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Configuring network connections

Protocol stacks

Computers on a network communicate in agreed-upon ways called ``protocols''. Protocols dictate which signals computers use across cables or radio waves, how they tell one another that they have received information, and how they exchange information.

Protocols are more accurately termed protocol ``stacks'' or protocol ``suites''. These terms reflect the fact that the communications functions are complex and are usually divided into independent layers or levels. A stack is a collection of protocol layers which implement network communication. The protocol associated with each layer communicates only with the layers immediately above and below it, and assumes the support of underlying layers. Lower layers are closer to the hardware; higher layers are closer to the user. The number of layers and tasks that each layer performs depends on which stack you are using.

Although there are many different types of networks, they fall into two general categories:

Because the SCO OpenServer network adapter drivers provide a standard way for networking hardware and software to communicate, you can easily configure different protocol stacks for use on the same machine. The SCO OpenServer protocol stacks that you can use with the SCO OpenServer network adapter drivers for LAN communication include: The SCO TCP/IP stack can also be used with these WAN communication drivers:

For an overview of SCO OpenServer protocol stack support, see ``Networking protocol stacks''.


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© 2003 Caldera International, Inc. All rights reserved.
SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.7 -- 11 February 2003