APPLE TALK PROTOCOL SUITE

AppleTalk Protocol Suite

Apple Computer, Inc. developed the AppleTalk protocol suite in the early 1980s. This protocol suite allows the integration of Macintosh computers on a network. It also provides interconnectivity between Apple computers and other networking technologies, such as IBM mainframes and VAX computers.
The following figure shows the AppleTalk protocol suite mapped to the seven layers of the OSI reference model:

In the preceding figure, the AppleTalk protocol suite consists of the following protocols:


AppleShare: This protocol is subdivided into three applications, AppleShare File Server (AFS), AppleShare Print Server (APS), and AppleShare PC (APC). AFS allows users to interact with a file server while APS allows users to send print commands to the print server. APC provides interconnectivity with MS-DOS-based nodes.

AppleTalk Filing Protocol (AFP): This protocol facilitates file sharing between network nodes.

AppleTalk Data Stream Protocol (ADSP): This protocol provides the services of the Session layer of the OSI reference model.

Zone Information Protocol (ZIP): This protocol divides an internetwork into zones and coordinates the interaction of these zones. In addition, ZIP assigns service providers to zones.

Printer Access Protocols (PAP): This protocol establishes connections between network nodes and various servers, such as print and file.

AppleTalk Session Protocol (ASP): This protocol optimises file service functions.

AppleTalk Transaction Protocol (ATP): This protocol provides a reliable delivery service for connection-oriented operations.

Name Binding Protocol (NBP): This protocol maps the names of nodes to their addresses.


Routing Table Maintenance Protocol (RTMP): This protocol manages routing information.

Datagram Delivery Protocol (DDP): This protocol provides routing services.

AppleTalk Address Resolution Protocol (AARP): This protocol maps the physical addresses of devices to their logical addresses.