How do I share files between a PowerPC 8100 OS 7.6.1 and an iMac OS 10.7.4 over ethernet

"Real" file sharing (using TCP/IP) was possible between some older Macintosh operating systems and at least earlier Mac OS X versions (sometimes a third-party application was needed on the old machine).

http://homepage.mac.com/car1son/os9x_net_n_filesharing.html

http://www.opendoor.com/shareway/

However, I do not know whether any of this would work with Mac OS X 10.7.4 on the new computer. Someone else here may be able to provide you with the correct information.

Otherwise, you could try transfers via the Internet (as email attachments in the case of a limited number of smaller files). You may also want to experiment with an FTP or a web server on the Mac OS 7.6.1 computer, and then use a dedicated FTP client or a web browser on the new machine.

In order to use Ethernet and RJ-45 cabling, an external adapter (the Apple Ethernet Twisted-Pair Transceiver is one example) has to be connected to the AAUI-15 port of an 8100.

You should check which file formats programs on your new computer can open. If necessary, re-save files in an appropriate (generic) format already on the 8100.

Jan

One of the best tools you can have for working on older Macs is an external SCSI hard drive. Partition it with several OS options. My favorite OS was 8.1. That will give you more options in networking to a newer computer. The best computer for intermediate file transfers is a G3. A B&W G3 had build in USB and allowed for easy IDE drive swaps.

If you can find a G3 or G4, pick one up and use it as a bridge machine.

Ji~m

A combination of the two comments above is exactly what you need... unfortunately. An intermediate G3 would allow the 8100 to connect direclty via AppleShare; that stopped working in OSX somewhere around 10.5 or so. The G3 can then connect to your 10.7 machine. Or... a combination of software could also work; installing an FTP client on the 8100 could push files to the 10.7 machine. But you might lose resource forks, etc. in the transfer, depending on the client used.

Your machines are spanning too much time to be able to directly connect in a convenient way.

SomeGuy's comments about resource forks need additional comment. As he said, there is no convenient way to directly connect. So, if a file has lost certain resource forks, the file may have to be opened by TextEdit. It will be seen as a text file with garbage characters included. Clean up the file and then save. Word or other software will then open the updated TextEdit file.

Ji~m

A good way of preserving resource forks is to encode (MacBinary or BinHex) or compress (for example, StuffIt) files before they are transferred. However, this is mainly of importance for application transfers (and applications in this case are not going to be used on the modern computer). Plain data files (documents) can usually be opened even if a resource fork is lost. Compression may be advantageous anyway, since it is often easier to handle one single archive than several small files.

Jan

Addendum

There is a relatively simple server-based way of avoiding difficulties with incompatible system versions et cetera. It could possibly be of some interest.

I tested the following between a System 7.5.3 PowerBook 540 and a Windows XP PC. It ought to work with a System 7.6.1 Power Macintosh 8100 and a MacOS X 10.7.4 iMac as well.

a) Download and install Microsoft Personal Web Server 1.0 for Macintosh onto the 8100. If the 8100 does not have a direct Internet connection, carry out the download on another computer, and then try to transfer the hqx file (as it is) on a CD-R (burn at a low speed) or a 1.44 MB floppy (use StuffIt Expander to decode the hqx on the 8100). Do not change or add anything after the installation; just leave the files as they are.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/164571

b) Drag a compressed example archive (we can call it example_file.sit) to the folder My Personal Web Site (there are other files inside this folder; do not worry about them). Ensure that the compression format is compatible with a decompression tool on the receiving computer.

c) Many people have access to a router (wired or wireless) with a built-in Ethernet switch (usually something like four LAN ports). If applicable, disconnect any incoming Internet (the WAN port). If possible/necessary, switch off the wireless (see the router manual for details about this).

d) Switch off both computers (and the router).

e) Connect an AAUI to RJ-45 transceiver (such as the aforementioned Apple Ethernet Twisted-Pair Transceiver) to the AAUI port of the 8100.

f) Connect an Ethernet cable from the transceiver to the first LAN port of the router.

g) Connect an Ethernet cable from the second LAN port of the router to the iMac.

h) Switch on the router.

i) Start the computers.

j) The TCP/IP control panel on the 8100 is set to connect via Ethernet. DHCP Server is used in this case.

k) Open the Microsoft Personal Web Server control panel.

l) Click on the Start button.

m) Wait (can take a while).

n) Notice the exact address at My URL (under Monitor Web Site). Could be something like http://192.168.1.2 (depends on the router).

o) Launch a web browser on the iMac (I did the testing on the PC with Firefox and Safari).

p) Enter the exact address (see n above) in the browser's address field (http://192.168.1.2 in my example). Press Return. A standard web page should appear. Disregard this page for now.

q) Add the exact file name (example_file.sit) to the address shown in the field. The result would be http://192.168.1.2/example_file.sit in my case. Press Return.

r) The file should start to download to the modern computer.

All the above is intended for a local connection only (otherwise security settings become of importance), and should be considered purely experimental. There are further possibilities (including an FTP plug-in), but it also makes everything more complicated. I have not tested the behaviour with large files or with various files types. Sometimes the server may crash. If so, try a restart. Make sure that you have backup copies of important files already at the 8100 before you begin.

Good luck!

Jan