Inside Macintosh: Networking /

Chapter 1 - Introduction to AppleTalk

About Networking on the Macintosh

Networking on the Macintosh is implemented through AppleTalk. Applications and processes can communicate across a single AppleTalk network or an AppleTalk internet, which is a number of interconnected AppleTalk networks. Using AppleTalk, applications and processes can transfer and exchange data and share resources.

The AppleTalk networking system includes a number of protocols arranged in layers, which are collectively referred to as the AppleTalk protocol stack. Each of these protocols provides a set of functions and services that a protocol above it can use and build upon.
A higher-level protocol is considered a client of the protocol that is below it in the AppleTalk protocol stack. (For information on how these protocols are implemented, see "The AppleTalk Protocol Stack" beginning on page 1-10.)

Many of the AppleTalk protocols provide application programming interfaces that you can use to access the services of the protocol. The programming interfaces to these protocols are collectively referred to as the AppleTalk Manager.

This section provides

• an introduction to some AppleTalk networking fundamentals, including a discussion of addressing in AppleTalk
• an overview of the AppleTalk protocol stack, with a brief discussion of each protocol
• an overview of the AppleTalk Manager, which includes the LAP Manager programming interface

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Subtopics

AppleTalk Networking

AppleTalk Phase 2

The AppleTalk Protocol Stack

The AppleTalk Manager

AppleTalk and the OSI Model