Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!ucsd!ucbvax!FTP.COM!jbvb
From: jbvb@FTP.COM ("James B. Van Bokkelen")
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc
Subject: Re: A glossary of commonly used terms (fwd)
Message-ID: <9012040011.AA05496@ftp.com>
Date: 4 Dec 90 00:11:53 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: jbvb@ftp.com
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 24


    >>      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.

I wouldn't say it that way.  Rather, NDIS is designed for use on both DOS and
OS/2, as is the competing Novell/Apple ODI spec.  Neither has any concept
of a "process" or "I/O queue element" embedded in it, so it is entirely the
driver's responsibility to ensure that the right process is running and the
right memory mapping established when it issues an upcall...

    ...  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.

A version of this driver is available as unsupported freeware (anonymous FTP
to vax.ftp.com, look in pub/packet.driver/NDIS).  It handles Packet Driver
Class 1 (ethernet).  We also sell/support a later version that handles
both Class 1 and Class 3 (802.5).

James B. VanBokkelen		26 Princess St., Wakefield, MA  01880
FTP Software Inc.		voice: (617) 246-0900  fax: (617) 246-0901