IPX/SPX PROTOCOL SUITE

IPX/SPX Protocol Suite

Novell Inc. developed this protocol suite in early 1980s. Although, officially this protocol is referred as the Netware protocol suite, but due to the immense popularity of two protocols, Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) and Sequential Packet Exchange (SPX), this protocol suite is commonly referred to as the IPX/SPX protocol suite.

The following figure shows the IPX/SPX protocol suite mapped to the seven layers of the OSI reference model:

In the preceding figure, the IPX/SPX protocol suite consists of the following protocols:


Service Advertisement Protocol (SAP): This protocol is used by various servers, such as file and print servers, to publicize their IPX addresses and services.
Netware Core Protocol (NCP): This protocol is used to make server functions, such as file and print sharing, available to clients.
Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX): This protocol provides fast but connectionless communication service. For this purpose, it uses datagrams, which are not acknowledged. In addition to providing logical addressing on the network, IPX also provides routing services.
Sequential Packet Exchange (SPX): This protocol is connection-oriented and guarantees the error-free delivery of data packets.
Netware Link Service Protocol (NLSP): This protocol works with the IPX protocol to find the appropriate route between communicating networks.
Routing Information Protocol (RIP): This protocol provides routing-related information to the Network layer.
Link Support Layer (LSL): This protocol provides the interface between network cards and upper layer protocols.
Multiple Link Interface Driver (MLID): This protocol enables the integration of network cards with upper layer protocols.