From the KnowledgeBase
Mac OS 9: AppleTalk routing across subnets discontinued on campus
Solution:
On August 5, 2005, OIT discontinued routing AppleTalk packets across subnets
over the campus. Support and operation of printing, file sharing, and any
third-party applications that depend on native AppleTalk protocol have also
been discontinued. Appletalk printers are no longer supported on NTPrintserver,
and AppleTalk access to OIT central file services has been discontinued.
Although AppleTalk within subnets will still continue to function, and it will still be possible for two devices within a single subnet to communicate via AppleTalk, the AppleTalk address and AppleTalk zone that a device believes it in will no longer be valid.
How does this affect me?
If you have OS 9 or below, you will lose your ability to connect to your
H drive, and to any of the campus network printers. Your Internet access
and e-mail will not be affected. You may also lose the ability to connect
to departmental resources such as file servers, depending on the particular
circumstances; consult your local computing support specialist for advice.
If you have Mac OS X (any version) but your computer is still using AppleTalk for its network connections, you will lose the same services as if you had an older Mac, but you can regain them immediately by re-establishing the same network connections using one of the newer network protocols (e.g., AppleShare, SMB - consult your computing support specialist or the OIT Help Desk for assistance).
If you have Mac OS X but you have not configured your computer to use AppleTalk, you are unaffected by this change. Most Macintosh users on campus now use Mac OS X, which accesses printing and file services using protocols such as IP, SMB, or AFP, so it is unlikely end users who will notice this change. All OIT printing and file sharing services can be accessed and run using alternate and more modern protocols than AppleTalk.
What is AppleTalk?
AppleTalk is a network protocol, and it has been obsolete for Macintosh for
over a decade. The disappearance of AppleTalk should have absolutely no
effect on users who use the AppleShare (Finder) interface. AppleTalk
was the method for Macintosh computers to connect to each other and to network
resources. Only Macs running
OS 9 and below actually require AppleTalk; newer Macs have other, newer ways
of accomplishing the same tasks, although they also support AppleTalk for
'legacy' reasons.
Do not confuse AppleTalk with AppleShare. The discontinuation of service affects AppleTalk, not AppleShare.
What is AppleShare?
AppleShare is not the same as AppleTalk. AppleShare is used between Macs
to share files, but doesn't support file sharing with Windows or Unix systems.
Other file-sharing protocols such as SMB can be used for that. Apple publishes
Mac OS X Server software, which is a heavy-duty version of OS X and includes
more extensive administration, security, and management tools. Mac OS X Server
is used in many schools to provide file sharing over AppleShare to large
networks of users. AppleShare servers provide a consistent Mac-like interface
to users.
What is the difference between AppleShare and AppleTalk?
AppleTalk is a transport protocol used with Mac System 9, older printer models,
and a "zoned" network architecture. AppleShare is a file sharing system used
over TCP/IP or AppleTalk. Macs running Mac OS X can share files without using
either AppleTalk or AppleShare, because Mac OS X supports Windows and Unix
file sharing systems as well. Macs running System 9 have very limited support
for either Windows or Unix file sharing.
How can I tell if I have AppleTalk enabled on my computer?
By default, OS X 10.3 and higher does not use AppleTalk, although it is partially
enabled during a clean install. You may need to turn on AppleTalk's full
services only if compatibility with legacy applications or hardware is essential
and there is no upgrade option.
In OS X 10.3 and higher, there are two places where you control whether AppleTalk is turned on. To use AppleTalk devices, it only needs to be turned on in Finder -> System Preferences -> Network. In addition, if you want to browse AppleTalk zones (to see zones in the Network display window), you must enable AppleTalk both in /Applications/Utilities/Directory Access and in Finder -> System Preferences -> Network. Selecting AppleTalk in Finder -> System Preferences -> Network does not automatically turn it on in Directory Access, and vice versa.
Note: AppleTalk can only be active on one port at a time. If it is in use over your Ethernet port, you can't access it over AirPort (wireless) service. Use Finder -> System Preferences -> Network to configure your ports.
How do I access files on OIT servers using
AppleShare?
Using the menu Finder > Go > Connect To Server, enter the address
"afp://[servername].princeton.edu/".
Once the server's icon appears, click the icon or select it and click the
"Connect" button.
In many cases, if you can log in as a guest, you will only see the "Public
Folder" and you will only be able to copy files to the folder "Drop box"
but not modify the server otherwise.
To disconnect, drag the server icon to the trash, or hold down the Control-Option
keys and select "Eject" from the popup menu.
Can I still 'browse' for printers and services by building, like in
AppleTalk?
You can click the Network icon in the Finder and browse to locate and connect
to shared services on your network. But not all available servers are visible
in the browser window; it depends on the network configuration and which
'services' you have turned on on your Mac.
What about my AppleTalk printer?
Your AppleTalk personal printer will still be accessible through AppleTalk
via a direct (cable) connection to your computer, and possibly to a small
range of other Macs nearby. It will not be available more remotely. See the
following solution for more information:
Mac OS 9:
How to reconfigure an AppleTalk printer in the Unconfigured Zone.
Related Links:
