Q: Need to export info from PB 3400 to eMac. How?

If you have the optional modem/10BaseT card, you set up a small Etherent network:

106658- Creating a small Ethernet network

If you are running OS 9, you can connect either direction, otherwise turn on File Sharing on the 10.4 Mac and connect from the older Mac using the "Server IP Address" button in the Chooser. This article is very helpful, but since you are running 10.4 you cannot connect via AppleTalk, only IP. Just ignore connecting via AppleTalk.

http://homepage.mac.com/car1son/os9xnet_nfilesharing.html

You are the lucky owner of Macintosh equipment. It has featured built-in Networking that was easy to use long before anyone in the Windoze world even made networking available in any form as options.

Everything you need is already built into your newer Macs, and the only question is whether your 3400c has the card, which was optional at the time, that provides both dial-up Modem and 10BaseT Ethernet on on single option card. If it is present, you need only a US$5 Ethernet cable. Everything else you need is already there. No other Hardware or software to install, only to configure and turn on a few options.

Your listed "Model, OS, Other details" line that appears in green listed G5Quad and 10.4. If you are using 10.3.9, more options are available, including connecting from either Mac using AppleTalk.

AppleTalk is a protocol that can use two different means of Transport across your network. They are the original AppleTalk/LocalTalk, typically carried on PhoneNet LocalTalk wiring, and AppleTalk-over-Ethernet (the AppleTalk protocol, but using Ethernet as its medium).

The best way would be to have the Modem/Ethernet card installed and use AppleTalk-over-Ethernet. Under 10.3.9, AppleTalk is still included a File Sharing protocol. At 10.4, AppleTalk as a File Sharing protocol was discontinued.

Another way is to buy a converter from AppleTalk-over-Etherent back and forth to AppleTalk/LocalTalk. Your computer without Ethernet could connect AppleTalk/LocalTalk via its serial port.

These converters are most often used to connect to older Apple LaserWriter printers, many of which were AppleTalk/LocalTalk network printers. But the same converters also support computers that do File Sharing via AppleTalk/LocalTalk. If you already had a LaserWriter, this solution would be compelling and easy.

The two converters still available on the used market are the Asanté AsantéTalk, and the Farallon EtherMac iPrint LT. The connect to Ethernet on one side, and AppleTalk/LocalTalk (using PhoneNet wiring) on the other side. One important note: AppleTalk/LocalTalk will NOT get you onto the Internet, it will only allow File Sharing and Printer Sharing.

Since the PowerBook 3400c has PC Card slots, a PC Card adapter for CompactFlash (similar to the one shown here) may be useful.

A CompactFlash memory card will make fast file transfers between two Macs (or between a Mac and a PC) possible. Normally, the cards are PC formatted but can be reformatted to Mac.

The other computer must have PC Card capabilities or be equipped with a CF card reader (internal or external). In the case of the eMac, a USB reader should work fine.

The CF card will also serve as an alternative backup solution.

Some older PowerBook computers can even start from the CF card (provided that it contains an appropriate system folder).

Jan

Ethernet is a highway, over which can travel many types of data packets. The most common is Internet Protocol, (IP) or more formally Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). to work properly, you need to have TCP/IP active, simply because the software assumes that is what is using the Highway. Along that same Highway, you will also be sending AppleTalk packets, which do not interfere with any TCP/IP packets, but do not interact with them, either.

On your PowerBook, I am taking your word for it that you do NOT have the option board that provides an RJ-11 modular telephone jack and an RJ-45 8-wire Ethernet jack. We would not expect your Mac to offer Ethernet as an option in the AppleTalk Control panel. If your Mac offers Ethernet, you need to look more carefully at whether you do indeed have the option card installed.

At the PowerBook, in the AppleTalk Control Panel, you expect to turn on AppleTalk/LocalTalk using the serial Port. I do not remember the exact wording. When you close the Control Panel, it should become active, and a light should come on at the AsantéTalk. You should also use the Sharing or File Sharing Control Panel to turn on File Sharing.

This article has some help with set-up:

http://www.atpm.com/network/setup/localtalk_ethernet.htm

At your 10.3.9 Mac, you should use the System Preferences > Network to look at all your Network Interfaces, select "Built-in Ethernet" and in the TCP/IP pane, give it an IP address Manually if it does not already get one automatically via DHCP. Then in the AppleTalk pane at the right, check "Make AppleTalk Active". Save changes.

On your 10.3.9 Mac, you enable Sharing using System Preferences > Sharing > ("Services" pane) check "Personal File Sharing". Save changes.

To initiate a connection, open the Chooser on the PowerBook, and select AppleShare as the device to choose. If all is working as expected, the name of your 10.3.9 computer should appear in the right window of the chooser.

This section of the same page discusses initiating File Sharing from an older Mac:

http://www.atpm.com/network/files/file_sharing.htm

One problem with the AsantéTalk is that it does not re-acquire devices that drop out. So when you think everything is all set, but nothing appears, the last step will be to reset the AsantéTalk (or cycle its power).