1.5.1.

Novell NetWare

Novell NetWare is the most popular network system in the PC world. It was designed
to be used by companies downsizing from a mainframe to a network of PCs. Novell NetWare is based on the client-server model. NetWare uses a proprietary protocol stack (Fig. 1-22). It looks more like TCP/IP than like OSI.

Fig. 1-22. The Novell Netware reference model. The physical and data layers can be chosen from among various industry standards (Ethernet, IBM token ring, ARCnet). The network layer runs an unreliable internetwork connectionless protocol called IPX, functionally similar to IP. Above IPX comes a connection-oriented transport protocol called NCP (Network Core Protocol) providing various other services besides user data transport. A second protocol, SPX, is also available, but provides only transport. The session and presentation layers do not exist. Various application protocols are present in the application layer. The IPX packet consists of the following fields:

Checksum (2 bytes) - rarely used, since the underlying data link layer also provides a checksum. Packet length (2 bytes) - determines how long the entire packet is. Transport control (1 byte) - counts, how many networks the packet has traversed. When it exceeds a maximum, the packet is discarded. Packet type (1 byte) - used to mark various control packets.

2 address fields (12 bytes each) - each contains a 32-bit network number, a 48 bit machine number (the 802 LAN address), and 16 bit local address (socket) on that machine. Data.

The maximum size of the packet is determined by the underlying network. About once a minute, each server broadcasts a packet giving its address and telling what services it offers (by using SAP - Service Advertising Protocol). The packets are collected by special agent processes running on the router machines. The agents use the information contained in them to construct databases of which servers are running where. When a client machine is booted, the following procedures take place: 1. The client machine broadcasts a request asking where the nearest server is. 2. The agent on the local router machine looks in its database of servers and the best choice of server send back to the client. 3. The client establishes an NCP connection with the server. From this point on, the client can access the file system and other services using this connection.