Sharing internet connection with older Macs

#1 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 - 22:26 68kMLA

Can my G4 running Tiger share it's internet connection with older Macs running Systems 6-9?

#2 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 - 22:47 68kMLA

Yes, go to the "Internet" tab under the "Sharing" control panel in OS X to set it up. The G4 will effectively act as a DHCP server to which you can connect other Macs via ethernet. Depending on how you are connected to the internet with your G4 you may require a PCI card if the built-in ethernet port is already in use.

Then on the older machines, simply configure TCP/IP to "get address from DHCP server" and it should work fine. If you're using traditional Mac TCP (eg in System 6) then it will be a bit more complicated to configure.

#3 Tue, 1 Apr 2008 - 01:44 68kMLA

Would there be a way to share an internet connection from an iMac G3 to a localtalk connection? Linux or Mac OS 9?

#4 Tue, 1 Apr 2008 - 02:56 68kMLA

Would there be a way to share an internet connection from an iMac G3 to a localtalk connection? Linux or Mac OS 9?

You would need a USB serial adaptor that works with OS 9 (or one of the internal adaptors that makes you lose your modem.)

Then for OS 9, IPNetRouter should work, don't know about Linux.

AAAAARRRRRRGH! It's not yet April 1 here! Evil logo, EVIL LOGO!

#5 Tue, 1 Apr 2008 - 03:56 68kMLA

Yes, go to the "Internet" tab under the "Sharing" control panel in OS X to set it up. The G4 will effectively act as a DHCP server to which you can connect other Macs via ethernet. Depending on how you are connected to the internet with your G4 you may require a PCI card if the built-in ethernet port is already in use.
Then on the older machines, simply configure TCP/IP to "get address from DHCP server" and it should work fine. If you're using traditional Mac TCP (eg in System 6) then it will be a bit more complicated to configure.

Is any software or settings required on the older machine other than what you mentioned?

#6 Tue, 1 Apr 2008 - 04:23 68kMLA

Well, you need MacTCP, which is not stock on System 6, or early versions of System 7.

#7 Tue, 1 Apr 2008 - 10:41 68kMLA

Well, you need MacTCP, which is not stock on System 6, or early versions of System 7.

That's basically it. The older Macs will then act as if they are connected to an ethernet network and get their internet through the G4.

#8 Tue, 1 Apr 2008 - 14:32 68kMLA

How would I connect machines that don't have ethernet?

#9 Tue, 1 Apr 2008 - 18:22 68kMLA

How would I connect machines that don't have ethernet?

What I used to do is take a Mac that had both ethernet and Appletalk ports (I used a Quadra 700), install IPNetRouter on it, and use it as an internet gateway to all my non-ethernet Macs. Worked great.