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™

 

Puts the packaged requests from the IPXODI driver into the proper

(LSL)

 

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)

Takes requests from the LSL™ and sends them to the network. It

(example: NE2000™)

 

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

 

Delivers requests and replies between client workstations and the

IPXODI (Internetwork Packet

network.

 

Exchange™ Open Data-Link

Also handles packet sequencing and acknowledgment for the client-

Interface™)

 

server connection.

SPX™ (Sequenced Packet

Takes requests that the NetWare DOS Requester has determined are

Exchange)

 

for the network, “packages” them with transmission information

TCP/IP (Transmission Control

(such as their destination), and hands them to the LSL.

 

Protocol/Internet Protocol)

 

 

 

 

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