NetWare Client for DOS and MS Windows User Guide

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Understanding the NetWare Client Software

The NetWare Protocols and Transports

The NetWare software that allows client workstations to communicate and

be understood on the network is separated into two components, consisting

of a protocol, which manages data, and a transport, which manages

application messages. This can be provided by one piece of software or by

many.

In order for client workstations to communicate on a network, they must use

a protocol that is identical to what is being used on the network.

Sometimes client workstations are conﬁgured to use multiple protocols. In

this case, workstations can communicate with different networks

simultaneously.

For example, a client workstation using both IPX and TCP/IP protocols can

communicate with servers conﬁgured for IPX or TCP/IP protocols only.

NOTE: The NetWare client protocols support Level 3 (the network layer) through Level 4

(the transport layer) of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) networking

reference model from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

The NetWare client software provides the following standard protocol:

• IPX/SPX™ (Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange™)

For information on optimizing your client workstations for using NetWare

transport protocols, see Chapter 2, “NET.CFG Options Reference,” in

NetWare Client for DOS and MS Windows Technical Reference.

IPXODI Protocol

Although the NetWare DOS Requester intercepts and prepares requests for

network transmission, the actual delivery is made by the IPX protocol, The

NetWare client software supports this through the Internetwork Exchange

Open Data-Link Interface (IPXODI.COM program).

IPXODI attaches a header to each data packet. The header speciﬁes

necessary information for targeted network delivery, announcing where the

packet came from, where it’s going, and what happens after its delivery.