Apple Filing Protocol
Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) is a network protocol that the operating systems Mac OS or Mac OS X allows Apple computers to access files over a network.
AFP AFP specifies different versions of server and client agree while connecting to the maximum possible for both sides version.
Older versions of AFP can be used as the transmission protocol only via Apple's proprietary AppleTalk protocol stack with DDP, but runs AFP since version 2.1 via pure TCP / IP networks.
Newer versions of the protocol in addition to support files larger than 2 GB, long file name ( 31 bytes) and UTF -8 characters in file names.
AFP is a network protocol that the properties of HFS Plus ( the standard file system of Mac OS) such as Resource forks, type and creator codes, and the Desktop Database support. These were necessary properties under the classic Mac OS, but they are no longer a requirement for the operation of Mac OS X.
Client
Under Mac OS up to version 9.2.2 AFP is the only standard supported network protocol for file access to other computers. Under Mac OS X, AFP is a standard supported by many network protocols for the integration of remote file systems (in addition to SMB / CIFS or NFS).
The AFP client on Mac OS ( up to 9) shows in the upper left corner of the screen a symbol of two opposing arrows that flashes when there is activity on connected volumes. Thus, the user is informed about possible delays.
Farallon has sold in the early 1990s, a solution that consists of an ISA bus card for connection to a LocalTalk network and appropriate software for PC compatible DOS and Windows 3.1. With their help, you could be on the AFP server access.
Server
As a dedicated server with the following server solutions from Apple can be used:
AFP server implementations, there are also other manufacturers. For example, Microsoft provides the Windows server family the Services for Macintosh as an optional service which is but for years no longer actively maintained: even Windows 2003 only talks the outdated AFP level 2.2. Foreign manufacturers such as Acronis / Group Logic ExtremeZ - IP with or cyan soft with MacServerIP, but also provide for Windows systems on modern AFP server. Novell NetWare provides an AFP -3 server.
With Netatalk and CAP, there are also open source AFP server for Unix-like operating systems.
All Mac OS versions since version 7.0 can act as an AFP server, although this by Apple as " Personal File Sharing " designated functionality supports a maximum of ten compounds for use as peer-to -peer solution. Another disadvantage is the low speed of the transfer and that the server computer is heavily loaded, depending on the activity, which slows down the work there.
The AppleTalk protocol stack
The AppleTalk protocols can be divided into several layers that form a protocol stack ( protocol stack ). The protocols can be classified as follows in the ISO - OSI reference model: