NetWare Client for DOS and MS Windows User Guide

2-3
Understanding the NetWare Client Software
Introduction
Introduction
The core components of the NetWare DOS and MS Windows environment
are four terminate-and stay-resident (TSR) programs, listed and described in
the following table.
Table 2-1 Core Components of the NetWare Client for DOS and MS Windows
TSR Program Description
Link Support Layer™
(LSL)
Puts the packaged requests from the IPXODI driver into the proper
format for transmission on the particular physical network that the
client workstations are running on.
Also takes replies for the various client workstations from the
network (via the network LAN driver), removes the network-specific
information it has added, and passes the reply to IPXODI.
NetWare DOS Requester DOS-based client software that provides the interface between DOS
and the network. It consists of individual modules that provide
various network services.
It is loaded when you run the file STARTNET.BAT. This file also
loads drivers that the NetWare DOS Requester needs in order to
communicate with the network hardware.
ODI™ LAN driver (MLID)
(example: NE2000™)
Takes requests from the LSL™ and sends them to the network. It
also receives replies from the network and passes them to the LSL
software. This LAN driver is specific to the network board installed
in your client workstations.
Transport Protocol
IPXODI (Internetwork Packet
Exchange™ Open Data-Link
Interface™)
SPX™ (Sequenced Packet
Exchange)
TCP/IP (Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol)
Delivers requests and replies between client workstations and the
network.
Also handles packet sequencing and acknowledgment for the client-
server connection.
Takes requests that the NetWare DOS Requester has determined are
for the network, “packages” them with transmission information
(such as their destination), and hands them to the LSL.