Editing AppleTalk (section)

==Cross-platform solutions==
When AppleTalk was first introduced, the dominant office computing platform was the PC compatible running MS-DOS. Apple introduced the AppleTalk PC Card in early 1987, allowing PCs to join AppleTalk networks and print to LaserWriter printers.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Mary |last=Petrosky |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jBwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4 |title=AppleShare airs at last |magazine=[[Network World]] |date=2 February 1987 |page=4}}</ref> A year later AppleShare PC was released, allowing PCs to access AppleShare file servers.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dz8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA92657 |title=Apple Starts Shipping AppleShare PC Software |magazine=[[InfoWorld]] |date=18 January 1988 |page=29}}</ref>

The "TOPS Teleconnector"<ref name="tops">{{cite magazine |first=Mark |last=Stephens |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dj8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12 |title=TOPS Teleconnectors Link PCs with Own Flashtalk Networks |magazine=[[InfoWorld]] |date=25 January 1988 |page=12}}</ref> MS-DOS networking system over AppleTalk system enabled MS-DOS PCs to communicate over AppleTalk network hardware; it comprised an AppleTalk interface card for the PC and a suite of networking software allowing such functions as file, drive and printer sharing. As well as allowing the construction of a PC-only AppleTalk network, it allowed communication between PCs and Macs with TOPS software installed. (Macs without TOPS installed could use the same network but only to communicate with other Apple machines.) The Mac TOPS software did not match the quality of Apple's own either in ease of use or in robustness and freedom from crashes, but the DOS software was relatively simple to use in DOS terms, and was robust.

The [[BSD]] and [[Linux]] operating systems support AppleTalk through an open source project called [[Netatalk]], which implements the complete protocol suite and allows them to both act as native file or print servers for Macintosh computers, and print to LocalTalk printers over the network.

The [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] Server operating systems supported AppleTalk starting with [[Windows NT]] and ending after [[Windows Server 2003]]. Miramar included AppleTalk in its PC MacLAN product which was discontinued by CA in 2007. [[GroupLogic]] continues to bundle its AppleTalk protocol with its [[ExtremeZ-IP]] server software for Macintosh-Windows integration which supports [[Windows Server 2008]] and [[Windows Vista]] as well prior versions. HELIOS Software GmbH offers a proprietary implementation of the AppleTalk protocol stack, as part of their [[HELIOS UB2]] server. This is essentially a File and Print Server suite that runs on a whole range of different platforms.

In addition, Columbia University released the Columbia AppleTalk Package (CAP) which implemented the protocol suite for various Unix flavours including [[Ultrix]], [[SunOS]], [[BSD]] and [[IRIX]]. This package is no longer actively maintained.