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Service Advertising Protocol (SAP)
Last Updated: January 5, 2017
Definition - What does Service Advertising Protocol (SAP) mean?
Service Advertising Protocol (SAP) is an automated internetwork packet exchange (IPX) protocol component for adding and removing services. It is mostly implemented by system administrators and application developers.
SAP is a distance vector protocol that allows network services, such as file/print/gateway servers, to dynamically register data in server information tables. IPX services are then periodically broadcast across a network and its subnetworks.
Techopedia explains Service Advertising Protocol (SAP)
At startup, server operating systems (OS) broadcast SAP services to all IPX networks through SAP agents. During shutdown, SAP communicates service unavailability. Then, each SAP agent applies data and service changes for server information table maintenance.
SAP depends on IPX device collaboration. Thus, if a server fails, its associated service is removed.
