>I'm sure it's possible, but the only way I can think of (having heard >it mentioned a long time ago) is to use another Mac that DOES have a >localtalk port as a server, networked via ethernet with the iMac. Make >any sense? How, exactly, is this done? And can an old LW320 work >under OSX.2?
This was just discussed on the MacNetwork list the other day. I'll pass over the same advice I gave over there. Download Apple's free LocalTalk Bridge software. Run it on the "server" machine to bridge its localtalk to its ethernet. Then you can access the printer via any other Mac using its ethernet (and appletalk over ethernet). OS X may not have a specific driver for the PLW 320, but it is a Postscript 2 printer, so OS X's "generic" drive should work just fine. To get the LocalTalk bridge software, poke around Apple's older software downloads page. It is in the networking section (right above the MacDNS listings). If you can't find it, let me know, and I'll find the link again. The LocalTalk Bridge software uses Open Transport (good as that is compatible with OS X's networking) and will work from IIRC 7.1 thru 9.x. It just needs at least Open Transport 1.1 (I think, it is in the readme file that comes with it). So you can use any machine that can run at least 7.1 and has both an ethernet port and a printer port (localtalk port). >I have an old Performa 630CD that I hope to use for this, and wish to >be able to set it up headless to save precious room. This machine should work fine (provided you have an ethernet card in it). If you wish to run it headless, I'd like to recommend two things. 1: stick a keyboard and mouse on it anyway, as the ADB bus doesn't like having them added after the machine is booted (this will let you control the machine in case something goes wrong). 2: stick something in the video port to let it think a monitor is attached. Otherwise, it won't initialize the video card, so later, if you have to connect a monitor, you won't be able to (well, you will, but nothing will show up until you reboot). Depending on what you have as a monitor for it, you can use an RGB to VGA adaptor, or just jam a paperclip into the RGB port shorting pins 7 & 11 (this will fool the Mac into thinking a 12" RGB monitor is attached). If you need to later connect a monitor, remove the paperclip and plug in the monitor. (If you have a specific monitor, you can change which pin is shorted to ground so the Mac thinks the monitor you have is attached, the table is available on Apple's web site) If you don't care about those issues, then you could leave it all off and just reboot any time something goes wrong. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net> -- The iMac List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | - Epson Stylus Color 580 Printers - new at $69 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> iMac List info: <http://lowendmac.com/imac/list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:imac-list@mail.maclaunch.com> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/imac-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
