The Ultimate GlobalTalk Network Guide v1.1

The Ultimate GlobalTalk Network Guide

Version 1.1 - March 2025 • By Steve (Mac84) • www.marchintosh.com

Table of Contents

Read Me First - How GlobalTalk Works

How To Join The GlobalTalk Network

Understanding AppleTalk and LocalTalk

Preparing Your Vintage Ethernet Network

Preparing Your LocalTalk Network

Configuring Apple Internet Router for GlobalTalk
Troubleshooting GlobalTalk Issues

Setting Up Shared Folders

Setting Up Shared Printers

Glossary

I. Read Me First! - How GlobalTalk Works

GlobalTalk is the nickname we’ve given to the practice of using an ancient Apple Internet Router software package to bridge your local AppleTalk network (of vintage computers and printers) to the global network of the internet and other people’s vintage computers and printers. This lets you and other GlobalTalk participants share files over AppleShare and print to each other's AppleTalk-enabled printers connected over LocalTalk/PhoneNet cables.

However, this comes at a cost - this software is old and there are obvious security implications of playing with it and potentially exposing your IP address and network of devices to others.

The only way to participate in this is to share your IP address on a spreadsheet and open a port for your router to allow these connections. This is simply the cost of admission.

The rules and guidelines of GlobalTalk are those of #MARCHintosh, please be kind and not be a jerk to others. With that said, there’s no practical way to stop someone from wasting your printer’s ink and paper or from downloading your Guest AppleShare files. Well, unless you stop the sharing software or switch off your printer.

With that being said, please be well aware of the following before considering using GlobalTalk:

WARNING! To use the GlobalTalk network…

People will know your IP address!
People will have unfiltered access to a printer! (if you set one up)
People will have unlimited access to your AppleShare folders! (if you set one up)
You should ensure your home network is secure and have a firewall in use!

II. How to Join the GlobalTalk Network

To join the GlobalTalk network you’ll need to understand some of the basics of vintage Apple hardware and networking. You’ll also need to request access to the GlobalTalk spreadsheet and learn how to set up your devices to be shared and how to connect other people’s devices over the internet.

If you’re new to the vintage Macintosh scene or need a refresher about LocalTalk, AppleTalk, or setting up a shared printer, there are additional sections in this document to help you out.

1. Requesting access to join GlobalTalk

Please fill out this GlobalTalk Access Request Form. Do not submit multiple requests! Approval via this form is a MANUAL process that can take 48 hours or more. Please be patient and kind when requesting access.

Once approved, you’ll have access to a Google spreadsheet where the IP addresses of other GlobalTalk users are located. It also shares social media, geographical, network port and other details about each user and their network.

2. Preparing your retro Macintosh for GlobalTalk

You’ll need a 68k or PowerPC Macintosh computer to act as your GlobalTalk host.

This host Macintosh will run the Apple Internet Router (AIR) software and act as the physical bridge between your LocalTalk (serial ports) and ethernet (via real ethernet or something like DaynaPort emulation) connections. If you are using a third party ethernet adapter (or using the BlueSCSI’s Wi-Fi feature) you’ll need to ensure you have those drivers or utilities installed to continue. It’s best to test your internet and network connections before trying GlobalTalk.
We recommend using Mac OS System 7.1, System 7.5 or System 7.6.
If your Mac has less than 16 MB of RAM System 7.1 is strongly recommended. Mac OS 8 or later are not compatible with the Apple Internet Router software.
Using the MacTCP networking utilities will work with the Apple Internet Router software. Unfortunately Open Transport will not work. Therefore, this leaves out most PCI-based Power Macintosh computers that rely on Open Transport for networking.

Using an Emulated Mac with QEMU
It’s possible to use an emulated Macintosh system with something like QEMU, which offers networking support. While emulated Macs are not specifically covered in this guide, the software and configuration steps in this guide should still be applicable.
A basic guide of setting up GlobalTalk with QEMU for Mac OS is available here, you may have luck adapting that guide for Windows or Linux hosts too.

III. Understanding AppleTalk and LocalTalk

While the terms AppleTalk and LocalTalk are often erroneously used interchangeably, they mean different things. The Apple Internet Router software does a lot of the heavy lifting, but it’s important to understand the terminology and names of what you’ll be using. This is especially helpful if you’re new to the vintage Macintosh scene or just need a refresher.

AppleTalk is a protocol (think of it as a communication method) it can be used over a variety of physical connections like ethernet, LocalTalk cables, or PhoneNet adapters.
LocalTalk is a hardware adapter or cable that is used to connect devices together. Apple made their own LocalTalk adapters and cables. Third parties, like Farallon, made PhoneNet, a similar adapter and cable system using standard RJ11 telephone cables.

Note: While the physical LocalTalk and PhoneNet adapters and cables are different, they are 100% AppleTalk protocol compatible. Adapters were even made to convert between them.

For example, when I refer to an AppleTalk-enabled printer, this could mean a LaserWriter or HP LaserJet plugged into your network via an ethernet cable. However, it can also mean an ImageWriter II with an LocalTalk option card connected over a LocalTalk or PhoneNet adapter plugged into the serial port of a Macintosh computer.

IV. Preparing your Vintage Ethernet Network

Using the Apple Internet Router (AIR) you’ll be bridging and sharing your local AppleTalk network interfaces of your Mac (including LocalTalk / PhoneNet serial adapters and ethernet) to others around the world. This section gives you a few tips on connecting computers and printers to the ethernet side of this network. For this guide we’ll focus on modern base-T / RJ45 ethernet networks and devices. However, most of this may be interchangeable to other ethernet flavors.

Preparing Macs connected via ethernet

Any vintage Macintosh connected to the same local ethernet network as your host Macintosh will be automatically shared to other GlobalTalk users. These Macs will need to have their AppleTalk, File Sharing and Users & Groups settings configured and turned on, but other than that, you don’t need to do anything specific.

So for example, if you set up a Centris 650 as your GlobalTalk router system but you also have a Quadra 800 and a Macintosh SE/30 on the same ethernet network with AppleTalk enabled on their ethernet ports… then they are accessible via GlobalTalk too! You can refer to the steps in section VIII to set up File Sharing on most Macs.

Preparing AppleTalk-compatible Printers connected via ethernet

Any AppleTalk-enabled printer connected to the same local ethernet network as your

host Macintosh will be automatically shared to other GlobalTalk users. However, some printers, especially non-Apple models, may need additional configuration or set up to turn on or enable AppleTalk functionality. This is not something we’ll be covering here.

It’s also important to share the model of your printer in the Google spreadsheet. When someone wants to connect to your printer they’ll need to know the model of it so they can select the appropriate printer type in the Chooser, or choose a specific PPD (PostScript Printer Description) when setting up a LaserWriter or generic/modern laser printer.

Please note, some low-end Apple LaserWriters are NOT AppleTalk compatible! Do some research on what LaserWriter you have before you continue as the model numbers differ.

Known problems when connecting to Gigabit ethernet switches

Some vintage ethernet controllers have problems connecting to modern gigabit ethernet switches and routers. They may be unable to understand or negotiate a network speed, this can prevent your Mac from obtaining or using an IP address, or simply act like your network adapter is not properly connected.

Some solutions involve using an older router or switch between your modern router or switch and your vintage system. Using a managed switch where you can specify the individual speed and settings of the port may also solve this issue.

Note: When adding additional routers you’ll likely want to disable their DHCP serving feature to avoid IP address conflicts on your network. Additional information on this subject can be found online.

V. Preparing Your LocalTalk Network

This section gives you a few tips on connecting your computers and printers to the LocalTalk side of your network via LocalTalk or PhoneNet cables and adapters.

While you can also connect Macintosh computers to your AppleTalk network via LocalTalk, PhoneNet, or standard mini din 8-pin serial cables, this section will largely be focused on printers as they are far more complex to set up.

Your printer model will dictate how it can be connected and shared to others, and what adapters or additional software may be required. See the examples below:

Printers with hardware-based LocalTalk solutions:

The ImageWriter II, ImageWriter LQ, StyleWriter 2400 and StyleWriter 2500 have unique hardware LocalTalk adapters made by Apple. These add AppleTalk capabilities and let you use LocalTalk or PhoneNet cables to share these printers on your network. These also require a different AppleTalk specific system extension, you’ll select this unique extension in the Chooser when connecting to AppleTalk-compatible printers.
Printers with software-based LocalTalk solutions:

Other Apple printers allow software-based AppleTalk sharing via ColorShare or GrayShare. This allows select StyleWriter and LaserWriter printers to be AppleTalk compatible. This method is not compatible with any ImageWriter models.

Supported printers:

StyleWriter and StyleWriter II
StyleWriter 1200
Color StyleWriter Pro
Color StyleWriter 2200 and 2400
Apple Color Printer
Personal LaserWriter LS and 300
LaserWriter Select 300

It’s strongly recommended you find the original documentation (manual, user’s guide) for your printer and any appropriate original software disks or disk images. This will help you greatly when setting up your printers and troubleshooting common problems.

Modern printing solutions and hacks:

Some very clever folks have figured out how to share non-Apple printers or PDF servers via modern Linux systems, etc. While these exist and are great, the subject is not covered here.

VI. Configuring Apple Internet Router for GlobalTalk

This section would not be possible without Paul Rickards and their efforts, alongside many other talented people who hatched the GlobalTalk idea in 2024. Thank you to the #MARCHintosh and TinkerDifferent crews for their support and help in bringing GlobalTalk to the masses. Keep up with the latest GlobalTalk news by following #GlobalTalk on Mastodon and BlueSky.

What’ll be covered in this section:
This guide is designed to help you configure the Apple Internet Router (AIR) so you can join in on the GlobalTalk fun. This assumes you’ve already read the steps above.

These instructions come with no warranty, but check out this thread for some helpful tips and alternatives if you get stuck.

Although this guide is designed for those using actual vintage Macintosh hardware, the steps should be similar for those emulating a Mac with something like QEMU.

Requirements:

Read the above section II. How To Join The GlobalTalk Network and wait for your GlobalTalk access to be approved
Basic understanding of the vintage Mac OS and your Mac hardware
The various ethernet or LocalTalk hardware and cables needed
Knowledge of how to open or forward ports on your internet router

Configuring the Mac OS

The Apple Internet Router (required for GlobalTalk) works well with System 7.1 through System 7.6. It will not work on Mac OS 8 or above, but will work on Power Macintoshes.

While it’s fun to do a fresh install of System 7 we’ll skip this and strongly suggest you download one of the available hard drive disk images below. These images are set up with all the basic networking and Apple Internet Router software, alongside some goodies, to get you up and running. This means you won’t need to install any networking software or worry about what installer needs to be done first, etc.

For those brave enough to do this with a fresh install of System 7.1, you can follow this comment which has some tips to help you out, but it’s not an exhaustive list.

Note: Avoid using disks or disk images over 2 GB in size! Other systems connecting to your network may have trouble seeing them due to early Mac OS limitations.

Premade GlobalTalk Ready Disk Images:
These are compatible with BlueSCSI and should work with products like the PiSCSI and ZuluSCSI. Some Macs may require additional configuration.

System 7.1 HD image

Suggested for Macs with less than 5MB of RAM
Includes a handful of System Enablers required for some Macs

System 7.6.1 HD image

Requires a 32-bit clean Mac with a 68030 CPU or later
Compatible with most PowerPC-based Macs
Enables access to shared folders and disks larger than 4GB

Hot Tip!
These disk images also include a handful of essential applications. It also has a folder named “GlobalTalk Utilities” under the root directory of the hard drive. It contains handy additions such as AIRConfig to help manage Host IDs/IP addresses later on. Be sure to check it out! 😀

About System Enablers:
Some Macintosh systems will require System Enablers in order to boot from these hard drive disk images. You can learn more about System Enablers on this page. If your Mac needs a System Enabler it will fail to boot from an image without it and you’ll see an error on startup.

You can add a System Enabler file into a disk image via a Mac emulator such as InfiniteMac.org or SheepShaver. Bruce of Branchus Creations has a relevant YouTube tutorial video that covers working with disk images in emulators that is super helpful.

b. Configuring the Apple Internet Router

This section will show you how to configure the Apple Internet Router software to share your Mac with others via GlobalTalk. This will also share any LocalTalk Macs or AppleTalk-compatible printers you have connected to your Mac.

This guide assumes you are using System 7.1, 7.5 or 7.6 and are using “classic” Macintosh networking with MacTCP. It also assumes you’ve successfully set up your ethernet adapter’s IP address using MacTCP and your Mac can get online.

If you need help configuring your IP address on your Mac via MacTCP, please refer to some similar resources on the BlueSCSI website here.

Note: If you’re using one of the premade HD disk images you’ll already have MacTCP installed. Although there are updated versions of MacTCP, these haven’t been tested extensively with GlobalTalk and they may or may not work.

Step 1. Boot your Macintosh up from one of the supplied hard drive disk images. We’ll be using System 7.1 in this guide, but System 7.5.x and 7.6 should be similar if you’re using MacTCP.

Step 2. Navigate to Control Panels > Network. This will help confirm that your ethernet networking device is working and is seen by your Macintosh. If you don’t see your ethernet card or adapter here, you will likely need to install drivers or software for your network hardware.

Step 3. In the Network control panel select your EtherTalk device, in my example it’s “EtherTalk Slot 3”. This will tell the Macintosh what ethernet adapter we want to use with GlobalTalk.

Step 4. Next we’ll need to make sure AppleTalk is enabled. Navigate to the Chooser (Apple Menu > Chooser). In the AppleTalk section select the “Active” button, a dialog box will tell you to make sure your AppleTalk hardware and cables are connected, select OK.

AppleTalk will be enabled on the network port or adapter you selected in the previous step using the Network control panel.

Step 5. Open the Router Manager application.

Step 6. Identify your ethernet hardware. In my example it’s listed as “Ethernet (Slot 3)”. You may only have “Ethernet” if your Macintosh has built-in ethernet or AAUI hardware.

Expand this item so you see EtherTalk and IP Tunnel. Double-click on EtherTalk.

Step 7. Set Port status: Active. Next, select Port: Seed. Add a Network Range.
These ports must be unique!

A range of 1-2 ports should be sufficient. For example a range of “1000-1001” or “225-225” should work. (These are just examples, use a unique range!)

Once your GlobalTalk request has been approved, open the Google spreadsheet to identify the existing ports other folks are using. Choose a range that does not conflict with any other GlobalTalk users and type them in.

Step 8. Add a new Zone Name. This will be the name of your GlobalTalk network as seen by others via their Mac’s Chooser. To add a zone name, type in a Zone Name text field and click add. When done, click Define.

Note: This network port range is unrelated to the UDP ports you’ll need to open on your modem or router later on.

Step 9. Double-click on IP Tunnel (again located under your Ethernet interface).

Here we’ll configure all the other GlobalTalk users you want to connect to. You’ll add their IP address to the Host List.

Generally speaking, if a user is not added to this list, you won’t be able to see their network and they won’t be able to see yours. So it’s best to add a bunch of folks!

Hot Tip! - Want an easier way? Try AirConfig and other tools
If you are using one of the premade HD disk images, open up the GlobalTalk Utilities folder (inside Macintosh HD) and check out AirConfig (by Karl Baron). It’s a handy tool that’ll let you easily add dozens and dozens of IP addresses to your Host List without manually adding in each one.

Also check out GlobalTalk Updater by Sam Johnson. More tools and links can be found in the “Instructions / Links” section of the GlobalTalk for MARCHintosh Google Spreadsheet (you’ll get access to it once your request is approved).

Step 10. Set the Port Status to Active.

Step 11. Type an IP address into the Host ID text field and select Add. Repeat this step many times until your Host List is filled with a bunch of cool kids.

Ensure the “Use only the host IDs listed” checkbox is unchecked if you want to accept connections from other servers besides the ones you have listed.

Click Define when you’re done.

Step 12. If you have a LocalTalk network, connect the cable to the Printer Port of your Mac. The Printer Port is often the default AppleTalk port on most Macs. If you aren’t dealing with LocalTalk Macs or printers at this time you can skip this step.

Expand the Printer Port menu item and double-click on LocalTalk.

Step 13. Set Port status choose Active. For Port choose the Seed option.

Step 14. Next, you’ll need to add a Network Number. Your Network Number can be a two digit number, it does not need to be a range. This port number is for your LocalTalk network and must be unique. Check the spreadsheet to ensure this port number is not used by others.

Note: Previous versions of this guide suggested that this port number did not need to be unique. This has been corrected above, the number must be unique!

For simplicity's sake you can use the first digits of your ethernet Network Port range, so for example 10 may be a good Network Number to use if your range was 1000-1001.

Step 15. Add a Zone Name, you can set this as the same Zone Name you set for your ethernet adapter. Alternatively, you can choose a different Zone Name for your LocalTalk network, but this can lead to confusion across GlobalTalk as your network will appear as two entries in the Chooser. It is strongly suggested you use a single shared name.

Step 16. From the FIle menu select Save or Save As to save your Apple Internet Router configuration. Anytime you wish to add Host IDs or any of your settings you should re-save this configuration file. The Router software must be stopped and inactive in order for you to make changes to your configuration or add/remove Host IDs.

Step 17. Next we’ll set the startup file and start the router. From the Control menu choose “Select Startup…”, you’ll be presented with a number of options where you can configure AIR to start when your Mac starts, etc. You can configure these as you wish.

We’ll focus on the “Startup Document” area, this is where you’ll choose the configuration file you just saved in the previous step. Click the “Select…” button and choose your configuration file. Select “OK” when done.

Step 18. Now it’s time to start the router. From the Control menu choose Start Router. You’ll get a dialog box informing you that once the router starts, you cannot make changes to the configuration file. Select “Start” to continue.

While the router starts the status will be displayed in a window, this can take a minute or so to start depending on the speed of your system.

If no errors have occurred, the window will disappear. Depending on your preferences, a few monitor / status windows will display afterwards. You can close these windows and the Router Manager application. If you want to stop the router, launch the application again and select “Stop Router…” from the Control menu.

Step 19. Now you’ll need to configure Port Forwarding on your modem or router to ensure that other people can connect to your GlobalTalk set up over the internet.

You’ll need to open up UDP 387 to the local IP address of your GlobalTalk host system.

For example, if your IP address in MacTCP is 192.168.1.84, then you’ll need to enable Port Forwarding on your modem or router to open UDP 387 to that address.

Although each brand of modem or router has different processes to enable and configure port forwarding, this helpful page will cover some of the basics.

Step 20. Lastly, you must add your external IP address to the GlobalTalk Google Spreadsheet (once you are given access to it) along with the other details below.

This will let other people add your IP address to their Apple Internet Router configuration and allow them to connect to you, and you to connect with them, etc.

Be sure to add the following information to the GlobalTalk Spreadsheet:

Your external IP address
Your Network Range (you entered this under ethernet)
Your Network Number (you entered this under LocalTalk)
Your name, social media handle and maybe an email address, etc.
Some information about your system and what you are sharing, etc.

Tip: Use a tool like www.IPChicken.com to look up your external IP address.

c. Confirming your connection with Chooser

Once you’re online with AIR, go to the Apple menu and select Chooser. If everything is working right you’ll see a new “AppleTalk Zones” panel under the regular options for AppleShare and printers. Ensure AppleTalk is set to Active.

Each Zone represents another GlobalTalk user’s network of devices. You must select an item from the top, like AppleShare (for shared folders) or a printer (like an AppleTalk ImageWriter or LaserWriter) and then select a zone to explore below.

If you do this out of order you’ll find the Chooser will automatically select different items and it’ll be confusing.

If you have other Macs or printers on your network, you’ll see your own Zone name listed. You can of course connect to your own local devices on your network just as you would do before you connected to the wonderful world of GlobalTalk.

VII. Troubleshooting GlobalTalk Issues

GlobalTalk is possible by balancing a number of pieces of software and specific configurations. While this guide can’t provide technical support, it can give you a few pointers of what to look out for when trying to resolve an issue.

If you need further help, try the TinkerDifferent web forum or their Discord channel. Always remember to be calm, patient, and understanding when asking help from others.

Quick tips:

If you don’t see the AppleTalk Zones area in the Chooser this means a connection to other GlobalTalk users / AppleTalk Zones was not successful. Make sure your Mac has a valid IP address. Try using a web browser to access a retro site like FrogFind.com or use a utility to ping an IP address.
If you can’t see a specific user on the network it may mean that they don’t have your IP address added to their Host List. There’s nothing much you can do about this except for possibly pinging them via any contact details they have in the Google Sheet. Please don’t pester people about adding you, most users will have to do this manually and it can be time intensive and prone to typos.
Sending files and print jobs over GlobalTalk can be slow - very slow. Even opening a directory of files can take a few moments. Don’t expect quick transfers, usually transfers of about 20-50K per second are to be expected.
If your Mac becomes sluggish this may be because multiple people are accessing your shared folders. You can monitor usage in the AIR Router Statistics window or via the File Sharing Monitor Control Panel.
If your configuration worked yesterday, but doesn’t work today try rebooting your Macintosh, double-checking your network connection and your IP address.
It’s always a good idea to confirm your local network of Macs or printers work before you share them on GlobalTalk. Ensure your folder and user permissions are set right and that your printer has paper and ink.
GlobalTalk is based on ancient software, running on ancient hardware, you’ll likely experience quirks and need to tinker with things to get stuff working.

VIII. Setting Up Shared Folders: Using AppleShare and Configuring Users/Guests

The following instructions are for System 7.1.x - they may be similar to other versions of the Mac OS but some options will change. This was tested with MacTCP and should be the same if you have OpenTransport installed too.

These steps assume you already have GlobalTalk up and running and you have successfully tested your connection to your network and the internet.

Tip: If you don’t see the Control Panels for Sharing Setup, File Sharing or Users & Groups - you may not have a complete install of the Mac OS, it’s suggested you do a full install from the original system disks or from the Apple Legacy CD with all the networking components installed and try again.

Enable File Sharing

These steps will show you how to enable File Sharing, without it you won’t be able to share files over the network. You may need to turn this option on each time you turn on your Macintosh.

Ensure AppleTalk is enabled via the Chooser and your preferred network adapter is selected in the Network control panel. If you followed the guide above you’ve already done these steps, but it doesn’t hurt to check before continuing.
Go to Apple menu > Control Panels > Sharing Setup
Add a name, password and Macintosh name. This Macintosh name is what others will see in the Chooser when they connect to your system.
The Owner Name & Owner Password are what you will use to connect as an Admin to this system (from another system).
Select the “Start” button under File Sharing and wait a minute or so for this to complete. You’ll know it’s running when the Status updates and button changes to read “Stop”.

Sharing a Folder or Disk and Setting Permissions

These steps will help you share a folder or disk on your Mac over AppleShare. It will also show you how to configure these items so other users, including guests, can access them.

Create a folder or select an existing folder and Get Info on it by choosing “Get Info” from the File menu in the Finder.
Check the “Share this item and its contents” checkbox to enable this folder to be shared.
For Owner, you should select your Owner Name you selected in the Enable File Sharing steps.
For User/Group, you can leave this as <none>. You can modify this later if you want.
For the Everyone area this is where you should modify the “See folders”, “See Files” and “Make Changes” options to your preference. For example, if you just want a folder where people can place things, but not delete them, you can uncheck the “Make Changes” option. If you want to set up a “Dropbox” where people can’t see inside of the folder they are putting files into, you can uncheck the “See Folders” and “See Files” option (I think!).
Selecting the “Make all currently enclosed folders like this one” will propagate these settings into sub-folders. If you have a main folder and don’t want to give full access to sub-folders, like an Inbox or Dropbox, make sure this is unchecked.
You should check the “Can’t be moved, renamed or deleted” option - so others can’t fuss with the folder.
The options above are just an example, you can use the permissions to set things up exactly how you want them to be, but the above should give you a basic setup.

Allowing Guests to Access your Shared Folders

By default folders shared via AppleShare won’t allow guests to connect.
Follow these steps to let guests access your folders. Remember, your folders must also have the right permissions to allow guests to view or modify files.

Go to the Apple Menu > Control Panels > Users & Groups.
This should open a window, you should see your Owner Name as a user alongside a <Guest> user.
Double-click the Guest user. Under the File sharing header, select the “Allow guest to connect” checkbox. Close the window to save the changes.
Now Guests can view your files when they connect to your AppleShare systems via the Chooser, by selecting the “Guest” name.
This is why it’s important to set up the specific permissions (as noted in the Sharing a Folder or Disk section) so that Guests don’t have access or permissions to files or folders you don’t want them to.

Seeing Who’s Connecting to your Mac’s Shared Folders

Use the File Sharing Monitor (located under System Folder > Control Panels) to see how many users are connected to your Mac. Since most users may be guests, you may not be able to see specific names, but it still gives you an idea of how popular your Mac is on the GlobalTalk network. As the name implies, this only relates to File Sharing, this will not show you anyone who may be connected to any shared printers.

IX. Setting Up Shared Printers: Using AppleTalk-compatible printers over LocalTalk

This section features tips on setting up your AppleTalk-compatible printers using LocalTalk or PhoneNet cables. You’ll need to refer to the manuals or documentation for your printer model or LocalTalk adapters for specific details and troubleshooting steps. Since you may be getting a lot of incoming print jobs, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with any error lights or button panels.

Once you’ve set up your printer, you should test it yourself from your host Macintosh, or another Macintosh on your network, to ensure it is working properly before telling others to try and print to it.

Tips for select Apple Printers with LocalTalk add-on hardware options

ImageWriter II / LQ printers with LocalTalk hardware

You must have the LocalTalk hardware card installed. There are three revisions of the ImageWriter hardware. The last revision, which features the power socket on the side of the printer, instead of the leg, requires a slightly different installation procedure for the LocalTalk hardware card.
Follow the instructions in your printer’s manual or user’s guide and install your LocalTalk hardware card. Ensure the dip switches on your ImageWriter logic board are set to enable this card. Perform a test print, if it says “AT=ON”, the AppleTalk functionality is working.
The ImageWriter II and ImageWriter LQ have slightly different installation procedures.
Ensure the ‘Select’ button / light is used on your ImageWriter unless otherwise specified by your computer
A red error light may display if your printer runs out of paper, your printer jams, or if your printer cover is not fully seated.

StyleWriter 2400 or 2500 printers with LocalTalk hardware

This section to be worked on, I need to find my adapter! 🙂

Tips for Other Printers with software-enabled LocalTalk sharing

Some Apple (and other brand) printers can be shared over AppleTalk networks using first party or third party utilities. The steps needed for sharing your printer model using Printer Sharing extensions (such as ColorShare/GrayShare) will be different depending on your printer model and the software running on your Macintosh.

Please refer to the documentation for your printer and the Read Me files included with your printer disks or CDs for details on setting things up.

StyleWriter printers

Your standard Mac OS install may not have the latest printer drivers or all the printer software needed for sharing printers. This Apple Software Upgrade CD from 1997 may be helpful.
Be sure to name your shared printer something unique so people can identify it. It’ll be listed alongside “Printer Port” or “Serial Port” in the Chooser
Some printers require specific settings to work with a handful of early Macintosh systems

LaserWriter printers

Different printers may require different cables and adapters
Make sure you set the correct paper tray you want to use
Some LaserWriters don’t have built-in AppleTalk/LocalTalk hardware
Some LaserWriters require specific software updates or drivers

X. Glossary

AppleTalk - The network protocol used to communicate with other AppleTalk-enabled devices, such as Macintosh computers, Apple printers, other laser printers and even some PC systems. Not to be confused with LocalTalk, which is a hardware cable system that uses the AppleTalk protocol. See also LocalTalk.

Chooser - This is an Apple application that is built into the Macintosh operating system. It is accessible via the Apple menu on the top left corner of the screen. The Chooser lets you view and connect to AppleTalk file servers and configure local or network printers. The Chooser is also where you can enable or disable AppleTalk on Macs not using the later OpenTransport network extensions. See also AppleTalk.

LocalTalk - A physical cabling system used to connect to other Macintosh computers, Apple printers and specialized PC network cards and adapters. LocalTalk adapter boxes plug into the serial port of your Macintosh or printer. Most boxes have two ports, which then use LocalTalk cables to connect each system. LocalTalk boxes are self-terminating, so an open port on the adapter box can be left open. These LocalTalk adapters and cables were sold by Apple but long lengths of cables were considered very expensive. Later on cheaper alternatives like PhoneNet (by Farallon) became more popular. LocalTalk is not to be confused with AppleTalk, which is a communication protocol that can use LocalTalk cables to share files and printers over a network.
See also PhoneNet.

PhoneNet - A physical cabling system created by Farallon to be an alternative to Apple’s expensive LocalTalk cabling system. Many other companies created PhoneNet adapters, cabling systems and similar products throughout the 90’s. PhoneNet uses a serial port adapter box at the end of each Mac or printer, then it uses standard 4-wire telephone wire to connect these systems. Each device on the network must have a PhoneNet adapter box. PhoneNet adapter boxes usually have two RJ-11 jacks; any empty jacks must be terminated to avoid signal issues. Telephone cables that only have 2-wires are not compatible, as the PhoneNet system is designed to use the two outside wires of a standard 4-wire telephone cable to work.
See also LocalTalk.

GlobalTalk - A phrase coined in 2024 to refer to the method of using the Apple Internet Router software to connect a wide network of vintage Macintosh systems (and their printers) over the internet so that they can communicate with each other.

MARCHintosh - A monthly celebration of everything vintage Apple and Macintosh, occurring every March. Visit www.marchintosh.com for more information.

ImageWriter - A series of dot matrix printers sold by Apple throughout the 80’s and 90’s. For the purposes of this guide the ImageWriter II and ImageWriter LQ models are of particular interest. These models, with the help of a LocalTalk Option Card, can connect to an AppleTalk network so your local Mac network (or wider GlobalTalk network) can easily print to these printers.

Macintosh - Apple’s personal computer that debuted in 1984 with a glorious bitmap graphical user interface. Many, many Macintosh models would be released throughout the 80’s and 90’s. As technology progressed so did the hardware inside the Mac, the original Motorola 68000 processors were replaced by the IBM/Motorola’s PowerPC processors. More recent Macs used Intel processors starting in 2006 and Apple Silicon-based Macs started shipping in 2020. If you are new to vintage Macs check out this great Getting Started Guide on TinkerDifferent.com.

StyleWriter - A series of inkjet printers sold by Apple throughout the 90’s. For the purposes of this guide the StyleWriter 2400 and 2500 models are of particular interest as specific LocalTalk adapters can be purchased for them so they can join your Mac’s GlobalTalk network.

LaserWriter - A series of laser printers sold by Apple throughout the 80’s and 90’s. Many LaserWriter printers have built in LocalTalk and AppleTalk networking capabilities. However, to save costs a lot of low-end LaserWriter models lack this functionality. There are many models of LaserWriter printers, some with similar names and some even had upgrade paths to make them AppleTalk compatible. Some LaserWriter printers that lack built-in AppleTalk capabilities can use software on your Macintosh to be shared over a network. So dig deep while doing research on your LaserWriter to determine if it can be shared on your GlobalTalk network.

Serial port - Speaking specifically on the Macintosh, the serial port is a standard port present on all Macintosh computers manufactured before 1998. Desktop Macs have two serial ports, one labeled Printer and one labeled Modem. Some PowerBook and portable systems may only have one serial port. The original Macintosh 128K, 512K and 512Ke models used DB-9 style serial ports, the Macintosh Plus and onward use mini-din 8 serial ports. Adapters and cables can be used to convert between these port styles. The serial ports let you connect to printers, modems and input devices - including LocalTalk and PhoneNet adapters. Starting in 1998 USB (Universal Serial Bus) replaced serial ports in nearly all Macs. Some USB to serial adapters could be purchased, but few supported AppleTalk/LocalTalk.

Ethernet - Today we think of ethernet as RJ45 jacks in base-T style connectors. However, ethernet has a long history with different physical cables and ports; you can read more about these on Wikipedia. For the purposes of this guide ethernet refers to a Base-T RJ45 style connection or similar local network. However, if you are brave enough to go the BNC/coaxial route, more power to you! See also AAUI.

AAUI - Apple’s proprietary flavor of the Attachment Unit Interface (AUI) standard lets you connect to an ethernet network using a transceiver or adapter. Apple’s AAUI (Apple Attachment Unit Interface) was a port created at a time when ethernet cabling was new and not one standard was a clear winner. This solution allows you to purchase transceiver adapters for your preferred flavor of ethernet, say 10Base-T (RJ45) or coaxial. AAUI ports can be found on Mac desktops, PowerBooks and some LaserWriter printers. Around 1998 once 10Base-T became the standard Apple phased out AAUI ports and instead included 10Base-T ports on future Macs. You can learn more about AAUI at this great website LowEndMac. See also Ethernet.

LocalTalk Bridge Adapters - Companies like Dayna, Asanté and Farallon manufactured a variety of LocalTalk adapters throughout the 90’s into the early 2000’s. Many of these adapters feature different ports and features. The main goal of these adapters was to bridge a LocalTalk network (usually mini-din 8, but sometimes PhoneNet) with an ethernet network. This would allow you to communicate with existing LocalTalk devices, often with a focus on printers, on systems that only had an ethernet port. These adapters saw popularity again in 1998 when Apple’s iMac and Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) debuted without built-in serial ports. These allowed newer Macs to still use their expensive LaserWriters and connect to AppleTalk networks that still relied on LocalTalk or PhoneNet cabling systems. Not all of these adapters work the same way and some may have specific software/hardware requirements and limitations.

LocalTalk Bridge - A software solution released by Apple in the form of a Control Panel. This allows you to use a vintage Macintosh computer (one that had both serial and ethernet ports) to bridge your physical LocalTalk and ethernet networks. This software does not support TCP/IP and can not share an internet connection (from ethernet) to LocalTalk-connected Macs. If you wish to use this software you should study the Read Me file included with the installer. You can learn more about LocalTalk Bridge and download it via the Macintosh Garden.