8.6 Networking Protocols and the OSI Model
8.6.6 AppleTalk
Like Novell, Apple Computer also developed its own proprietary protocol suite to network Macintosh computers. Also like Novell, there is still a sizeable number of customers who use AppleTalk to interconnect their systems. But just as other companies have transitioned to the use of TCP/IP, Apple now fully supports the public networking protocol standards.

AppleTalk is comprised of a comprehensive set of protocols that span the seven layers of the OSI reference model. AppleTalk protocols were designed to run over the major LAN types, notably Ethernet and Token Ring, and also Apple's own LAN physical topology, LocalTalk.

Examples of AppleTalk protocol include the following:

  • AppleTalk Filing Protocol (AFP)
  • AppleTalk Data Stream Protocol (ADSP)
  • Zone Information Protocol (ZIP)
  • AppleTalk Session Protocol (ASP)
  • Printer Access Protocol (PAP)

A detailed discussion of the use of these protocol elements is not within the scope of this chapter.