Networking


When networking one plus one never seems to equal two and any number greater than two always equals zero! Mark Wherry tries to make the sums add up!...


Networking is the linking of computers to communicate with each other to share resources - typically printers or hard disks, but they can be used for "shared processing", where tasks are spread across many computers to make the execution of one process quicker, for example, a "rendering farm" to render complex images.

There are two main types of networks, LANs (Local Area Networks) and WANs (Wide Area Networks) - not to be confused with a Chinese restaurant! A LAN is used to link resources in one geographical location together, for example, a room or building. If the resources are in different locations this is a WAN, the internet is the obvious example. This article is concentrating on setting up a LAN for your Ataris.

Two For You?

The simplest network consists of two computers connected together and is probably the most likely use for most of us. To do this you have a choice of two ports, the standard serial RS232 port, or the MIDI port, which is also a serial port. There are some specialist applications which use the parallel port (for example, Parallel Copy), but these are the exception.

If you don't use your Atari for MIDI, the MIDI ports make an ideal choice because they can achieve speeds of 31.75Kb per second. They are also easy to connect together because standard MIDI leads can be used. Simply connect MIDI in sockets to MIDI out sockets until you run out of sockets!

However, if you're already using the MIDI ports, you only have one choice. The serial ports on standard Atari ST machines only support 19.2Kb a second - which is fine for occasional disk access across the link, but too slow for regular use or executing programs. However all STs can be upgraded to support at least 38.4Kb using one of the many hardware modifications available such as RSVE from System Solutions. Used together with the HSMODEM software patch speeds of up to 57.6Kb can be achieved or with RSVE fitted and a 68000 processor clocked at 16MHz or faster speeds up to 115.2Kb are possible.

There's also an alternative hardware mod called ST ESCC, available from System Solutions, which can boost serial port throughput up to an incredible 220Kb - about 11 times faster than the standard serial port!

As far as leads are concerned any null modem cable will do the job, but do check how many pins your serial ports have first!

One of the best software options available is Duet, which is shareware, supported by CyberSTrider. Although there haven't been any recent updates, there is a "patched" MagiC compatible version programmed by another author.

Apart from Duet there are many other packages to investigate including Big net, Medium net, small net, MX2NET, ANET to name just a few but Duet supports more interfaces than anything else: MIDI, RS232 and LAN (for Falcons and TTs). It also offers network printing which makes Duet useful even if you don't want to share disks. A serial cable is cheaper than a data switch, and you'll have a lot more fun.

Many Computers Make Network Managers Weep!

Networks get more complicated when you want to add a third computer or more. If you can master three, anything is possible! Sadly, the UK Atari market is seriously lacking in this area.


[Screenshot]
The MIDICom Utilities suite, to control all aspects of your network set-up


There is a product called MIDICom, which System Solutions advertised it in their Spring 1995 catalogue, but sadly, two years on they're still "almost" finishing the manual. It isn't all bad though, I noticed a German demo version was available on the internet, so I tried that instead.

MIDICom enables up to seven computers to be networked via their MIDI or serial ports with drivers included for both - although I couldn't figure the serial port drivers out. It's possible to specify locked files, achieve network printing and there's even an XFS version for MiNT - brilliant!

I managed to get the demo version working, the limitation is only the internal floppy drive of each computer connected is available. The alternative to learning German is to encourage System Solutions to finalise and English release!

Ethernet

Ethernet is one of the popular standards in networking that most other computers enjoy and it's popular because it's possible to achieve speeds in excess of one megabyte a second. There is an ethernet solution for the Atari which utilises the DMA port called BioNET and it's available in Germany (or via System Solutions in the UK) but each node is expensive and sadly not a viable proposition for the home user.

Another possibility could be the TUW-TCP/IP package available at any UMICH mirror ftp site. It is a set of drivers which allows you to attach the Dlink DE600 ethernet pocket adapter to your Atari. The Atari parallel port does not support all the required signals for the adapter, so you will have to construct a device (described in the package) to enable it to be plugged into the cartridge port. I'm not aware of anyone who has got this up and running but if you have please do write in and let us know...

[Screenshot]


There's also an ethernet card under development by Wieczorek Developments in Germany. This plugs into an Atari machine via the ACSI/SCSI bus, occupying one ID. This photo shows the prototype displayed at the recent Neuss 97 German show. It supports the TCP/IP protocol (see box out) and can also be connected to other platforms. Unfortunately no release date has been set since we first covered it in AC#3.

LANtastic

If you are the owner of more than one Atari machine with LAN ports (TT/Falcon) you could use Itos LAN, developed by OXO Concepts (the Wen.Suite developers). Itos LAN allows machines to be networked via the built-in local-talk ports. The TCP/IP protocol is supported, and OXO states "Itos LAN responds to the professional demands of transfer security." OXO boasts a user base including municipal services, schools and individuals.

[Screenshot]


The supplied software allows the mounting of partitions, and peripherals to the network which means hard disks, serial, parallel and MIDI devices can all be shared. A starter pack to network two computers costs 1500FF (approximately £150).

The STinG In The Tail

I'm not usually keen to get stung but I'll make an exception in this case! ST internet the next Generation (STinG) is a comprehensive rewrite of the popular STiK program. STinG can act as a client TCP/IP stack to get you on the internet, supporting both SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) and PPP (Point to Point Protocol). Support for PPP has been a long time coming to the Atari, although there is now competition from PPP-Connect (supplied with CAB 2.5) and Wen.Suite. However, STinG has a secret weapon - it can also act as a TCP/IP server.

This means it is now possible to set up an intranet (the LAN equivalent of the internet) on Atari computers! From here on things just get better and better. STinG can network using any physical port it has a driver for, currently MIDI, serial, ethernet and local talk drivers are included, and using the appropriate driver, any port could be addressed.

STinG also makes it possible for any computer on the network, to call the dialer remotely on the computer that has the modem. So not only can any computer access the internet, any computer can launch the dialer to get onto the internet!

Currently there are plenty of Internet client applications such as CAB and Newsie but what we really need are servers, until we have the corresponding Email, Telnet and HTTP servers we can't set up an intranet. So if you're programming an internet client please consider programming a corresponding server? After all, you've already done the hard work!

[Screenshot]


Happily one server has appeared, sHTTPd (simple HyperText Transfer Protocol daemon) by french programmer Olivier Booklage. Although still in the early stages and in French, I managed to set-up a two machine network via MIDI ports and download a page in CAB on one computer, from the other machine running sHTTPd (which requires a multitasking OS). The whole experience was quite amazing and I can't wait for other programmers to jump on the STinG bandwagon which really looks set to make the breakthrough in connectivity between Atari machines.

Foreign Affair

Another aspect to consider is the possibility of networking different computers platforms, using the internet we know it's perfectly feasible. Offline PC and Atari machines can exchange files using the Ghostlink package which works via a null modem cable and the serial ports and Parallel Copy which uses custom software to copy between the parallel ports. Another new possibility is offered by MagiCMac which enables access to the native Mac networking abilities which seems the ideal solution for anyone using this software.

Networking on the Atari platform is tantalisingly close to being really useful - let's hope programmers are aware of the opportunities.


DIY NULL MODEM CABLE

A null modem cable enables two machines to exchange data via the serial port. Essentially these are standard serial cables with a couple of wires crossed over at one end to enable the two machines to "handshake" with each other to control data flow. They can be bought off the shelf but you can make your own by following the diagram below.

Disclaimer

Neither Mark Wherry nor the Atari Computing Group accept any responsibility or liability for any damage to your machine caused either directly or indirectly as a result of attempting this project.

25 Way To 25 Way

 2 TX  <--->  3 RX
 3 RX  <--->  2 TX
 4 RTS <--->  5 CTS
 5 CTS <--->  4 RTS
 6 DSR <---> 20 DTR
 7 GND <===>  7 GND
20 DTR <--->  6 DSR

If you have a 9 pin serial port then you can use the same mapping (for example RX<->TX, RTS<->CTS...) just refer to your manual for the different pin numbers.


TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

This is a set of rules which keeps a network running by controlling how information is sent and received. This protocol is used on the internet, so one implication of a LAN supporting TCP/IP is that each computer on the network, could be connected to the internet - via a single telephone connection.


WHERE TO GET IT

Hardware

RSVE: £29.95
ST ESCC: £99.95
Both from System Solutions

Software



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