NBX Manual

NBX Manual—424774-001

1-1

Introducing NBX

NBX provides access to Compaq NetBIOS applications connected to workstations that

use Novell ® IPX

and NetBIOS on G-series systems and is a replacement to

MULTILAN software and hardware for Compaq NetBIOS applications connected to

workstations that use Novell ® IPX

and NetBIOS on D-series systems. NBX supports

WSPTP and 6530 WINDOW application programming interfaces (APIs) as well as the

resource-manager and file-server functions.

NBX implements the NetBIOS protocol used by the Novell NetBIOS Emulator

(NETBIOS.EXE).

NBX provides full support for dynamic and static 6530 windows communicating with

remote stations using Compaq PCT, Outside View (OV), and IXF software. Compaq

applications such as Pathway, TACL, EDIT XVS, and IXF run without modification.

The NBX service feature combines the configuration ease of dynamic windows with the

quick startup of static windows, while eliminating a common security problem often

associated with dynamic windows.

The NBX WSPTP interface supports custom applications that use NetBIOS Control

Blocks (NCB), including the Server Message Block (SMB) File Server on G-series

systems, FASTPSMB, LAN Spooler (LANSPOOL) and Remote Server Call (RSC) on

D-series and G-series systems, and the MULTILAN File Server (MLSRV) on D-series

systems.

NBX performs resource manager services internally and handles RMPCCOM LOGON

and LOGOFF commands as well as dynamic session requests from PCT and IXF.

For D-series systems, NBX eliminates the need for the MLAD hardware by using

Compaq NonStop IPX/SPX to connect remote stations to the Compaq host. This method

reduces LAN overhead since no extra communication occurs between the MLAD and

the Compaq system.

For an Ethernet LAN, the NBX WSPTP interface provides access to applications, as

well as file and print services on Compaq NonStop servers from the PC. This

connectivity is shown in Figure 1-1

on page 1-2.

1. NonStop IPX/SPX is a product offered by Compaq Computers Incorporated. IPX/SPX is a trademark of Novell,

Inc., used by Compaq under license from Novell, Inc.

2. NonStop IPX/SPX is a product offered by Compaq Computers Incorporated. IPX/SPX is a trademark of Novell,

Inc., used by Compaq under license from Novell, Inc.

Note. For G-series systems: MULTILAN software and hardware is not supported. The MLSRV

file server is replaced by the SMB file server. NBX provides the same MULTILAN APIs on D-

and G-series systems, and continues to support NSK applications and remote workstation

NetBIOS applications using these APIs.