Netatalk is an Open Source software package that can be used to turn a *NIX machine into an extremely light-weight and versatile file server for Macintosh computers. It speaks both AFP over TCP as well as the legacy AppleTalk protocol, which means it can act as a bridge between older Macs, networked Apple IIs, and the very latest macOS systems.
Netatalk is AFP 3.3 compliant with AFP 2 backwards compatibility. Its file server offers high transmission speeds and full support for Macintosh metadata (resource forks), while offering a wide range of authentication methods to accommodate any deployment environment.
The included print server daemon can provide Apple II and Macintosh clients with the ability to print to AppleTalk-only printers. In addition, Netatalk is fully integrated with CUPS, allowing any networked Mac to discover and print to a CUPS/AirPrint compatible printer on the network.
Additionally, Netatalk can be used to act as an AppleTalk router, providing both segmentation and zone names in traditional Macintosh networks.
