(Internetwork Packet EXchange) The network layer protocol in the NetWare operating system. Similar to the IP layer in TCP/IP, it contains a network address and allows messages to be routed to a different network or subnet. IPX does not guarantee delivery of a complete message. Just like IP packets, NetWare IPX packets can get dropped from overloaded routers, thus either the application has to ensure delivery of the entire message or NetWare's SPX protocol must be used. See SPX and NetWare.
IPX and SPX are the network and transport layers, equivalent to IP and TCP in a TCP/IP network. Comparing NetWare to the OSI model, one obvious difference is the LSL layer, which provides a common interface to network drivers. ODI and NDIS are the two most commonly used LSL implementations.
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