Networking

Apple File Protocol (AFP)

The Apple File Protocol (AFP), more correctly called the AppleTalk Filing Protocol, is to Apple systems what NFS is to Linux/UNIX systems, and SMB or CIFS is to Windows Systems. It is a protocol through which the file system on remote computers can be accessed. AFP is not widely used outside of Apple networks, and unless you are working on networks that use Apple Macintosh systems, you are unlikely to encounter AFP.

Line Printer Daemon (LPD)

The Line Printer Daemon (LPD) protocol provides print services on both client and server systems. The most common use of LPD is as a print server and client on UNIX and Linux systems. As well as providing the basic print mechanisms, LPD supports a set of commands that enable the print queue to be controlled. It also provides commands for controlling print jobs once they have been placed in the print queue.

TCP/IP Service Summary

Table 8 helps you quickly identify the purpose and function of each of the TCP/IP services covered in the previous sections.

Table 8 Summary of TCP/IP Services

Service

Purpose/Function

DNS

Resolves hostnames to IP addresses.

NAT

Translates private network addresses into public network addresses.

ICS

Enables a single Internet connection to be shared among multiple systems on the network.

WINS

Resolves NetBIOS names to IP addresses.

SNMP

Provides network management facilities on TCP/IP-based networks.

NFS

Service that provides file sharing between server and client. Typically associated with UNIX and Linux operating systems, but versions are available for most commonly deployed operating systems.

Zeroconf

Provides a system by which devices can communicate with no network configuration or setup.

SMB

Application and presentation layer protocol that provides access to file and print services on server platforms that provide SMB access.

AFP

Provides remote file system access on Apple networks.

LPD

Printing service that provides both server and client printing functions.