[plug] [link] Good news if you interoperate with Apple gear

[Carl Gherardi]

> From: Bret Busby [mailto:bret at busby.net]
> 
> Does that mean that (eventually) we will be able to connect 
> an Apple Mac to a Linux server?
> 
> I assume that it cannot be done at present.
> 

Not true. Depending on the version of MacOS

The netatalk package allows just about every variant of Unix to talk
appletalk (over ip or natively)

The 2.4 kernel (and earlier?) can speak appletalk natively as a kernel
module and built in.

> I have been wondering, from time to time, about getting a cheap old Mac, 
> and connecting it to our LAN, for testing website compatibility with a 
> Mac browser interface. I do not know whether a Mac at present would be 
> able to connect to a Linux server using TCP/IP, as I have little 
> knowledge of Mac's.

In short yes it can :)

> I am notsomuch interested in file sharing (the equivalent of 
> Samba, for sharing with Windows), as just either accessing http files on
the 
> server, or, accessing the Internet (for live websites), via our
gateway/server.
> 

Quick note 10.2 can also talk SMB so file sharing can be done using samba.

> We at present use coax cable for an ethernet based LAN (as opposed to 
> useing CAT3 and a hub, for a star based LAN).
> 

Hope that helps

Side note: zeroconfig (www.zeroconfig.net) is rendevous. Its a system that
all devices can use to autoconfigure themselves on an IP network using a
combination of existing IP protocols including reverse DNS.

I've seen it running on things like small cameras in OS X.2. Plug it in, it
automatically discovers an IP and mounts itself on the desktop for
double-clicking. Very cool stuff that might put a few of us out of jobs..

Carl