Routing TCP/IP with the MultiPort/LT

• What is MacIP and why is that important
• What TCP/IP addresses do I need to know
• I need more help with TCP/IP
• Why is there MacIP on the ethernet port
• How should I set MacTCP on the client Macs

What is MacIP and why is that important

For Macs that are on the Ethernet, these Macs can communicate with IP resources directly. For Macs connected on LocalTalk, the Localtalk cannot communicate TCP/IP-just AppleTalk. For these Macs to communicate to IP resources there needs to be something that can translate IP to AppleTalk.

MacIP places the TCP/IP packet inside an AppleTalk packet and sends it to a MacIP gateway which submits the TCP/IP packets on the Macs' behalf. Any replies are taken by the MacIP gateway and placed back into AppleTalk packets and sent to the LocalTalk Mac.

What TCP/IP addresses do I need to know

Router IP Address:

(The address of the MultiPort/LT)

Subnet Mask:

(This mask dictates the dividing line between a network number and a node number)

Broadcast Address:

(Related to Subnet Mask, address to get attention of ALL nodes on network segment.)

Default Router:

(optional-Gateway address to reach backbone router or rest of the Internet)

NameServer:

(optional-Address of Domain Name Server. Used to provide nameserver lookup where "hostname.net" will be translated to "www.xxx.yyy.zzz"

Also some free contiguous addresses will be necessary so the MultiPort/LT can register the LocalTalk and ARA Dial-In Macs on the IP Ethernet.

The rest are optional

Why is there MacIP on the ethernet port

There may be times that a MacIP packet would not be coming through the built-in LocalTalk ports. Instead the MacIP packet could be coming from LocalTalk through another non-MacIP router to the ethernet.

How should I set MacTCP on the client Macs

The client Macs should be set as follows under MacTCP. For Macs using dynamic addressing (simplest), the port should be LocalTalk with the residing zone selected. Address allocation should be set to Server Mode.