A2SERVER
August 9, 2023:
Hey kids, so, it's seven years and counting since I have updated these pages. They're here for documentation and reference only, and at present have lots of broken links, which I hope to fix. Eventually.
The version of A2SERVER referenced on these pages is 1.5.1, from Jan 2016, which supports Debian/Raspbian Wheezy and Jessie. (Old, I know!) I highly doubt the scripts even still work.
I did make (but didn't announce) version 1.5.2 in Nov 2017, which works with Debian Stretch, or at least that's what my notes say. I don't remember if I fully finished it, or ever tested it on a Raspberry Pi. You'll need to read the docs on the GitHub page to figure out how to install it, if it's even still installable.
A fork of A2SERVER that is under active development (hooray!) is here. It's much more up to date with current Debian/RaspiOS operating systems, but I can't tell you more about it, including whether it runs, and questions should be directed to its maintainer.
(If you happen to have the premade binaries of A2SERVER for Raspberry Pi, they will not work on anything newer than an RPi 2B+.)
Feel free to shoot me questions, though A2SERVER is not the focus of my attention at this point and I've forgotten many of the details of its operation. Apple II and classic Mac related fora may be a better bet.
Good luck!
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A2SERVER lets you use a Raspberry Pi, or almost any other computer, to serve files to Apple IIgs and enhanced IIe computers on your network. You'll also be able to boot into GS/OS or ProDOS 8 directly from the network (no drives needed). A2SERVER has been designed to be as easy to set up and use as possible, and it's free.
A2SERVER is based on open-source software, primarily Netatalk 2.2.4, with many utilities and enhancements to make everything as easy as possible. (If you like A2SERVER, you might also want to check out A2CLOUD.)
Choose how you'd like to use A2SERVER, and you'll be up and running shortly.
Raspberry Pi
Virtual Machine (for Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, Solaris)
Installer for Ubuntu or Debian Linux
Once you've got it set up, here are next steps:
Attach your Apple II to your local network
Connect to A2SERVER from your Apple II
Boot into ProDOS 8 or GS/OS over the network
Log into, shut down, and do stuff in the A2SERVER console
Access A2SERVER files from a Mac or Windows computer
Use A2SERVER with Wi-Fi
And some other stuff that might (or might not) be helpful or interesting:
A2SERVER feature list
A2SERVER version history
Recover from a crashed A2SERVER
Details of what the "a2server-setup" script does
See the March 2013 cover of Juiced.GS, featuring A2SERVER
Watch me introduce A2SERVER at KansasFest 2011
(note: this contains some outdated information)
The A2SERVER odyssey (warning: long)
Buckets of thanks to Steven Hirsch and Geoff Body, whose invaluable assistance and contributions have made A2SERVER exist, along with Tony Diaz, Antoine Vignau, Peter Wong, Martin Haye, Ken Gagne, Peter Neubauer, Anthony Martino, James Littlejohn, and others at comp.sys.apple2 and KansasFest. (As well as the creators, past and present, of Netatalk and Raspberry Pi.) Apple II Forever!
Questions? Comments? email ivan@ivanx.com
Apple II Extravaganza home page