# Netatalk

7 Hacker News commenters recommended Netatalk and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Free open-source AFP file server that people run for Time Machine backups and long-term Mac file sharing. One critic reported many problems.

## Why people recommend it

- Works with Macs, including System 7 (2 comments): "I use this for networked Time Machine backups for multiple Macs in my household. Works just as well over tailscale VPN." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47923656)) "Also works for System 7 based Macintoshes." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47924768))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Samba](https://hackerapproved.com/p/samba.md): 36 recommend
- [NFS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/nfs.md): 20 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Netatalk", https://hackerapproved.com/p/netatalk/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).