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From: jrd@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: Packet Drivers or NDIS Drivers for Netware
Message-ID: <1991Feb25.192415.46941@cc.usu.edu>
Date: 26 Feb 91 01:24:15 GMT
References: <46945@vrdxhq.verdix.com>
Lines: 33

In article <46945@vrdxhq.verdix.com>, king@vrdxhq.verdix.com (Greg King) writes:
> Can anyone tell me if Netware supports the NDIS interface spec or
> the packet driver spec?  Also what are the basic differences between
> Netware 286 and Netware 386?  Are different drivers required? 
> 
> Much Thanks in Advance,
> 
> Greg King
> Verdix Corporation
> 14130-A Sullyfied Circle
> Chantilly, VA 22021
> 703-378-7600 x288
> 
> king@verdix.com
>  

Greg,
	Novell supports neither Packet Drivers nor NDIS. They do support
their own Open Data-Link Interface (ODI, sometimes ODLI) which provides
similar protocol multiplexing capabilities. That makes three "standards"
these days. The specifications for ODI are available from Novell for a fee,
and they form a substantially thick stack of paper. Is it possible to
convert one to the other? Yes, it is, with some loss naturally, but those
solutions (called "shims") are basically experimental and not for production
use.
	NW/286 and NW/386 (or using the new machine independent name of
NetWare 3.11) are completely different animals under the skin so drivers
do not carry across at all. Workstations continue to work with old and new
shells (backward compatibility) on both vintages of servers.
	If given a choice between NetWare 2.x and 3.x then choose 3.x if
finances allow (particularly when a long term view is taken). My view is that
3.x is worth the money and then some for large groups of users.
	Joe D.