NETWORK CARD

[DGB]

I would like to put a network card in at least one of my 2000's so I can get onto my LAN and on my broadband connection to the net.  I want something that is easy to ad.  I want software I can install without going to a lot of trouble.  I know absolutely nothing about getting an Amiga on the LAN.  I have done it with my PC's but that was simple.  What few bits and pieces I have read and heard seem to bit more complicated for the Amiga.  Any suggestions and recomendations would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Dave

Heya Dave,

to get your Amiga 2000 online, you'll obviously first of all need the right hardware to do the job. As far as the classic range of Amiga hardware goes, you'll need a Zorro card, such as the Ariadne card. There are several different options available for the Amiga xx00 series - you can read more about it over at the network section of Amiga Hardware.

After you've purchased an appropriate card, you'll need networking software that will speak to the hardware (for some reason, these packages are known as "stacks" or "networking stacks"). Since you are looking for something that is easy to install, I think most people would recommend the Miami networking suite by Nordic Global. Although the software isn't free, you can still download a demo version to try it out yourself.

Another option would be to walk in my foot steps and use AmiTCP 3.0b2 which not only is totally free (and open sourced!), but also quite stable and reliable (it does however, need quite a bit of knowledge and fine tuning to take off - if you're really interested, you'll probably want to read the AmiTCP FAQ)

Finally, I suggest you browse thru the Network FAQ for some more general ideas.

Best of luck (and happy new year),

Peter Eriksson - EU/Sweden

[tonyw]

Hey, Dave, don't forget the new alternatives to the old Ariadne card - the Thylacine and the Highway. Both are Zorro 2/3 devices and are USB adaptors, so you can use USB keyboards/mouses and with a USB/Ethernet adaptor, Ethernet as well.

I've just put a Thylacine into my 4000 with an external USB/Ethernet adaptor. Now I can connect to the LAN and, through that, to the cable service.

Haven't got Miami going yet, though. I used to have a dialup service on the 4000, and I'm having trouble getting Miami to forget about the dialup modem and use a gateway. It's only a setup problem, I can ping all the other machines on the LAN and they can ping me, I just can't get out through the gateway yet.

tony

[DGB]

tonyw wrote:
Hey, Dave, don't forget the new alternatives to the old Ariadne card - the Thylacine and the Highway. Both are Zorro 2/3 devices and are USB adaptors, so you can use USB keyboards/mouses and with a USB/Ethernet adaptor, Ethernet as well.

I've just put a Thylacine into my 4000 with an external USB/Ethernet adaptor. Now I can connect to the LAN and, through that, to the cable service.

Haven't got Miami going yet, though. I used to have a dialup service on the 4000, and I'm having trouble getting Miami to forget about the dialup modem and use a gateway. It's only a setup problem, I can ping all the other machines on the LAN and they can ping me, I just can't get out through the gateway yet.

tony

Whoops!  I just ordered the X-Surf board from Software Hut.  It was a special deal with the OS 3.9 and the 3.1 ROM.  I saved a few bucks that way.  I was thinking of getting MIAMI because I thought it was easy to install.  Where did you get it from.  I was going to try an order it tonight but I haven't had much luck.  Of course your being in Australia makes buying it a bit different for you than me.

I printed out you post because if I get it i'm going to be asking you what you did to get it going.  Thanks for the input.

Dave

[Kronos]

@DGB (do you know what that stands for in Germany ? :-D )

If you are thinking about USB_2_Ethernet you might want to check out this.
5th topic form top.

But I wouldn't hlod my breath for it.

I see no reason why want to use MiamiDX, which is allmost impossible
to get when OS3.9 comes with Genesis and the X-Surf with a special
driver for using broadband in Genesis.

[N7VQM]

Whoops!  I just ordered the X-Surf board from Software Hut. .

The X-Surf is a good card.  Nothing wrong with them at all, as far as I can see.  I bought one at the 2000 Gateway Amiga show and it's worked like a top since.

Steve

[ShadesOfGrey]

Kronos ir right.  MiamiDX is no longer available retail.  You'd have to get a used copy.  The author of MiamiDX can no longer issue registration keys as his 1200's (it was a 1200 right) hard drive died with all his registration records and key generation software...  Besides, he now works for Rebol and doesn't seem to have much interest in the Amiga...

But it sure is one hell of a TCP/IP stack.

[Rigger]

I have a IOBlix serial/par card with the Ethernet modules. No complaints from me on it. Just another option......

[Kronos]

@Rigger

Options ? You want options ? How about HighWay+NorWay ?

I allready have an Ariadne2, so no need for the NorWay, but at a
combined price of only 150Euro including the best available USB-card
it is a real bargain  :-D

[amiga2000]

I think the X-Surf was the best choice for getting a network card on an Amiga 2000 - it is fast and reliable. I am not sure what the special deal price was for the X-Surf from Software Hut, just so you know, Individual Computers was supposed to release an X-Surf 2 (same as X-Surf without the BNC connector which I never use anyway), for a more economic price than the original X-Surf...

I love having the Norway network add-on for the Highway card on my A2000 - it works just fine for me. However, it is slower than my X-Surf (as far as I can tell) -- when there are multiple internet connections running simultaneously, sometimes the network connection through the Norway freezes up, and I have to quit IBrowse, and go offline and online through Miami Dlx in order to get the Norway internet connection running again.

There was also some news article mention about development of a Poseidon driver to allow for external USB2NETWORK adapters to work.

Roy

[Rigger]

@Kronos

Hehe, I already had the IOBlix (w/ether) when I got my Highway card so no need for the Norway card here either. :-D

[edderkop]

@tonyw

I can ping all the other machines on the LAN and they can ping me, I just can't get out through the gateway yet.

Try to look at you DNS setup and Default Gateway. :-)

[DGB]

Kronos wrote:
@DGB (do you know what that stands for in Germany ? :-D )


I see no reason why want to use MiamiDX, which is allmost impossible
to get when OS3.9 comes with Genesis and the X-Surf with a special
driver for using broadband in Genesis.

 

No I don't know, what does DGB stand for in Germany?  Here it happens to be my initials.

Thanks for the tip about MIAMI and what I need being in OS3.9.  It looks like you saved me a few bucks and for that I thank you.

Dave

[Kronos]

DGB = Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund.

Head-organisation of german trade-unions  :-o

[DGB]

Kronos wrote:
DGB = Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund.

Head-organisation of german trade-unions  :-o

I think that that is just great.  I am a union man myself.  I have been a mwmber of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers here in the USA for more than twenty years.  about sixteen years ago we had a German exchange Student live with us for a while and then my Son went over to Germany for a while.  I am surprised he didn't bring that up.  Thanks for the tip.

Dave