Overview of Windows 98 and Microsoft Networking

Client for Microsoft Networks is the 32-bit, protected-mode network client for Windows 98 that provides the redirector and other software components for Microsoft networking. Client for Microsoft Networks also supports limited interoperability with other Microsoft-compatible server message block–based (SMB) servers such as Samba, IBM LAN Server, IBM OS/2 Warp Server, and DIGITAL PATHWORKS.

You can install Client for Microsoft Networks to serve as the sole network support for Windows 98 or to coexist with Client for NetWare Networks or clients from other network vendors, as described in Chapter 17, "Windows 98 on Third-Party Networks." For technical information about these optional configurations, see Chapter 29, "Windows 98 Network Architecture."

Support for computers running Client for Microsoft Networks includes all the robust networking features built into Windows 98:

• Automatic setup, user profiles, and system policies for configuring computers.
• Dial-Up Networking, share-level and pass-through user-level security, and remote administration capabilities.
• Unified logon and automatic reconnection to network resources.

The following paragraphs summarize the additional key benefits of using Client for Microsoft Networks.

A high-performance system using no conventional memory.

Client for Microsoft Networks uses only 32-bit, protected-mode supporting networking components and, as a file system driver, uses Windows 98 caching (VCACHE). Client for Microsoft Networks uses 32-bit versions of NetBIOS Extended User Interface (NetBEUI), Microsoft Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and the Microsoft Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange (IPX/SPX) – compatible protocol and network driver interface specification (NDIS) version 3.1 – compliant network adapter drivers. This protected-mode client is designed to be used in a multitasking environment, providing robust performance and using no MS-DOS conventional memory space. For information about supporting protocols and network adapter drivers, see Chapter 15, "Network Adapters and Protocols."

Protected-mode peer resource sharing services.

You can configure computers running Client for Microsoft Networks to provide peer server capabilities using File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks. For information, see Chapter 18, "Logon, Browsing, and Resource Sharing."

Security and other support on Windows NT networks.

You can use Windows NT servers to validate user logon and to provide pass-through security for shared resources on computers running Windows 98. For information, see Chapter 9, "Security." Also, computers running Windows 98 can recognize and use long file names on Windows NT servers, because the two operating systems use the same algorithm for long file names and aliases.