ARCnet to ETHERnet broker

[pyrre]

Is it possible to set up a broker ( arcnet -> ethernet )to make arcnet computers go online?
Is it at all possible to transfer HTTP traffic over arcnet?

[Tension]

You`ll need an old bridge.

It'll be a nightmare.

[Trev]

If you already have a TCP/IP stack running on your ARCnet node(s), then you could build a router to move IP data between disparate ARCnet and Ethernet networks. ARCnet-X bridges usually have to understand something about the application or transport layer to convert between ARCnet and "X," given the different frame formats and sizes. An IP router would take care of that at the transport layer.

[pan1k]

F that! This is why man created Ethernet!

[omnicron10]

Using a linux machine with ethernet and arcnet interfaces you can route between two subnets.  One that is arcnet and one that is ethernet.   On the Linux box you can NAT the arcnet IP range to one of the IP addresses on the ethernet side.

Might be a little hard to find Arcnet interfaces for PC but not impossible.

[Trev]

8/16-bit ISA and PCMCIA cards should be easy to find. An ISA ARCnet card will cost as much as if not more than a new X-Surf Ethernet card, however, and a PCI ARCnet card from Contemporary Controls will run around 300 USD. Ouch. You'd think they were selling Amiga kit. ;-)

Can your ARCnet interfaces be replaced?

[pyrre]

8/16-bit ISA and PCMCIA cards should be easy to find. An ISA ARCnet card will cost as much as if not more than a new X-Surf Ethernet card, however, and a PCI ARCnet card from Contemporary Controls will run around 300 USD. Ouch. You'd think they were selling Amiga kit. ;-)

Can your ARCnet interfaces be replaced?

I don't know that.
I was planning on putting A500 on my network.
And arcnet seemed like a proper retro challenge.

Pricy it is... Maybe i  have to find other options.

EDIT:
From time to time there are isa arcnet cards and active star hubs on ebay. some of them are not bad priced.

[Trev]

I don't know that.
I was planning on putting A500 on my network.
And arcnet seemed like a proper retro challenge.

Pricy it is... Maybe i  have to find other options.

EDIT:
From time to time there are isa arcnet cards and active star hubs on ebay. some of them are not bad priced.

The main problem with getting an A500 online is the IP stack. If you're happy with just using telnet to access bulletin boards, then a serial to telnet adapter will get the job done.

EDIT: Daytona400 had a bit of luck with IP and various adapters, but he hasn't logged into the site since September.

[Zac67]

Cheapest way to connect ARCNET to Ethernet:
- old 486 or Pentium PC (or even 386)
- ARCNET ISA NIC
- Ethernet ISA or PCI NIC
- old network OS: Linux, NT4, Win2k, Netware 3, NetBSD, ...
- set up routing for both network cards

The only piece not easy to come by is the ARCNET board - I had a bunch flying around but threw them out some ten years ago...

To connect an A500 online, one of the best ways is probably adding a Z II NIC by means of a slingshot adapter. But then again, the best upgrade for a 500 is a 1200, providing a way for cheap PCMCIA NICs...

[hardlink]

Cheapest way to connect ARCNET to Ethernet:
- old 486 or Pentium PC (or even 386)
- ARCNET ISA NIC
- Ethernet ISA or PCI NIC
- old network OS: Linux, NT4, Win2k, Netware 3, NetBSD, ...
- set up routing for both network cards

The only piece not easy to come by is the ARCNET board - I had a bunch flying around but threw them out some ten years ago...

To connect an A500 online, one of the best ways is probably adding a Z II NIC by means of a slingshot adapter. But then again, the best upgrade for a 500 is a 1200, providing a way for cheap PCMCIA NICs...

I knew there had to be a reason I have been hoarding this stuff for ten years  
I have an Amiga A560 Arcnet for the A500 and a A2060 Zorro Arcnet for big boxes, so Miami on the big box should be able to route between the A2060 and  the Xsurf. And yes, I have an ISA Arcnet board for my BridgeBoard!

Now if I can only find an PP&S DoubleTalk A500 adapter to talk to my DoubleTalk zorro boards and my Appletalk ISA card ...

[Trev]

Cheapest way to connect ARCNET to Ethernet:
- old 486 or Pentium PC (or even 386)
- ARCNET ISA NIC
- Ethernet ISA or PCI NIC
- old network OS: Linux, NT4, Win2k, Netware 3, NetBSD, ...
- set up routing for both network cards

The only piece not easy to come by is the ARCNET board - I had a bunch flying around but threw them out some ten years ago...

To connect an A500 online, one of the best ways is probably adding a Z II NIC by means of a slingshot adapter. But then again, the best upgrade for a 500 is a 1200, providing a way for cheap PCMCIA NICs...

I had pushed NetWare to the back of my mind. Time to brush off those MLA licenses and put the old horse to work! Certainly a better solution than Linux on older hardware. Really. Assuming it can route between frame types. I don't remember! :-P

EDIT: IP forwarding in NT4 is super, super simple, but I wouldn't recommend running it in today's world.

[pyrre]

@ zac67

To connect an A500 online, one of the best ways is probably adding a Z II NIC by means of a slingshot adapter. But then again, the best upgrade for a 500 is a 1200, providing a way for cheap PCMCIA NICs...

I already have an A1200 BPPC with PCMCIA network. have not had time to put it on internet yet. but time will come.
A500 on network/internet via arcnet sounded like an interesting challenge.
Have never worked with arcnet.

@ Trev
I like tinkering with networks. and i never trow away old computer parts.:biglaugh:
Like said before. arcnet sounds interesting and challenging.

[Trev]

I hadn't been reading your signature. You won't have any problems running an IP stack on an A500 with those specifications if Kickstart is up to date.

[Rabbi]

I don't know that.
I was planning on putting A500 on my network.
And arcnet seemed like a proper retro challenge.

Pricy it is... Maybe i  have to find other options.

EDIT:
From time to time there are isa arcnet cards and active star hubs on ebay. some of them are not bad priced.

Why bother with ISA ARCNet cards when you can get a proper A500 ARCNet card @:

http://www.oldsoftware.com/Amiga.html

Search for the string "Amiga 500 networking interface"  It's about halfway down the page & it's only US$49 + shipping & handling.   A bargain, I'd say.

Take a look at its details here: http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/a560

[Zac67]

@Trev
Dunno about Netware 2, but Netware 3 & 4 are no problem (I dimly remember some problems with NW3 and the 192.168/16 range, better stick to 172.16/12 then) - we're still routing via Nw4 at work.

Frames from ARCNET and Ethernet are different anyway, so no additional worry.