LaserWriter Bridge 2.0: How To Use

TECHINFO-0017476

TOPIC

This article describes using the LaserWriter Bridge software to connect your LocalTalk printer to an extended network.

DISCUSSION

Your LaserWriter printer has built-in support for a LocalTalk network. This lets you connect the printer either to a single Macintosh computer or to a LocalTalk network of several computers and other devices. If you plan to use your printer with a single computer or as part of a LocalTalk network, you don't need to read this article.

In addition, you can create a "bridge" between your printer and an extended network such as Ethernet. To do so, you need to complete the following steps, described in this booklet:

• Connect the printer to a "host" Macintosh that is already part of an extended network.

• Install the LaserWriter Bridge software on the host Macintosh.

• Activate the LaserWriter Bridge software.

Connecting your printer to the network

• The appropriate hardware and software for an extended network connection. For example, if you are connecting to an Ethernet network you need either an Ethernet card, or built-in Ethernet adapter, and EtherTalk software.

• System software version 7.0 or later.

• At least 4 MB of RAM (random access memory).

Installing the LaserWriter Bridge software

Step 1

Turn on the host Macintosh.

Step 2

Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu and double-click the Network icon. NOTE: The LaserWriter Bridge 2.0 requires classis networking.

Step 3

Select the network (such as EtherTalk) to which the host Macintosh is connected and close the Network control panel.

Step 4

Insert the LaserWriter Bridge disk in the floppy disk drive of the host computer.

Step 5

Drag the LaserWriter Bridge icon to the System Folder of your startup disk. A message appears asking whether you want to place LaserWriter Bridge in the Control Panels folder inside the System Folder.

Step 6

Click OK.

Step 7

Restart the host Macintosh.

Activating the LaserWriter Bridge software

Step 1

Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu and double-click the LaserWriter Bridge icon.

Step 2

Click the On button to activate the LaserWriter Bridge software.

Step 3

Close the LaserWriter Bridge control panel.

Step 4

Restart the host Macintosh.

Whenever you start up the host Macintosh, the LaserWriter Bridge software will be active.

How the LaserWriter Bridge software works

If there are AppleTalk routers on your extended network, multiple zones may be available to network users. In this case, the LocalTalk printer connected to the host Macintosh will appear in the same zone as the host Macintosh.

Because the host Macintosh must be on in order for the LocalTalk printer to be available to users on the extended network, you will see a dialog box when you choose Restart or Shut Down on the host Macintosh.

Click OK if you want to restart or shut down the computer. Click Cancel if you don't want to interrupt network users' access to the LocalTalk printer.

IMPORTANT: If File Sharing was active on the host Macintosh, choosing Restart or Shut Down will turn it off. It will be turned on again automatically the next time you start up the host Macintosh. If you clicked Cancel in the dialog box and want to reactivate File Sharing without restarting the computer, you need to click Start in the File Sharing section of the Sharing Setup control panel.

If you do not want this dialog box to appear each time you choose Restart or Shut Down, select the Disable shutdown warning checkbox in the LaserWriter Bridge control panel.

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