NWLink

The meaning that a term can refer to can change with the change in the perspective and according to the context it is used in and same is the case with this term, NWLink. This term can refer to several different things in this world, depending upon the situation it is used in. This article will however, deal with this term with respect to the networking world. In the networking world, this term, NWLink is the Microsoft implementation of Novell’s IPX or Internet Packet Exchange /Sequenced Packet Exchange or SPX protocols. However, this technology goes one step further too, as it also has an implementation of the NetBIOS atop the IPX or Internet Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange in it.

The main role of this technology is to provide the users with a mean to provide connectivity between the Windows based computers and the NetWare network that run on Internal Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange. Another feature, added to this newer version of NWLink was the routing information protocol or RIP, which helped the user to route the information in the network as well, along with performing other functions. Due to the dual nature of this NWLink technology, it can support the connectivity between computers running on Windows and computers that are running on the NetWare and compatible systems.

This is a common concept and common use of this technology in the networking world, however, this technology is also capable of performing another role, that is, it is able to provide and maintain the connection between the Windows based computers and the computers that are running MS client for DOS. This implementation is not used as much as the other implementation, which is, providing the connection between the Windows running computers and NetWare and compatible system, as this technology was specifically designed and introduced with keeping that goal in mind.