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Date:	Wed, 31 Oct 2001 19:46:17 PDT
From:	Peter Skye <pskye@peterskye.com >
Reply-To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
Subject:	SCOUG-Help: Update re SMC-7000

Content Type: text/plain

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J. R. Fox wrote:
>
> Maybe electronic switchboxes
> for the printers, maybe not.

The inexpensive printer switch boxes aren't electronic. They just have
a big rotary switch.

> Are any of these hubs you see
> being sold entirely "passive"

You mean a "Y-adapter"? Sure; Ethernet is designed with that in mind.
If the hub needs electricity to operate, then it's "active". If it
doesn't need any electricity, it's "passive" and it's just a Y-adapter.
With the older coax Ethernet cables you used "T-adapters" which are the
same thing, they're just shaped like T's instead of Y's.

If you hook a bunch of connectors together at the same point on the
cable you have a *-adapter. If you're not too good with the crimping
tool you end up with a Z-adapter. And if you don't get all the
individual wires connected just right you get a 0-adapter.

> they don't want any part of networking

Are they on the Internet? If they are, then they're networked. If they
use DSL or cable then they already have NIC's (network interface
cards). If they're on modem then they can still network (over the
modems), but it will be slow.

> I'm thinking in terms of 2 or more computers
> sharing a broadband connection, plugging in
> or out at will, without any networking, drivers,
> etc. being involved.

Umm, how do the computers talk to each other if there's no networking?
There's "Remote Control" software and LapLink-type software, but I don't
recall anything else that isn't networked.

You can have a common SCSI bus if you want the same disk drive to be
used by two computers at the same time. I've read some specs on doing
this and one other guy on this list has some experience doing this on
mainframes, but I don't know if OS/2 can administer the handshaking
that's required.

Then there's the older tried-and-true sneakernet technology. You copy
the files you want to share onto a floppy. Then you put on your
sneakers. Then you run to the other machine while carrying the floppy .
. .

- Peter

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