SMB vs AFP on Win2003 Server shares. How do you set which one to

SMB vs AFP on Win2003 Server shares. How do you set which one to

I set up Macintosh shares on a Windows 2003 Server that we own. 

When you go into Finder on the Macintosh to connect to the Windows server, 
you specify the IP address / Fully Qualified Domain Name to browse share 
possibilities on that particular server, or the IP address / FQD name with 
the share name to connect to one specific share.  

First, is the proper format to connect to a server and share using forward 
slashes

Example:  192.168.1.1/sharename

Second, does the Mac default to AFP, so you don't have to specify 

AFP://192.168.1.1/sharename

Third, Does Windows 2003 Server automatically accept SMB and AFP connection 
attempts from Macintoshes, or do you have to enable this on the Win 2003 
Server box?  It seemed that once I set up Macintosh Services, the Windows box 
would automatically do AFP connections.  SMB is not working.

Advice would be appreciated.  Also, if anyone has a web reference or a PDF 
that talks about this, I'd be appreciative.

Thanks
C

date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:41:02 -0700 author: Bob Semancowitz

RE: SMB vs AFP on Win2003 Server shares. How do you set which one to

Hi Bob,

Re: proper format to connect to a server and share
Using "Go Connect to Server", you have several options:
1. enter IP, HostName, Fully Qualified Host Name
2. use url format (optional path/credentials)
afp://servername/
afp://servername/ShareName
afp://username:password@servername/ShareName
Note: Case sensitivity is enforced on Macintosh so sharename does not 
ShareName

Re: does the Mac default to AFP, so you don't have to specify
Using âGo Connect to Serverâ Mac OS 10.3 and above defaults to AFP.

Re: Does 2003 Server automatically accept SMB and AFP connection attempts 
from Macintoshes, or do you have to enable this on the Win 2003 Server box?It 
seemed that once I set up Macintosh Services, the Windows box would 
automatically do AFP connections.  SMB is not working.

Under Computer Management > Shared Folders > Shares
If you have set up normal Windows type share, Mac clients will be able to 
access these via SMB.
If you also create a Macintosh type share -> Mac clients will be able to 
access via AFP if Services for Macintosh is enabled.


Best Regards,
Charles Kim 
ExtemeZ-IP Support

date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 10:47:03 -0700 author: Charles Kim Charles

Re: SMB vs AFP on Win2003 Server shares. How do you set which one to

My comments are inline...

Charles Kim wrote:

> Hi Bob,
> 
> Re: proper format to connect to a server and share
> Using "Go Connect to Server", you have several options:
> 1. enter IP, HostName, Fully Qualified Host Name
> 2. use url format (optional path/credentials)
> afp://servername/
> afp://servername/ShareName
> afp://username:password@servername/ShareName
> Note: Case sensitivity is enforced on Macintosh so sharename does not 
> ShareName
> 
> Re: does the Mac default to AFP, so you don't have to specify
> Using âGo Connect to Serverâ Mac OS 10.3 and above defaults to AFP.

To elaborate a little, yes, AFP is the default if no protocol is 
prefixed. Therefore, entering just a name or just an IP address will 
default to AFP. Otherwise, you'll need to use "SMB://", "FTP://", 
"HTTP://" or whatever other connection protocol you need.

> Re: Does 2003 Server automatically accept SMB and AFP connection attempts 
> from Macintoshes, or do you have to enable this on the Win 2003 Server box?It 
> seemed that once I set up Macintosh Services, the Windows box would 
> automatically do AFP connections.  SMB is not working.
> 
> Under Computer Management > Shared Folders > Shares
> If you have set up normal Windows type share, Mac clients will be able to 
> access these via SMB.
> If you also create a Macintosh type share -> Mac clients will be able to 
> access via AFP if Services for Macintosh is enabled.

Services for Macintosh (SFM), which is built into Windows Server 2003 
and earlier, is an old and dead part of Windows. It hasn't been updated 
in years and Microsoft will not be continuing SFM in the next version of 
Windows Server. I suggest you avoid SFM because it is becoming more and 
more incompatible with Mac OS X.

Look into either ExtremeZ-IP <http://www.grouplogic.com> or 
Dave/ADmitMac <http://www.thursby.com> instead. Each product has its 
merits and price points.

> Best Regards,
> Charles Kim 
> ExtemeZ-IP Support

Charles! You've helped our company a few times! Glad to see you here!

Charles is being modest and not touting his company's product. I often 
recommend ExtremeZ-IP for companies with larger Mac populations where 
supporting a Windows Server makes more sense than supporting multiple 
Macs connecting to the Windows Server with ADmitMac.

Both companies offer great support and have been in the Mac/Windows 
business for several years.

Hope this helps!

-- 

bill

Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://nine.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/youtalk>
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/meck>

date: Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:25:13 -0500 author: William Smith [MVP] LID