Novell Client 32 Architecture

Overview

Client 32 is Novell's new NetWare client architecture. It is based on 32-bit networking components (drivers, protocol stacks and requesters) and allows 32-bit HSM (Hardware Support Module) drivers, such as CMDGODI.LAN and MADGEODI.LAN, to be loaded on client workstations as well as NetWare servers.

The Hardware Support Module (HSM) specification is part Novell's Open Data-Link Interface (ODI) architecture. The ODI architecture allows multiple adapters and multiple protocols to co-exist in the same machine. Historically, 32-bit HSM drivers (.LAN drivers) only executed on NetWare 3.x and 4.x servers. The Client 32 supports 32-bit HSM drivers on client workstations under operating systems such as DOS and Windows 95.

The Novell Client 32 Requester supports NetWare Directory Services.

Key Features

32-bit protected mode operation.
NetWare Directory Services (NDS) support through Client 32 Requester
Minimal use of conventional memory (2-4KB). XMS used for 32-bit components.
Supports DOS, Windows 3.X and Windows 95

At the heart of Client 32 is the NetWare I/O subsystem (NIOS) which supports the loading of NLMs (NetWare Loadable Modules), including LAN drivers, on client workstations. This software layer provides partial NetWare operating system emulation and acts as a loader for NLM format executables such as LAN drivers. It provides the interface between the host operating system and the 32-bit networking components. NIOS also performs memory management, allowing NLMs to be loaded into extended memory where they execute in protected mode.

A new client requester, the Novell Client 32 Requester, is provided for all supported enviroments (DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95). This replaces the VLM requester or NETX shell under DOS or Microsoft's NetWare requester under Windows 95. The Client 32 Requester supports NetWare Directory Services (NDS), client side caching, packet burst transfers and auto-reconnect.

As well as supporting 32-bit ODI drivers, Client 32 also supports Windows95 native NDIS3 drivers and 16-bit ODI drivers.

NetWare Directory Services (NDS)

Netware Directory Services (NDS) is a distributed database modelled on the X.500 standard, which is used to provide seamless access to network resources.

NDS is a feature of NetWare version 4.x and above, it replaces the Bindery database provided by previous versions of NetWare. Whereas the Bindery supported a single server, NDS encompasses the entire network no matter how large or how many servers exist. With NDS, rather in logging into individual servers you log into the entire network once to gain access to the network resources you are entitled to use.