Classic Network and AppleTalk control panel icons from Macintosh System 7 and Mac OS 8, respectively.
AppleTalk was a proprietary networking protocol used by Macintosh computers to make it easy to share files and to connect to network devices, such as printers, on a local area network (LAN).[1]
Development[]
Apple Macintosh Longplay - Bus'd Out
A proof-of-concept of AppleBus in 1984.
An earlier networking project for the Lisa called AppleNet had been cancelled in October 1983 after consuming considerable resources within Apple Computer. A simplified project, initially named AppleBus, was initiated within the Macintosh group as a lower cost method to network both Lisa and early Macintosh computers over the serial port.[2][3]
Implementation[]
Apple PowerBook ad John and Greg 1992
An early PowerBook television commercial that also promoted the ease of AppleTalk.
Local area AppleTalk networking was first introduced in 1985 as part of the Macintosh Office. This implementation, called LocalTalk, was connected through the built-in serial port for speeds of up to 230.4 kbps.[4] AppleTalk file sharing was implemented through AppleShare. Apple subsidiary Claris also released a free utility called Public Folder in 1989.
Other implementations[]
- EtherTalk allowed for a faster connection through an Ethernet port, though this initially required the use of third party cards until the feature became standard with the Macintosh Quadra series.
- Netatalk, for Unix-based systems.
- Miramar pcmaclan, for Windows.
- TokenTalk, for Token Ring networks.
Deprecation[]
The AppleTalk protocol was deprecated by Apple in favor of Bonjour.[1] Support for it was phased out by Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard).[5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 AppleTalk, LocalTalk, and PhoneNet by Adam Rosen, Low End Mac. 2014-04-26.
- ↑ A history of Macintosh Networking by Alan B. Oppenheimer, Open Door Networks. 2004-01. Archived 2006-10-16.
- ↑ Apple, waiting for IBM net, links micros with AppleBus by Jim Vartino, InfoWorld. 1984-03-26.
- ↑ Macintosh Serial Throughput by Daniel Knight, Low End Mac. 1998-04-12.
- ↑ Apple Filing Protocol Ethernet Networks, Classic Mac Networking, The Apple Fool. Accessed 2021-05-15.
See also[]
External links[]
- AppleTalk by BasalGangster at MacGUI (2012-03-01)
- Classic Mac Networking at The Apple Fool
- AppleTalk at the Pippin @WORLD & Atmark Wiki
- AppleTalk at Wikipedia
