Mac OS X Lion Server For Dummies®

Protocol Soup: AFP, SMB, and Other File-Sharing Methods

Mac OS X Server can share files using three standard protocols — sets of rules that the server and client use to share the files. Each protocol is known by its three-letter acronym. Because the acronyms are more widely used than the full names, acronyms are used in Mac OS X Server and in the Help system. Some services use a “secret” fourth protocol.

File-sharing protocols 101

The different protocols are native to different operating systems, though Macs have the ability to use all these protocols. You can use multiple file-sharing protocols at the same time to support different client operating systems:

• Apple Filing Protocol (AFP): AFP is the native file-sharing protocol for Macs. It's been used in the Mac OS for years, so even your most ancient, pre-OS X Macs use it. AFP should be your first-choice file-sharing protocol for Mac clients. It can be faster than SMB, and your Mac clients will have fewer file-sharing glitches. AFP also provides Mac users with special features that the other protocols don't support, such as the ability to search server folders with Spotlight. (Users need read permissions for a share point in order to search it.) AFP also supports Kerberos authentication, access control lists, and the extended attributes of some Mac files.

  AFP also provides Automatic Reconnect: When a Mac client goes into sleep ...