The AppleTalk Protocol Family provides presentation layer support for the AppleTalk Datagram Delivery Protocol (DDP), using the SOCK_DGRAM socket type. In addition, access to in-kernel AppleTalk routing tables and network interface configurations is provided.
The AppleTalk Protocol Suite provides support for five kinds of physical media: LocalTalk (230kbps wire-or'd serial), Ethernet, FDDI, Token Ring, and asynchronous serial connections (using either AppleTalk Remote Access (ARA) or PPP ). Currently,
NetBSD's AppleTalk implementation supports Ethernet, FDDI, and Token Ring.
AppleTalk packets are encapsulated on the Ethernet using the EtherTalk Link Access Protocol (ELAP). Local network address resolution is handled using the AppleTalk Address Resolution Protocol (AARP). Neither of these protocols is exposed to user-mode applications.