Share and Share Alike

Increasing network capability by using Thursby’s DAVE4.0.

Thursby Software Systems’ DAVE 4.0 offers cross-platform fileand printer sharing.

In last month's Integrate column, I showed you how, using commonhousehold tools, you can assemble a wired Ethernet (LAN), a wireless802.11b (WLAN), and a cable-modem-based wide-area (WAN) network (seeDecember 2002 Video Systems). This month I'll show you howadding a software layer can increase network capability. To add asoftware layer, I installed DAVE 4.0 from Thursby Software Systems(MSRP $149 USD) on my PowerBook G4 667.

DAVE supports Windows NT Server (or Workstation 3.51 and later),Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows XP, andWindows.NET Server, Macintosh OS 8.6-9.2x, and 10.1.5 and enhances OS X10.2.x (Jaguar). DAVE's special features include: NT Domain Login,Microsoft standard browsing (including WINS), Microsoft NTFS fileformat, Distributed File Systems, Windows network password changes, andAppleShare files on your PC.

Each PC on the network must have configured both NetBIOS and TCP/IPnetwork protocols. DAVE will operate on any Macintosh with a PowerPCprocessor running with Mac OS 8.6-9.2x plus Apple's Open TransportTCP/IP or any Macintosh that supports Mac OS X. Each system must haveeither a NIC (network interconnect card) to support an Ethernet (LAN)connection or a wireless (WLAN) capability.

Mac users who have used AppleTalk-based networks know how slow theycan be. DAVE uses the fast, industry standard TCP/IP protocol toprovide much higher-speed connections. LAN connection will be fasterthan WLAN connections. (On my PowerBook, an Ethernet connection offerstwice the data-transfer rate than does the AirPort.)

Once DAVE is running, all other computers can access most devices oneach computer. From a PC, one can access a Home folder (and subfolders)on a Mac, and from a Mac, one can access disks/partitions/folders on aPC.

DAVE enables applications running under Classic to accessdisks/partitions/folders located on Windows systems. DAVE also supportslimited printer sharing. PCs and Macs can access PostScript printersconnected to other PCs and Macs. Many businesses, however, no longeruse PostScript printers. DAVE can also enable PCs and Macs to accessinkjet printers if shared inkjet printers are connected to Macs runningOS X. (See sidebar page 75.)

Installing DAVE was a breeze under 10.1.5 and 10.2 and begins withloading the DAVE CD-ROM into each PC. Other than a 20-page QuickInstall Guide that often had invalid information, DAVE has no printedmanual, which is unacceptable for version 4 of a not-inexpensiveproduct. DAVE automatically confirms if the PC is correctly set up. Ifit's not, DAVE will briefly describe what settings must be altered.There is one potential problem not caught by DAVE: The name of a sharedWindows folder may not exceed 12 characters.

When all PCs have been checked out, it's time to install the DAVEsoftware on each Mac. First, be sure your network is up and running.Then, after loading the DAVE CD-ROM, double-click on the Mac OS XInstaller or Mac OS 8 and 9 Installer icon. After entering the licensenumber, you will be presented with a series of six menus:

1. Do not check Windows 2000 Server.

2. Name your Mac (e.g., panther).

3. DAVE automatically finds your Windows Workgroup and displays it(e.g., bigcats).

4. Enter a short description of your Mac (e.g., PowerBook 667).

5. Click the radio-button to set up DAVE for Sharing.

6. Enter a password for your Mac (e.g., wildcat). This step isoptional.

Restart the Mac, and DAVE will be installed. However, you are notquite finished. There is a bug that prevents the transfer of largefiles. To fix this, go to www.thursby.com/support/patches.html and downloadthe DAVE-4.0p1 patch.

Now you are ready to use DAVE. From a MAC, access Windows objects byusing the Finder>Go>Connect to Serverfunction (command+K). Your Windows Workgroup (bigcats) willautomatically appear. Click on the Workgroup to bring up a list of allcomputers currently on the network. Double-click the computer name(e.g., tiger) to bring-up a list of drives/partitions andshared-folders. Double-click the object to be accessed and enter anyrequested password. The object will be mounted on your Mac's desktopand can be used like a local Mac disk drive, even by Classicapplications.

Access Mac folders from a PC by double-clicking on My NetworkPlaces>Entire Network>Microsoft WindowsNetwork. A list of computers, including Macs, will appear within aWindows Workgroup (bigcats). Double-click a Mac's name (panther) andthe Home folder (smullen) will appear in a window. Double-click theHome folder name and enter the folder owner's short username (e.g.,smullen) and password (wildcat). All folders contained within the Homefolder can be accessed as though they were local Windows folders.

For OS 9.2.2 installation, Gathering Information will appearwhen you double-click the installer icon. The installer waits for anetwork connection to be established and that may take up to 15minutes. Answer the six questions listed left and then reboot. Afterthat, download and install the 4.0p1 patch.

To use DAVE under OS 9, start the application. From a MAC, accessWindows objects by double-clicking a computer name (tiger) in theWorkgroup list (bigcats) that DAVE displays. Enter a user name(smullen) and, if requested, a password to display a list of folders.Each folder represents a shared disk or shared folder on a PC. Access aMac hard disk (and the folders, including all User folders) from a PCin the same way one does using DAVE under OS X.

While DAVE is a necessity for those using OS 9 and OS X 10.1.5, itis a luxury for most of us running OS X 10.2 (Jaguar). Last month'scolumn described how to mount Windows' disks/partions and sharedfolders on a Mac desktop. Begin withFinder>Go>Connect to Server (command+K). Nowenter in the Address box, the target object with an smb://prefix (e.g., smb://bigcats;tiger/tiger_c will mount the C:drive — share named tiger_c — on tiger withinworkgroup bigcats). Enter password, if required. Classic applicationshave read/write access to this object.

With 10.2, Windows users can mount the Home folder of a Mac user. Toallow this, you must enable Allow user to log in from Windows oneach Mac. (If you did not do this when creating a user, go toApple>System Preferences>Accounts. Selectthe appropriate account, click the Edit User button, enter yourpassword, and press Return. Click Allow user to log in fromWindows and click Save.) Open Sharing underApple>System Preferences and enable Windows FileSharing. The computer name in the Rendezvous box will become the Mac'snetwork name.

To enable a PC to connect to a Mac, double-click My NetworkPlaces>Entire Network>MicrosoftNetwork>Workgroup to yield a list of Macs on the network.Double-click a Mac's network name, enter the login name (smullen) andpassword (wildcat) in the pop-up dialog box (it may take repeatedattempts over several minutes to actually make a connection with OS X).A window will open that contains the Home folder, which can be openedby double-clicking. The Home folder, and subfolders, can now be used asthough they were local to the PC.

Whether you use free Jaguar capabilities or purchase DAVE,heterogeneous networking is getting simpler. If Apple's Rendezvousbecomes widely accepted, networking should be no more complex thanconnecting to a USB device.

Steve Mullen is owner of Digital Video Consulting, which providesconsulting and conducts seminars on digital video technology. He can bereached at d-v-c@mindspring.com.

A NETWORK PRINTER CONNECTS VIA EITHER ETHERNET OR 802.11B. LIKE anyTCP/IP-based device, the printer has an IP address. Epson, HP, andLexmark all market network printers, but they are very expensive. Forabout $100, however, an Epson C80 can be turned into a networkprinter.

Begin by browsing to your D-Link DP-614+ router and change its IPaddress from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.0.2 (see the December 2002 columnfor information about installing a DP-614+ router). Next, plug a D-LinkDP-101P+ Ethernet adapter into the C80's parallel port. Connect theadapter to the DP-614 router using Ethernet. Then browse to 192.168.0.1and configure the DP-101 by clicking Configuration. Note the Servername (e.g., PS-57E797-P1) and click Save. Now click AppleTalk, enterEPSONLQ2 as the Printer Type, and click Save.

Install the software for your Epson C80 on each PC. Follow thedetailed information in the DP-101 manual to install the adapter underany Windows OS. When the adapter installation is complete, the AddPrinter wizard launches automatically. Scroll to select an Epsonprinter and choose the C80. Complete the printer wizard.

Mac OS X users have it easier. Simply open the OS X Print Center,click Add Printer, and, assuming you have installed the Epson C80software (on Jaguar's disk 2), select Epson AppleTalk. Click Add andthe printer will be placed automatically on the network as a printernamed PS-57E797-P1.
— SM

To comment on this article, email the Video Systems editorialstaff at vsfeedback@primediabusiness.com.