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From: Ravinder.Chandhok@CS.CMU.EDU (Rob Chandhok)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk
Subject: Re: What is the AppleShare "Shared Environment"?
Message-ID: <6698.603465428@GNOME.CS.CMU.EDU>
Date: 14 Feb 89 13:17:08 GMT
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Tops is not "AFP", that is correct.  AppleShare is the only complete
implementation of AFP in the world, as far as I know (go figure).
I would define the "Shared Environment" as the actual manefestation of AFP
on your machine.  It's kind of like saying that NFS is Sun's "Shared
Environment".

There are subset implementations of AFP, such as the Columbia AppleTalk
Package's "aufs" server.  AFP allows for some options on both the server and
client ends, such as how to transmit passwords, do you support the fast file
copy/move operations, byte range locking, etc.

Basically, an AFP server can use the AppleShare client on the Mac.  With
CAP, you only add software to your unix machine, not your mac.  With Tops,
you put in a whole new driver that is client (and server if you specify).
Tops does not require that AppleShare be installed.  CAP does.

A long time ago, TOPS and AppleShare were the same.  Not any more.
Remember, these people are trying to make money and all.  Product
differentiation!!  Bleah.

Hope this helps.  Hope I got it right.  I am sure 10 million people will let
me know if I didn't.

Rob