Overview
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AppleShare File Server 2.0 (AFS) is an updated version of AppleShare.
AFS allows you to store and share Macintosh documents, folders, and
applications. The AFS software and your Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, or
Macintosh II together create an AFS server. The server can run over any
AppleTalk cable system, including LocalTalk and EtherTalk.
The rest of this article describes changes that have been made in
AppleShare File Server 2.0.
Server Changes
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AppleTalk Filing Protocol (AFP) 2.0
AFP has been modified to support Apple II workstations. AFP 2.0 is an
extension of AFP 1.1. For more information, see "ProDOS Support" later in
this article.
Large Volumes Start Up Faster
The time required to check each volume for consistency of the Parallel
Directory Structure (PDS) has been reduced. During this process, all file
and folders on the volume are cross-checked with the PDS file. The PDS
file is used internally by AFS.
Automatic Repair At Startup
In the past, these errors were flagged, and you had to run the AppleShare
Administrator to repair the PDS file. The server now repairs errors in the
PDS when it finds a problem. This saves time, because you do not have to
restart and run the AppleShare Administration program to start up your
server. If any repair is necessary, it will be listed in the AppleShare
Messages listing.
Folder Locking
You can now lock a folder, thus preventing it from moving. The option is
enabled from the Access Privileges desk accessory. Only the folder's owner
can check or uncheck the folder lock option. When the folder is locked,
ALL users are prevented from moving, renaming, and deleting the folder.
Support for Read-Only devices (CD-ROM)
AFS 2.0 supports HFS CDs. A PDS file and Desktop Database are created in
the Server Folder on the startup volume. These files are created when the
AppleShare Admin program is run to setup a CD volume. Only the Macintosh
partition of the CD can be accessed by AFS. (AFS disables the option to
eject the CD from the drive.)
From the workstation, you will see no difference (except volume size) in
the server volumes. A CD is slower due, to the seek time of the drive. If
multiple users are accessing different parts of the drive at the same
time, there will be a noticeable slowdown.
Workstation
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Set Password
Users can now change their passwords through the Chooser DA. An encrypted
version of the password is sent to the Server, to ensure security for the
password.
View Information
The view (by size, name, date, type...) of a file is set by the Owner of
the folder. A user can change the view of a folder, but when the folder is
opened by other AFS users, the view is set from the owner's settings.
Admin Changes
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Online Administration
The AppleShare Administration program can be run concurrently with the
AppleShare File Server 2.0. In the past, performing administrative tasks
required bringing down AppleShare. AppleShare Admin now runs as a
concurrent application -- so you can add users, groups, and perform other
tasks while the AFS server is still running.
Administrator (Custodian)
AppleShare File Server 2.0 allows the Administrator to function as an
all-knowing and all-powerful user. This is a special user that the old
version of AppleShare called the custodian. The Administrator can see ALL
files and folders, create, rename, delete, and move files in any folder on
the server volume, as if the administrator were the owner of the file or
folder. The Administrator can also reassign any folder's owner, group, or
access privileges.
Copy a volume
The Admin program lets you copy a full volume, keeping the access
privileges intact for the entire volume. Although you can do this while
the server is running, it's best to do it when the server is down. If you
copy while the server is running, some files will not be copied, because
of file locking. The server still allows users to access files, but in a
very slow manner.
ProDOS Support
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Apple II Admin Box
A check box to set up Apple II Administration is located in the Server
Information box. Selecting this box creates the folder Users at the root
level of the startup volume. It then creates a folder for each user, and
places an empty Apple II boot file in each user folder. The administrator
should have users entered in the User List before you perform this function.
After this box has been selected, a new APPLE II menu will appear, from
which the administrator can set the printer, prefix, and startup application
for each user. You first select the user from the user list, and then select
Startup Information from the Apple II menu.