I haven’t used it myself, but I have set up AppleTalk on SE-era Macs
before.  If I remember correctly, the SE lacks an expansion slot for
getting it on an Ethernet network.  A device exists called a
Localtalk-to-Ethernet bridge which is a Mac serial port on one side and
Ethernet on the other.  This translates the Localtalk AppleTalk packets to
EtherTalk packets, enabling Localtalk-only Macs to communicate with
Ethernet-connected AppleTalk servers.  The AsanteTalk is an example of such
a device, but there are several; they are getting more rare these days.

If you see references to MacIP, this is a software solution which can allow
TCP/IP packets to be sent and received via Localtalk, but I think it
requires having a Mac with Localtalk and Ethernet to be dedicated to this
purpose.  Essentially such a Mac becomes a network router and nothing more.

I have a 927LX with MPE/iX 6.0, a few vintage Macs (and an Apple IIgs,
which could do AppleTalk, amazingly), and an AsanteTalk bridge.  I should
give this a shot.  Would be pleasantly eclectic to use my 3000 as a file
server for my vintage Apple gear.  :-)

I don't have the API documentation but it would be interesting to see it if
anyone runs across it.

-Rob

On Fri, Apr 28, 2023 at 11:31 Keven Miller (3kG) <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Recently I was helping someone with a Mac-SE.
> The topic of APPLETALK came up.
> I note that there is a group APPLETLK.SYS with several programs.
>
> Anyone know of  or has more info on these and any setup/use of them?
> In the below article it states request more info on the APIs.
> Did any one do that?
>
> Keven Miller
>
>
> This is found in
> COMMUNICATOR 3000 MPE/iX General Release 5.0 (Core Software Release
> C.50.00)
>
> Introducing AppleTalk Services for the HP 3000
>
> by Cliff Chew
> Information Networks Division
>
> With the MPE/iX 5.0 Release, HP is introducing a new product for Apple
> Macintosh connectivity called AppleTalk Services for the HP 3000.
> AppleTalk Services for the HP 3000 allows the HP 3000 Series 900 to act
> as an AppleShare-compatible File Server for a network of Macintosh
> clients.  To a Macintosh client, the HP 3000 Series 900 looks identical
> to a dedicated Macintosh running as an AppleShare version 2.1 File
> Server.
>
> AppleTalk Services for the HP 3000 provides the AppleTalk protocol and
> AppleShare File Server services.  The file services allows a Macintosh
> client to store files on the HP 3000 and share those files with other
> Macintosh clients.
>
> In addition to AppleShare File Server services, AppleTalk Services for
> the HP 3000 provides other features including:
>
>    *   Access to MPE files.  Macintosh clients can directly access files
>        residing in the POSIX file system of MPE. Files residing in the
>        non-POSIX file system of MPE can also be accessed if the files are
>        in MPE file format with fixed or variable lengths.  AppleTalk
>        Services for the HP 3000 file security is built on top of MPE file
>        security.  File access is governed by the user's MPE file access
>        rights.  MPE ASCII files appear as Macintosh text files.
>
>    *   Access to multiple volumes.  AppleTalk Services for the HP 3000
>        allows multiple volumes to be defined on the HP 3000.  A Macintosh
>        client can access one or more volumes simultaneously.  Each volume
>        (an MPE account, group, or directory in the POSIX file system)
>        looks like a disk on the Macintosh.  Each directory under that
>        volume looks like a folder within that disk and individual files
>        on the HP 3000 look like Macintosh files.
>
>    *   APIs.  Information available on request.
>
> AppleTalk Services for the HP 3000 is supported over Ethernet LANs only
> (TokenTalk and LocalTalk are not currently supported).  The Macintosh
> will need access to Ethernet either by installing EtherTalk Phase II or
> through a router.
>
> To connect to AppleTalk Services for the HP 3000 server, AppleShare
> client software (version 6.0.8 or later), included with system software,
> is required on the Macintosh.  Both are included with every Macintosh so
> no additional software is required.  On the HP 3000, MPE/iX 5.0 and an
> 802.3 LANIC card are required.
>
> AppleTalk Services for the HP 3000 does not support print services (that
> is, printing to a printer attached to the HP 3000).  Since most Apple
> printers connect to the network, they can be shared by the Macintosh
> clients without the HP 3000.
>
> * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
> * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *
>

* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *