Networking OS 9 machines with FireWire

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33 points

Networking OS 9 machines with FireWire

I am setting up two computers running OS 9.2.2 to share files via a FireWire connection. I understand that one way to do this is to boot one of the machines in target disk mode so that it appears as a disk on the desktop of the other. I'm just wondering what happens if you boot up both machines normally with this connection. Can they communicate that way? Would that damage something? Should you not do that? Just curious.
Setup: Machine 1: PowerBook G4 Titanium 500 MHz. Machine 2: PowerMac G4 1.25 GHz MDD. There will be a FireWire chain of three devices between them.

PowerBook G4 500 MHz Mac OS 9.2.x

Posted on Nov 17, 2006 12:04 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 17, 2006 2:11 PM in response to nijpe

To keep it nice and simple, there's no chance of having a FireWire network under OS9.

But OSX can do this very easily. Support for this is built into OSX 10.3 and later. Might even be in OSX 10.2. Just connect the devices by FireWire after starting them up normally and select FireWire as the network interface in the Network System Pref.

OSX runs like a dream on the PBG4 500MHz, and even better on the MDD, certainly better than OS9.

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Answer 2

nijpe Author

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33 points

Nov 17, 2006 2:25 PM in response to Simon Teale

Thanks, but my setup here involves one machine which, for various reasons, has only OS 9 on it and will stay that way, so the point of the inquiry was what are the options in that system only. Target disk connection is one, but I'm wondering what happens if you just connect the machines and boot them. An explosion?
Etc.

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Answer 3

Nov 18, 2006 1:50 AM in response to nijpe

No explosion.

And there is an OS9 solution, but that comes at a cost. Look up FireNet from Unibrain. I have no idea of cost for the OS9 version, it'll be quite old now, and since OSX10.3 the company won't have that much Mac interest, so you may be able get a deal.

The software is available to download for free, you then have to purchase a licence to use it on each Mac. OSX (confirmed as OS10.3 being the earliest version with IP over FireWire included) is, for me, the preferred and maybe cheaper option.

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Answer 4

Nov 19, 2006 1:59 AM in response to Simon Teale

Why don't you connect them using a simple network (ethernet) cable???

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Answer 5

nijpe Author

Level 1

33 points

Nov 19, 2006 1:30 PM in response to nijpe

The question I was getting at with the original post was simply what would happen if you just hook up two OS 9 machines with a FireWire cable and boot them normally. I was wondering if that arrangement had any risk of damage/software corruption, or if it would even work as a network connection. As mentioned above, straightforward networking with Ethernet should work (something I don't want to do in this case for a variety of reasons, ranging from speed, various inconveniences, to the bad engineering of the ethernet jack on one of the machines), as should FireWire target disk mode, which is what I'll use.
As for FireNet, it's not clear from a quick check that the OS 9 version of that is still around, but thanks for the suggestion. In any event, it should not be necessary. Target disk mode should work for my purposes. I'm just not going to do the experiment of hooking both machines up and booting them normally.

PowerBook G4 500 MHz Mac OS 9.2.x

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Answer 6

Nov 20, 2006 3:30 PM in response to nijpe

The OS9 version of FireNet is definitely available for download, but I'm not sure if you'll be able to register it to run it legally.

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Answer 7

nijpe Author

Level 1

33 points

Nov 21, 2006 7:37 PM in response to Simon Teale

OK, thanks for the tip, Simon. Appreciated.

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