AFP

this is the protocol used for network file sharing in Apple systems (at leas for the latest ones)

server settings

user permissions

• in /etc/netatalk/AppleVolumes.default we can set the file permissions to use for each service.
  • example: we have a network with an all-users group and we want them to be able to overwrite each-other files. Others can read:
    • umask:002
    • dperm:0775
    • fperm:0664
  • default linux behaviour, with read only to group users.
    • umask:022
    • dperm:0755
    • fperm:0644

• the complete line:

/directory/shared/ "Awesome Share" options:usedots,upriv,noadouble,nohex cnidscheme:cdb umask:002 dperm:0775 fperm:0664

veto files

• this option hides the objects specified between slashes

veto: recycled/desktop.ini/Folder Settings/

Volumes

• defaults:

:DEFAULT: options:upriv,usedots,tm  umask:002 dperm:0775 fperm:0664

• only user home with defaults:

~

• a time machine volume (user based) :

/backup/timemachine/$u/                         "TimeMachine"  options:usedots,upriv,noadouble,nohex,tm

• a share allowed only to some users and group "video"

/export/ingestion  "Ingest" options:usedots,upriv,noadouble,nohex cnidscheme:cdb umask:002 dperm:0775 fperm:0664 allow:ale,jack,@video

a read only share

• we need to create an hidden folder for AppleDB files:

mkdir /share/hidden
chmod 700 /share/hidden
dbpath:/share/hidden/.AppleDB/

• a read only share

/export/mirror/share     "Share-snapshot"  options:usedots,noadouble,nohex,ro,nocnidcache

problem solving

Finder "stucks" on connect to share

• in the log you'll see the server stopping after a message like this:

afpd[]: Setting uid/gid to 100/100

• the solution in my case was:
  • stop the server
  • remove the Finder database file .AppleDB
  • restart server.

when having a mirror server

• DB becomes inconsistent due to path change (if different server) , the RSYNC command will need to exclude some files:

cat /mirror/excludes_afp
.AppleDB
.DS_Store
.AppleDesktop
.TemporaryItems
Temporary Items

• example:

rsync -a --delete --delete-excluded --exclude-from=/mirror/excludes_afpsource_host:/intestine/ /mirror/host/

references

• http://netatalk.sourceforge.net/2.0/htmldocs/configuration.html