(SAP) A protocol that provides a way for servers to advertise their services on a NetWare internetwork.

Servers advertise their services with SAP, allowing routers to create and maintain a database of current internetwork server information.

Routers send periodic SAP broadcasts to keep all routers on the internetwork synchronized. Routers also send SAP update broadcasts whenever they detect a change in the internetwork configuration.

Workstations can query the network to find a server by broadcasting SAP request packets. When a workstation logs in to a network, it broadcasts a Get Nearest Server SAP request and attaches to the first server that replies.

To keep workstations from attaching to a server, network supervisors can turn off the Get Nearest Server SAP option.

By default, a NetWare router sends SAP packets to each of its connected network segments every 60 seconds.

With time synchronization, Single reference and Primary time servers advertise their services using SAP. Secondary time servers don't advertise their services.