LocalTalk-to-Ethernet bridge

A LocalTalk-to-Ethernet Bridge is a network bridge that joins the physical layer of the AppleTalk networking used by previous generations of Apple Computer products to an Ethernet network. This was an important class of products in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before Ethernet support became universal on the Mac lineup.

Some LocalTalk-to-Ethernet Bridges only performed Appletalk bridging. Others were also able to bridge other protocols using ad-hoc standards. One example was the MacIP system that allowed LocalTalk-based Macs to send and receive TCP/IP (internet) packets using the bridges as a go-between.

Examples[]

Hardware devices:

: AsanteTalk
: GatorBox
: Ether Route/TCP, Ether Route II,^[1] RISC Router 3000E^[2]
: EtherPrint, EtherPrint Plus, EtherPrint-T, EtherPrint-T Plus
Farallon: EtherPrint, EtherWave LocalTalk Adapter, InterRoute/5, StarRouter, EtherMac iPrint Adapter LT
FOCUS Enhancements EtherLAN PRINT
Hayes Inter-bridge
Kinetics: FastPath - in later years, available from Shiva Networks
: microPrint, microBridge TCP/IP
: EtherWay
: TribeStar
: MultiGate, MultiPort Gateway, MultiPort/LT^[3]

Software in MacTCP era (<1995):

Apple IP Gateway from Apple Computer^[4]
SuperBridge/TCP from Sonic Systems

Software in Open Transport era (>1995):

Internet Gateway from Vicomsoft
IPNetRouter from Sustainable Softworks
LocalTalk Bridge from Apple Computer

Other Software

macipgw
Netatalk

References[]

^ Ether Route II User Manual. Compatible Systems. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
^ RISC Router 3000E Installation Guide (PDF). Compatible Systems. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
^ "Webster Multiport/Lt Product Guide" (PDF). Vintage Technology Digital Archive. Webster Computer Corporation. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
^ Apple IP Gateway press release Archived 2008-10-13 at the Wayback Machine

External links[]

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[1] Ether Route II User Manual. Compatible Systems. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

[2] RISC Router 3000E Installation Guide (PDF). Compatible Systems. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

[3] "Webster Multiport/Lt Product Guide" (PDF). Vintage Technology Digital Archive. Webster Computer Corporation. Retrieved 31 July 2020.

[4] Apple IP Gateway press release Archived 2008-10-13 at the Wayback Machine

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