Message 1 in threadFrom: Carl Shapiro (cshapiro@panix.com)
Subject: MicroExplorer / Macintosh NFS 
View this article onlyNewsgroups: comp.sys.ti.explorer
Date: 2000-12-31 18:25:56 PST 

I am trying to revive a MicroExplorer, but I am stuck with an
incomplete set of the supporting Macintosh applications.  Based on a
quick skim of an incomplete "Users Guide", I believe I am missing the
NFS server, portmapper, and the various files of the macSys folder.

I can get the MicroExplorer board to boot, but I am also missing the
contents of SYS:SITE (that directory resided on an Explorer which has
long since been sold off to Swissair), which I believe makes it
difficult to configure the MicroExplorer as a "stand-alone" namespace
server.  Since this machine was on a network with other Explorers
these files (and perhaps others) were no doubt deliberately deleted to
save disk space on the host.

Does anyone out there know what the purpose of the Mac files I'm
missing is, where I might be able to get replacements, and what I will
need to get this machine going in a stand-alone configuration (or if I
can host the namespace on a Symbolics LispM)?

Thanks,

Carl
Message 2 in threadFrom: Michael Kilgore (mkilgore@cyberramp.net)
Subject: Re: MicroExplorer / Macintosh NFS 
View this article onlyNewsgroups: comp.sys.ti.explorer
Date: 2001-02-12 04:26:06 PST 

In article <ouyofxsj9he.fsf@panix3.panix.com>, Carl Shapiro 
<cshapiro@panix.com> wrote:

> I am trying to revive a MicroExplorer, but I am stuck with an
> incomplete set of the supporting Macintosh applications.  Based on a
> quick skim of an incomplete "Users Guide", I believe I am missing the
> NFS server, portmapper, and the various files of the macSys folder.

Most of my manual set (including the manual specific to the 
microExplorer, unfortunately) is in storage, so I cannot verify most of 
this.  However, the MacSys folder does not, I believe, have anything you 
need: it is all interface/library/sample files for writing Mac apps to 
run with the Explorer environment.

As for the others you mention, they should all be loaded already in the 
.load file you start up with (not at all certain about this, btw).  (At 
least I don't see anything that might contain them in the microExplorer 
folder, particularly not in the ExpSys subfolder.)

> I can get the MicroExplorer board to boot, but I am also missing the
> contents of SYS:SITE (that directory resided on an Explorer which has
> long since been sold off to Swissair), which I believe makes it
> difficult to configure the MicroExplorer as a "stand-alone" namespace
> server.  Since this machine was on a network with other Explorers
> these files (and perhaps others) were no doubt deliberately deleted to
> save disk space on the host.

Ther should be a sample site folder in ExpSys.  However, I don't think 
most of that folder is necessary, since much of it provides mappings for 
the SYS logical host.  In particular, if you don't have the source files 
that are kept on the SYS host, then meta-point won't be working anyhow.

But site does not seem necessary anyhow.  I brought up my own venerable 
microExplorer feathin to check some of this.  It is configured to be one 
of two nameservers, my even more venerable Explorer tundra (not on at 
the moment) being the other.  Tundra is defined as SYS, but feathin 
comes up nicely without it, just setting SYS to be the inaccessible 
tundra without translations.

> Does anyone out there know what the purpose of the Mac files I'm
> missing is, where I might be able to get replacements, and what I will
> need to get this machine going in a stand-alone configuration (or if I
> can host the namespace on a Symbolics LispM)?

I expect I can provide copies of whatever parts of the distribution you 
are missing without violating the license (possession of the board 
being, I guess, enough evidence that you are entitled), particularly as 
you seem to have the large files already.  My microExplorer folder has 
(among other things)
     EXPSYS (folder; 3319K)
     M196.mcr (microcode; 81K)
     MACSYS (folder; 442K)
     makepfiles (app for creating page files; 14K)
     microExplorer (the app; 94K)
     microExplorer fonts (8K)
     startup (startup parameters)
     N928.load (a starter load file; 10662K)
plus some other toys for developing apps of your own and otherwise 
interacting with the ?Explorer
     color-qix (a demo app; 73K)
     hyperlisp (for using HyperCard with the ?Explorer; 86K)
     tbserver (for talking to the ?Explorer via the toolbox server; 76K)

Email with attachments seems to be my only means to supply you with the 
missing pieces.  I have shown the stuffed (but not binhex'd) sizes above.

As for what machine you can use to host a nameserver, that depends on 
whether the original distribution was the networked version or the 
standalone one (an issue I should have raised above).  In the latter 
case, the issue is moot: you don't need (and can't use) one.  However, 
if your machine is trying to find a server, then clearly it is the 
networked version.  The lab I was at had a mixture of all the lisp 
machine flavors (so to speak); afaik, they all could provide name 
services.  Certainly I have configured my ?Explorer itself as such.  
(After all, its board *is* fai&p an Explorer.)

Hope at least some of this mishmash helps.
-- 
Michael Kilgore
2003 Google
