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Re: Retrieving files via network/serial link
In article <30F9458B.186A@calweb.com> Dave Regis <daver@calweb.com> writes:
> I've got a fair amount of stuff from my Mac+ days that I'd
> love to get over to my PC for use with Executor, but what
> isn't on 800k disks is on 400k. I've got a friend who's got
> an old Mac SE that I could probably borrow for a while...
> with that in mind, what's the most straight-forward way of
> transferring files from a Mac to a PC?
I transferrred approx 70 MB of Mac software from my mac+ to my P5-100
for the cost of a null modem cable (<$10). I connected the mac serial
port to one of my PC serial ports. I then used the shareware program
Zterm running on my Mac+ and the Zmodem transfer protocol to transfer
all my files over to the PC.
On the PC side I run Linux, so I used a getty terminal on the PC
serial port and simply logged in from my mac. Then Zmodem under Zterm
automatically sent the correct rz/sz type command to initiate the
transfer. Similar (but probably less elegant) solutions would work on
more brain-dead so called operating systems from Micro$oft.
The only downside is that the Mac serial port can only sustain about
1600 bps. But who cares, it runs in the background under Linux!
One hint. Zterm requires you to select files individually which makes
sending over an entire directory heirarchy very difficult. Instead, I
first used Compact Pro to make an archive of the desired folders &
files. Then I used Zterm to send over the single resulting archive
file. I then used BinHex followed by Compact Pro on the PC side
(running under executor) to unpack the archive. Note that BinHex must
be used to convert a download --> application. Note also that
compressing the archive on the Mac takes just about as much time as is
saved by sending only the compressed file over the serial
line. Uncompressing the file under Executor is more than 100 times
faster (thanks Ardi).
I hope this helps,
Jeff
References: