To fulfill the role of the intermediate server, the Application Server must be able to connect to and communicate with client applications. This is handled through ports. The Application Server supports the creation of an optional ADSP (AppleTalk) and a TCP/IP port (required) to allow the client applications to connect to the Application Server over AppleTalk and TCP/IP networks.

The Application Server creates a TCP/IP port and (optionally) a ADSP (AppleTalk) port through which the client applications make their connections to the Application Server.