> 
> Greetings:
> 
> I have a LaserWriter and a MAC classic attached to my MACIIsi using Atalk.

Point of semantics: AppleTalk is a communications protocall, not a
wiring scheme. You can use AppleTalk on Ethernet LAN's (and we do
here at Stanford) and on TokenRing LAN's.

The cheep wiring system is LocalTalk.

> Q - Can NetBSD talk to either of these devices this way (using Atalk)?

Using LocalTalk? Not at present. It's in the to-do lists, but not
here yet.

> Q - Or... Should I be using a null modem adapter plugged into the serial
> port to talk to any other Mac?

That'd be the best. What you could do is something like:

IIsi: Modem port to modem, printer port to Classic.
Classic: Modem port to IIsi, printer port to LaserWriter with
     LocalTalk configured on the printer port.

You can use a printer cable to connect the two macs together; they
are wired as null modems.

You could run ppp over this serial link, and have the classic talk to
the IIsi. You could also use the firewall kit (somewhere on ftp.macbsd.com)
to let the Classic get at the net via the modem off the IIsi (which
would need to be ppp'ing or SLIP'ing into an ISP).

Also, friends have used a package which runs lpd under MacOS. The Classic
will be able to print, and with ppp (or SLIP) between the two macs, the
IIsi will be able to print too (the lpd on the classic would be a
remote printer queue for the IIsi).

Take care,

Bill