Information on NWLink

 Last reviewed: August 6, 1997
Article ID: Q99887
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

This article briefly discusses NWLink. It is divided into these parts:

  • What is NWLink?
  • What Isn't NWLink?
  • Implementation of NWLink

What is NWLink?

The goal of NWLink is to supply added value for ISVs and other accounts who would like to use Windows NT as an application server with current MS-DOS, Windows, or OS/2 NetWare clients (for applications such as SQL Server, SNA Server, and RPC supporting SPX and Novell NetBIOS over IPX). In addition, NWLink supports the Novell NetBIOS protocol. There are also NetBIOS enhancements (sliding windows and flow control, for example) to make Windows NT to Windows NT sessions more efficient (if this is the only Windows NT transport being used).

What Isn't NWLink?

Novell is offering a Windows NT client that can speak to NetWare servers. NWLink does not provide this functionality; it is just the transport. It does not support the ability to do remote file and print I/O (which would require an additional layer above NWLink supporting NCPs).

Novell's offering does not allow NetWare clients to use Windows NT as an application server, nor does it support Novell NetBIOS. At this time, their client does not support Windows sockets that are compatible with Novell's NWIPXSPC APIs. Novell plans to add this support soon.

Implementation of NWLink

NWLink is a streams-based transport (similar to TCP/IP and NDIS compatible) that supports:

  • Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, and Arcnet topologies
  • IPX, SPX, Novell NetBIOS, and enhanced Novell NetBIOS protocols
  • NetBIOS and Windows Sockets (IPX and SPX) APIs
  • MIPS and Intel platforms
  • Multiprocessor awareness
  • Portability

NWLink does not support NCP as Novell's solution does.

Additional query words: prodnt
Keywords : ntnetserv NTSrvWkst kbnetwork
Version : 3.1 3.51 4.0
Platform : winnt

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Last reviewed: August 6, 1997
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