==> Supra MicroNet (developed by MPP, released by Supra) (1985) Share one SIO chain of peripherals (printers, disk drives, modems) among up to 8 computers. When one computer accesses a peripheral device, the entire bus is occupied so that the other computers on the "network" must wait. The bus is freed five seconds after a computer finishes interacting with the peripheral. Shipped with modified Atari DOS 2.5 to support busy disk retry. For sharing a printer, a printer buffer such as the MPP/Supra MicroStuffer for each computer is recommended. Reviewed: http://www.atarimagazines.com/v4n10/productreviews.html
==> CSS Deluxe Quintopus (1989) Can be used to "share" up to 4 SIO device chains between two computers. Unit includes 2 switched SIO ports and 4 unswitched SIO ports. Two computers can be connected to the two switched ports, but in this scenario only one of the switched ports can be switched on at a time. http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/quintopus.htm (The standard Quintopus is identical except with only unswitched ports.)
==> CSS Multiplexer ("MUX") (1989?) Description from the CSS online catalog: The Multiplexer is a collection of cartridge interface boards that allow up to 8 Ataris to read and write to the same drives (typically a hard disk), access the same printer(s), and talk to each other. It is the first practical networking system for the Atari 8-bit computer. One "master" computer (any 8-bit) is equipped with the master Multiplexer interface. Then up to 8 "slave" computers hook up to this master, each having their own slave interface. The slave interface consists of a cartridge that plugs into the cartridge port. It has its own socket on the top so you can use whatever cartridges you desire with the system. The "common" peripherals (things that are to be shared) are connected to the master. On each slave, all disk and printer I/O is routed through the master so no extra disk drives are needed. The master computer can be configured in any manner you wish. You may have certain peripherals local to the slave or routed to a different number on the master. Note that serial ports (R: RS-232 interfaces) are not multiplexed. All slaves are independent and do not need to have the same program running on them. http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/multiplexer.htm
==> GameLink and GameLink-II Two hardware designs by Chuck Steinman of DataQue support the linking of two or more Atari computers. Each supports multiple user head-to-head gaming where each player uses a separate computer (each with separate TV/monitor). (GameLink and GameLink-II descriptions by Andreas Koch) a) GameLink: This hardware was developed in 1989/90. It links two computers together via the joystick ports. It is limited to a maximum of 2 computers and thus 2 or 6 players, meaning one free port per XL/XE computer and 3 free ports per 400/800 computer. However, the few existing games for this hardware merely support 2 players. b) GameLink-II: This hardware was developed in 1991/92. It links 2 to 8 computers together via the SIO ports. One computer will then act as the master and has to boot up the software (from tape, disk, hard disk, etc.) first. Then all other "slave" computers connect to it and boot off of this master computer (one after another of course). In Europe we call this device "Multilink", mostly because of the games written by Bewesoft (Jiri Bernasek) called Multi-Dash, Multi-Race, Multi-Worms. A two computer network can easily be done with one SIO cable, just open the end of the SIO cable and exchange cables number 3 and 5. You now have an easy two computer (2-4 players) network cable. For some available software for hardware such as GameLink and GameLink-II please another section of this FAQ list, "What programs support Atari computer networking?"
==> AT-Link (Alphasys) Arianne Slaager writes: I was actually surprised to read about the GameLink, as I made a similar cable myself, called the AT-Link. This cable could also be used to communicate with Commodore 64 computers, and I made driver software for both systems at the time. There were 2 drivers. One as relocatable machine code, and another as device driver. Also in the package was a 2 player Battleships type game where Side A had the Atari version, and Side B the Commodore 64 version. ...wasn't more than two old joystick cables in a crosslink configuration, (Pin 1 and 2 linked to pin 3 and 4 of the other cable respectively)
==> EightLink (Alphasys) Arianne Slaager writes: I also made a special high speed Atari to Atari cable, called the EightLink. This one was cartridge based system, with a PIA inside, which boasted a 8 bit bidirectional, parallel databus, and a 4 bit crosslinked control bus. Transfer speeds were such that two Ataris on opposite ends of a large hall could transfer disk data faster than it could be read or written. The actual cable connecting the two was a flatcable with 33 leads, alternating ground and a dataline across the width to minimise crossover disruption of data. Also for this link system, I made drivers both in relocatable code, as well as a device driver.
==> Automatisches 2-Rechnerinterface = Automatic 2-Computer Interface (A2RI) (c) 1994 by Thomas Grasel for the ABBUC Regionalgruppe Frankfurt / Main (RAF) Share one SIO chain of peripherals (printers, disk drives, modems) between two computers. When one computer accesses a peripheral device, the entire bus is occupied so that the other computer must wait. The bus is freed about one second after a computer finishes interacting with the peripheral. http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/2r_bauan.PDF |