Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!WUBIOS.WUSTL.EDU!david From: david@WUBIOS.WUSTL.EDU ("David J. Camp") Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc Subject: Re: A glossary of commonly used terms (fwd) Message-ID: <9012022222.AA24045@wubios.wustl.edu> Date: 2 Dec 90 22:22:34 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The Internet Lines: 48 In Reply to this Note From: >In article <21910@well.sf.ca.us> shiva@well.sf.ca.us (Kenneth Porter) writes: >> >>As a new reader of comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc, I noticed a few >>buzzwords fly by that I'm unfamiliar with. Not seeing a FAQ >>topic, could someone enlighten me to the meaning/sources of the >>following? >> >> packet driver This name refers to the specification developed and published by FTP Inc. for a standard interface to Ethernet cards on IBMPC compatibles. The full text of the standard is available via anonymous ftp from vax.ftp.com. The general idea is that each hardware card will have its own packet driver that is loaded as a TSR. Then further use of the card all goes through the standard interface. Since the driver specifications make all Ethernet boards look identical, the many applications to not need to know anything special about particular hardware. >> NDIS This is a specification developed by Microsoft and others. It is the same general concept as a packet driver, but is incompatible and supports multi-tasking. There is a proprietary packet driver sold by FTP Inc. that runs on top of NDIS/MAC so that programs that expect a packet driver can run when an NDIS/MAC driver is present. >> BWNFS I do not know. >> >>Pointers to documentation would be useful (should be moderately >>technical, not Business Week no-brainer stuff). I'd prefer >>stuff accessible through mail servers, as I don't have ftp >>access. >> >>I'm currently administering a cluster of 3 Sun 386i's serving 4 >>Sun PC-NFS clients, and I'd like to add some OS/2 clients using >>FTP's InterDrive. >> >>Ken (shiva@well.sf.ca.us) > david@wubios.wustl.edu ^ Mr. David J. Camp david%wubios@wugate.wustl.edu < * > +1 314 382 0584 ...!uunet!wugate!wubios!david v "God loves material things."