Understanding the NetWare Client Software
The NetWare Protocols and Transports
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
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.