Apple file server using the AppleTalk Filing Protocol (AFP).
A generic term for the most common network protocol used by Apple Macintosh computers.
A program provided by Apple for Macintosh computers which lets you choose a server for a particular service, such as printing or storing files.
Software that uses the services of a server in a network.
A program which is part of the operating system of a computer and controls part of the hardware of the computer.
Ethernet is a network system which has been standardized by the XEROX company. A differentiation is made between Thin Ethernet (which uses low-cost thin coaxial cable with a maximum length of approximately 185 m per network segment), and 10Base-T Ethernet, which uses standard telephone cable with a connector like a US telephone jack. Network cards for Thin Ethernet are usually provided with coaxial (BNC) connectors. Some network cards have connectors for more than one of these methods. Ethernet (see also chapter
3.5 "Network topology") is logically characterized by a linear bus topology. However, nowadays the 10Base-T Ethernet and 100Base-T Ethernet - also called
Fast Ethernet - sport, from the physical point of view, a star-shaped topology. Fast Ethernet is similar to Ethernet but achieves data transfer rates of 100 Mbit/s (instead of 10 Mbit/s).
A program developed by HELIOS for AppleTalk networks. It allows among other things the sharing of hard disks (file server function) and printers (print server function), and uses the AppleTalk protocol and AppleShare IP for network communications.
An optional add-on for EtherShare which considerably speeds up print spooling if you are printing DTP layouts containing large high-resolution images. OPI (Open Prepress Interface) is an interface specification which was developed by Aldus Corp.
A term used by Apple Computer when the AppleTalk protocol is used on an Ethernet network.
The Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) is a network system based on fiber-optic cables. FDDI is characterized by very high speed and medium to high cost. It largely is immune to electromagnetic interference, which is an advantage in certain industrial situations.
A term used by Apple Computer when the AppleTalk protocol is used on an FDDI network.
A part of the Macintosh operating system provided by Apple for Macintosh computers.
Private directory provided for each UNIX user. The home directory is the current directory as soon as you log in to a server.
In this manual, the UNIX computer on which the EtherShare Software runs.
A low speed network interface which is built into Apple Macintosh computers. A LocalTalk interface is provided in all Macintosh workstations and in many printers. Nowadays, the LocalTalk technology is outdated already.
A cabling system which allows a number of devices such as workstations and printers to communicate with each other. Each device in the network can offer specific services, or be a user of services provided by other devices. For example, when a printer offers services to the network (the printing of documents), it can be used by any of the workstations in the network.
A node is a data-link addressable entity on a network.
A network-visible entity (NVE) is a resource that is addressable through a network. Typically, the NVE is a socket client for a service available in a node.
PCShare is a high-end TCP/IP-based file server, print server, and terminal server software for MS-DOS/Windows computers which are attached to UNIX computers through Ethernet, Token Ring, etc. Since PCShare is compatible with EtherShare, DOS/Windows users can share network printers and files with Macintosh and UNIX users, too.
The "Portable Document Format" (PDF) is an Adobe Acrobat file format that has been created for application independent file exchange. With the Acrobat Reader software - which can be installed from our CD-ROM or downloaded from the Adobe Web site - you may read and print any given PDF document.
A new version of the AppleTalk protocol which, among other improvements, allows up to 254 units in each network segment and approximately 2
24 units in each network.
"PostScript Printer Description" (PPD), is a file format developed by Adobe Systems, Inc. PPD files contain information enabling software to produce the best results possible for each type of designated printer.
A standardized data format which allows workstations to communicate via a network.
A "Raster Image Processor" (RIP) performs the final calculation of the data which are sent to the output device. The RIP may be either an external unit or part of the output device itself. A PostScript laser printer for example contains its RIP.
The top-most directory on a UNIX computer is called "root" directory. If you are logged in as "root", you can access all other directories and subdirectories on the system.
A program or hardware unit which interconnects two or more networks (or zones) in order to transfer data in a bidirectional way between them. For example, EtherShare can be configured as a router to interconnect a FDDI and an Ethernet network.
Software which provides services to a network, such as printing (print server) or the storage of files (file server). In this book, when we write Print Server or File Server in capitalized initial letters like this, we refer to the EtherShare Print Server and File Server.
A socket is an addressable entity within a node connected to an AppleTalk network. Sockets are owned by software processes known as socket clients.
A spooler is a set of programs which manage print jobs. A spooler acts as a buffer for the files that have been sent to an output device. A spooler may also be called "printer queue".
An internet network is a virtual data network specification based on a packet-oriented protocol (the internet protocol = IP) which allows data to be transferred between otherwise incompatible networks. Thus, the internet specification describes a hardware-independent data protocol that lies above the hardware protocol (such as Ethernet). The internet protocol (IP), however, is only able to exchange data packets between computers. The "Transmission Control Protocol" (TCP) extends this ability to allow processes to be addressed on the target computer and to improve the reliability of the inter-process communication. TCP/IP has been implemented by all major software and hardware providers.
Token Ring is a network system which was pioneered by IBM. It is based on a token-passing system (i.e. a logical ring) but its topology usually is a distributed star (see also chapter
3.5 "Network topology").
A term used by Apple Computer when the AppleTalk protocol is used on a Token Ring network.
Any computer connected to a network, for example a Macintosh computer, or a PC-compatible computer running the AppleShare-PC program.
A section of a network. You need a router if you want to use two or more zones. Note that the Macintosh's
Zone menu may not be shown in the
Chooser if you do not have zones.
