NWLINK

Other Network Protocols supported by Win 2000

Network Bindings

HOME

A protocol is a set of rules and conventions for sending information over a network. Microsoft Windows 2000 relies on TCP/IP for logon, file and print services, replication of information between one domain controller and another, and other common functions.

This tutorial presents the skills and knowledge necessary to configure TCP/IP and to install other network protocols, including NWLink, NetBIOS Enhanced User Interface (NetBEUI), and Data Link Control (DLC). The chapter also discusses the process for configuring network bindings, which are links that enable communication between network adapter cards, protocols, and services.

This Tutorial is divided into four sections:

TCP/IP

TCP/IP provides communication across networks of computers with various hardware architectures and operating systems. Microsoft's implementation of TCP/IP enables enterprise networking and connectivity on computers running Windows 2000.

NWLINK

This section discusses the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS-compatible transport protocol (usually referred to as NWLink), Microsoft's implementation of Novell's NetWare Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange (IPX/SPX) protocol. NWLink is most commonly used in environments where clients running Microsoft operating systems are used to access resources on NetWare servers, or where clients running NetWare are used to access resources on computers running Microsoft operating systems.

OTHER PROTOCOLS SUPPORTED BY WINDOWS 2000

In this section you will learn that Windows 2000 supports protocols besides TCP/IP and NWLink. These other protocols include NetBEUI, DLC, AppleTalk, and the Network Monitor driver 2. NetBEUI is a protocol developed for LANs with 20-200 computers. It is a small, fast, and efficient protocol, but it isn't routable and therefore is unsuitable for use in a WAN environment. NetBEUI provides compatibility with existing LANs that use the NetBEUI protocol. DLC is a special-purpose, nonroutable protocol that enables computers running Windows 2000 to communicate with other computers running the DLC protocol stack, such as IBM mainframes. DLC is also used to communicate with network peripherals that use a network adapter card to connect directly to the network, such as a Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4Si print device.

NETWORK BINDINGS

Network bindings enable communication between network adapter card drivers, protocols, and services. Figure 7.10 shows an example of network bindings. In Figure 7.10, the workstation service is bound to each of three protocols, and each protocol is bound to at least one network adapter card. This lesson describes the function of bindings in a network and the process for configuring them.

The Windows 2000 network architecture uses a series of interdependent layers. The bottom layer of the network architecture ends at the network adapter card, which places information on the cable, allowing information to flow between computers.