. I would like to share my cable modem with a Mac G4 and a PC, connected with a hub and three Ethernet cards (two in my PC and one in my Mac). I have installed Webetc on my PC, but what IP addresses do I fill in for the Ethernet card that is connected to my cable modem (is this also my WAN IP address I fill in at WebETC?)

What IP address do I fill in  for the Ethernet card that is connected to the hub in my PC (=server?. And what address do I fill in on my TCP/IP settings on the Mac (using the Internet setup wizard)
 

Alan Zisman replied:

The IP address for the cable modem may be a dedicated one, set according to instructions by the cable company, or (more likely) it's left blank-- assigned dynamically by the cable company's server.

There are a number of banks of IP addresses reserved for local area networks-- this keeps them inaccessible by outsiders (and means that you're network and mine can use the same addresses, since they're not connected). One set that works, for instance, are 192.168.0.x

So you might make the PC 192.168.0.1 (subnet 255.255.255.0)
 

Use the PC's address as the gateway ( or router in the TCP/IP Control Panel) and the name server, and give the Mac a similar but different address-- for example, 192.168.0.2 (same subnet)

Per Münster queried:

Can you tell me whether I can read a CD written for Mac on a Windows NT (or 98)?

The reason is that I have received a number of CD's from our marketing company and I believe, that they use Mac. The CD's seem to be filled, but the directory is blank.

Alan Zisman responded:

While Macs come with a system utility to allow them to read PC media,  you need to install software to allow it to read the Mac-formatted media.

I use DataViz (www.dataviz.com) Conversions Plus which includes Mac-reading ability along with a large number of file converters and viewers-- Mac to PC as well as PC to PC.

The company also sells MacOpener, without the converters, for a lower price.

Steen S. Schmidt wrote:

Is a modem used on a Macintosh usable on a PC? I don't know if any AT-settings or anything are special for Mac.

It should be used on a COM-port for Internet connection, but wont even install under the 'fabolous' Win98.

Alan Zisman suggested:

The short answer is 'it depends'... is it a modem that connected to the Mac's modem (serial) port? If so, it SHOULD be PC-compatible, but you may need more information from the manufacturer about the specific
model.

My old external US Robotics Sportster 14.4, for example, could be used with both PCs and Macs-- but suggested different jumper settings for each. Have you tried telling Win98 that it?s a generic modem?at whatever speed? There are a number of such drivers included, one of which may work with yours. Use the Control Panel?s Modem item, click on the Add button, then select the ?Don?t Detect My Modem?I?ll Select It From a List? option.

If, however, it's a WorldPort modem, you may not be able to connect it to the PC serial port.

Ronald Rocheleau wrote:

Can anyone tell me if Mac external CD-Rom drives are compatible with PC. I have one and was trying to make it work on my PC without luck.

Alan Zisman commented:

The CD-ROM drive may look like it can connect to your PC's parallel port--but it doesn't!

Pre-iMac Mac external CD-ROMs use the SCSI interface... the problem you probably have is that SCSI is an option on PCs, one that isn't generally included, while it is built into all (pre-iMac) Macs.

As a result, in order to get your Mac CD-ROM to work, you need to add a SCSI adapter to your PC. However, you can buy a new IDE CD-ROM drive for less than the cost of a SCSI adapter