This is a README for using Netatalk with AppleTalk networking.
Platforms Covered:
- A. Linux
- B.I NetBSD
- B.II Other BSDs
- C. Generic
A. Linux
Some Linux distributions ship with AppleTalk support out of the box (e.g. Debian) others have the kernel module but with a blacklisting in effect that has to be deactivated before you can use it (e.g. Fedora.)
Netatalk supplies two different types of AFP servers and both can run at the same time. Classic AFP requires afpd and atalkd. AFP over TCP only requires afpd.
Classic AFP on GNU/Linux requires that CONFIG_ATALK is compiled into the kernel or as a kernel module. To check to see if the kernel has support for AppleTalk:
$> dmesg | grep Apple
This just parses the boot messages for any line containing ‘Apple’.
$> lsmod | grep appletalk
This checks if the appletalk kernel module is presently loaded.
If you don’t find it, you may have to compile a kernel and turn on Appletalk in Networking options -> Appletalk DDP. You have an option to install as a module or directly into the kernel.
Some default distribution kernels have already compiled Appletalk DDP as a module, you may have to edit your /etc/modules.conf to include: “alias net-pf-5 appletalk “.
Note: check your distribution documentation about editing /etc/modules.conf.
For more complete information about the Linux kernel see the Kernel-HOWTO.
A note for RedHat users: You may need to install the glibc-devel package to be able to compile Netatalk correctly.
B.I NetBSD
Kernel support for AppleTalk appeared in NetBSD 1.3 in April 1997. See the release notes
The source code for the kernel module is located in sys/netatalk of the NetBSD source tree.
As of NetBSD 9.3, the netatalk kernel module is loaded by default, and made available to the atalkd daemon when it starts up.
B.II Other BSDs
Kernel support for AppleTalk appears in FreeBSD 2.2-current dated after 12 September 1996, as well as OpenBSD 2.2, or openbsd-current dated after Aug 1, 1997.
However, both distributions deprecated AppleTalk in the 2010s. You can still run Netatalk as an AFP over TCP server on any BSD-derived operating system.
C. Generic
If you would like AppleTalk support on another operating system, you will need either need a kernel module for your operating system, or a userland AppleTalk stack.
Look at the Solaris STREAMS module if your operating system supports that framework. This module used to distributed with Netatalk until version 2.3 (sys/solaris).
Otherwise, look at the ddp code in NetBSD if your operating system is BSDish in nature.
If your operating system looks different than these two cases, you’ll have to roll your own implementation.
