The IPX Frame Trap

Usually, when installing a new network board in a Windows95 system and either have Win95 detect the new board or by selecting it manually, Win95 installs immediately the protocols "NetBEUI" and "IPX/SPX" and the Clients for "Netware networks" and for "Microsoft networks".
Microsoft suggests the use of the NetBEUI protocol, which is the most easy to setup and configure (actual: no configuration is required).

But also IPX can be used as protocol, but it requires additional configuration:
IPX is NOT IPX !
There are actually several different types of IPX-frame types.
When connecting to a NOVELL-netware server, there is no need to think about it, because the "Client for Netware Networks" works out itself the frame type to use.
But the MS-Windows 95 server module (also called "File and Print Sharing"), is a fairly 'simple' implementation, and you MUST configure IPX properly by defining yourself the Frame-type to be used.
In the "Control-Panel","Network", bring up the properties of the IPX-protocol:

Under the tab:"Advanced", select for the property "Frame Type" one of the Frame-types (I prefer to use the original NOVELL-frame-type "Ethernet 802.3", but on Ethernet cabling, you can also select "Ethernet 802.2" or "Ethernet II").

YOU MUST SELECT on all PC's the same IPX-Frame-TYPE !
( using "Auto" will NOT work ! )

About Johannes Helmig

Dr.Johannes Helmig is working as Director, Technical Knowledge Management in the Belgium office of Gerber Technology where he is involved in Customer Service and internal training, with special interest in Networking.

Click here for Johannes Helmig's section.

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