The architecture of the Microsoft Windows NT operating system with integrated networking is protocol-independent. This architecture, illustrated in the following figure, provides Windows NT file, print, and other services over any network protocol that uses exports from the TDI interface. The protocols package network requests for applications in their respective formats, and then send the requests to the appropriate network adapter via the network device interface specification (NDIS) interface. The NDIS specification allows multiple network protocols to reside over a wide variety of network adapters and media types.
Figure 12.1 Architectural Model of Windows NT with TCP/IP
Under the Windows NT transport-independent architecture, TCP/IP is a protocol family that can be used to offer Windows-based networking capabilities. The TCP/IP protocol gives Windows NT, Windows for Workgroups, and LAN Manager computers transparent access to each other and allows communication with non-Microsoft systems in the enterprise network.