ExtremeZ-IP File Server: SMB/CIFS Comparison

ExtremeZ-IP/Apple Filing Protocol 3.1 (AFP 3.1) vs. Mac OS X SMB Client

	ExtremeZ-IP File Server	Mac OS X SMB/CIFS
Compatible with all releases of Mac OS from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X 10.5 (including mixed OS version environments)		X
Critical file information preserved on existing Mac OS server shares(1)		X
Filenames expected by Mac users are valid including characters (/, \, ;,*, ?, etc.)(2)		X
Stores Mac information in a single file instead of creating strange hidden files starting with "._" on the server		X
Offers increased search speeds up to 600x faster		X
File sharing protocol designed and recommended by Apple that is enhanced as new features are added to Mac OS X		X
Compatible with the SFM standard, NTFS file format for Mac files		X
Filename policies can be defined to keep specific characters out of workflows that may be incompatible with Windows or other applications		X
Can restrict users from placing specific types of files on the server, such as .MP3 files		X
Supports discovering file servers using a simple widget across subnets		X
Supports byte range locking required by many applications to prevent data corruption		X
Supports open deny mode permissions required by many applications to prevent data corruption		X
Tracks file creation dates as a Mac expects for full application compatibility		X
Supports next generation IPv6 networking standards		X
Supports "flexible permissions", allowing files to be moved from private work directories to public shares for team collaboration		X
Supports the Finder "Lock Bit"		X
Keeps hidden Windows files hidden from Mac clients		X
Supports sending logon messages to users		X
Notifies users before their passwords expire		X
Properly opens Mac files locked by users		X
Certified support for Quark Publishing System (QPS)		X
Files accessible by Mac OS 8.x, 9.x users without data loss(3)		X
Supports new Bonjour technology for discovering file servers in Mac OS X		X

NOTES:

(1) Migrating a Windows volume that contains Macintosh data accessed using AFP in the past (using Services for Macintosh, ExtremeZ-IP, etc. from all Mac OS 9 and earlier clients) to SMB/CIFS will result in the loss of file type and creator information, resource forks, custom icons (Photoshop previews) and other critical file information.

(2) File names that contain characters which are illegal on Windows cannot be used by Mac OS X clients using SMB/CIFS, including common characters like "/", "\", and "*". Existing Macintosh files with these characters cannot be copied to the server, or, if they are already on the server, they appear with small boxes instead of the characters themselves. This is a major step back for Macintosh users, removing a feature the Macintosh has provided since 1984.

(3) Mac OS 9 users cannot access Windows file servers with the SMB/CIFS protocol, and intermixing Macs using AFP and SMB/CIFS protocols from Mac clients will result in data loss of critical file information, including resource forks, file type & creator, and custom icons (Photoshop previews).

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"We've had no problems. Performance is much better. It's easy to use, and twice as fast."
-- Russell Irwin, Viacom