AppleTalk

Revision as of 18:16, 1 July 2020 by Netfreak (talk | contribs)

AppleTalk is a suite of network protocols introduced by Apple Computer in 1985.

AppleTalk is Apple’s proprietary protocol suite for Macintosh network communications. It provides a multilayer, peer-to-peer architecture that uses services built into the operating system. This gives every Macintosh networking capabilities. AppleTalk can run under any of several network operating systems, including Apple’s AppleShare, Novell’s NetWare for Macintosh, and Sun Microsystems’ TOPS. AppleTalk was developed in the mid-1980s with the goal of providing a simple, portable, easy-to-use, and open networking environment. To access such a network, a user just needs to “plug in, log in, and join in.” A newer version, Phase 2, was released in 1989. This version provided some new capabilities and extended others.

AppleTalk Layers

 

All AppleTalk networks use the DDP (Datagram Delivery Protocol) at the network layer, regardless of the architecture operating at the data-link layer. This protocol makes a best effort at packet delivery, but delivery is not guaranteed. Note also the AARP (AppleTalk Address Resolution Protocol) at this layer. The AARP maps AppleTalk (network) addresses to Ethernet or Token Ring (physical) addresses.

For reliable packet delivery, the ADSP (AppleTalk Data Stream Protocol) and ATP (AppleTalk Transaction Protocol) are available. Each of these protocols is appropriate under different conditions. The NBP (Name Binding Protocol) and ZIP (Zone Information Protocol) help make addressing easier. NBP associates easy-to-remember names (used by users) with the appropriate address. ZIP is used mainly on larger networks or internetworks, which are more likely to be divided into zones. A zone is a logical grouping of nodes that together make up a subnetwork. The concept of a zone was introduced to allow for larger networks with more than 255 nodes, and also to make addressing and routing tasks easier. Applications access an AppleTalk network through the AFP (AppleTalk Filing Protocol); they access printer services by shipping PostScript files through the PAP (Printer Access Protocol). A few protocols make use of services from more than one lower-level protocol. For example, ZIP relies on ATP and DDP services.

AppleTalk Protocol Suite

AARP (AppleTalk Address Resolution Protocol)

A network-layer protocol that maps AppleTalk (network) addresses to physical addresses.

ADSP (AppleTalk Data Stream Protocol)

A session-layer protocol that allows two nodes to establish a reliable connection through which data can be transmitted.

AEP (AppleTalk Echo Protocol)

A transport-layer protocol used to determine whether two nodes are connected and both available.

AFP (AppleTalk Filing Protocol)

A presentation/application-layer protocol used by applications to communicate with the network.

ASDSP (AppleTalk Safe Data Stream Protocol)

A session-layer protocol that is similar to ADSP but that provides additional security against unauthorized use.

ASP (AppleTalk Session Protocol)

A session-layer protocol used to begin and end sessions, send commands from client to server, and send replies from server to client.

ATP (AppleTalk Transaction Protocol)

A transport-layer protocol that can provide reliable packet transport. Packets are transported within the framework of a transaction (an interaction between a requesting and a responding entity program or node).

AURP (AppleTalk Update Routing Protocol)

A transport-layer routing protocol that is similar to RTMP (Routing Table Maintenance Protocol) but that updates the routing table only when a change has been made to the network.

DDP (Datagram Delivery Protocol)

A network-layer protocol that prepares and routes packets for transmission on the network.

LAP (Link Access Protocol)

Works at the data-link layer, converting packets from higher layers into the appropriate form for the physical transmission. Each network architecture needs its own LAP.

ELAP (EtherTalk Link Access Protocol)

The link-access protocol used for Ethernet networks.

FLAP (FDDITalk Link Access Protocol)

The link-access protocol used for FDDI networks. LLAP (LocalTalk Link Access Protocol)=== The link-access protocol used for LocalTalk networks.

TLAP (TokenTalk Link Access Protocol)

The link-access protocol used for Token Ring networks.

ARAP (AppleTalk Remote Access Protocol)

A link-access protocol for accessing the network from a remote location over a serial line.

NBP (Name Binding Protocol)

A transport-layer protocol that associates device names with network addresses. If the NBP is successful, this binding process will be completely transparent to the user.

PAP (Printer Access Protocol)

A session-layer protocol for creating a path from the user or application to a printer.

RTMP (Routing Table Maintenance Protocol)

A transport-layer routing protocol for moving packets between networks.

ZIP (Zone Information Protocol)

A session-layer protocol used to help find a node; for example, in a large internetwork.

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