Sorry people - couldn't respond till now - I had to do a BorderManager presentation to the local chapter of the NetWare Users International.
So lets start...
Jim - regarding NetWare 5 and IPX Compatibility...
As you already know NetWare 5 has gone to native IP and all the NCPs have been converted to use IP. But, there is simply no way that Novell ISVs and Novell customers can turn OFF all IPX reliance over a weekend - this will take some time (even a couple years or more). So Novell had to have a means of handling the legacy sources within the network that will still make IPX/SPX calls. The answer - IPX Compatibility Mode technology has been built into both the NetWare 5 servers and newly developed NetWare Client software. These Compatibility Mode drivers will remain loaded at all times but simply lie dormant until an IPX/SPX packet appear and must be handled.
The Compatibility Mode drivers have three technologies to address IPX compatibility situations:
Tech. 1 - IPX App/Service Compatibility - When a legacy service or applications makes an NCP level IPX request from either the new server or client system. The drivers will transport the request but not before the request is converted to IP. The response is returned to the requesting system where the IP packet is removed and the NCP packet is delivered to the application to service. With this technology component in place, a new client will not allow IPX to ever be placed on the wire. In fact, some "Dirty IPX Apps" that did not follow normal IPX conventions will actually be simply encapsulated in IP in order to avoid having IPX be placed on the wire.
Tech. 2 - Migration Gateway - This is a Server side technology that can be implemented if and when needed. This technology allows both IP and IPX networks to reside together and communicate together. Companies can then move clients, network devices, and apps/services over to IP at theie own pace. Another advantage of this Migration Gateway is that the WAN links can be converted to IP only and the local branches can remain IPX until fully converted.
Tech. 3 - Bindery Gateway - This will be required when NetWare 3 servers and any related services that Bindery access are present on the network.
Will this compatibility mode technology slow down the server or client more than if it were not there? Quite likely YES. But, I would not be too concerned about the servers since most NetWare serves are over configured anyways and have ample spare CPU capacity. Design people will just have to make sure that the extra capacity is included in the design. Remember, as NetWare 5 becomes more commonplace the ISVs will be writing to the Pure-IP protocol. Competition for the Novell market will force many of these ISVs to upgrade their code. They had to for NDS, and newer CLIBs, etc. - they will have to for Pure-IP. I would disagree with you Jim that the ISVs will just sit around while their competitors upgrade.
My guess on initial lode to the NetWare 5 servers where almost all the 3rd party services will not be Pure-IP, would be about a 10% hit. This is only a guess on my part, but a good question that I must ask Novell when I have a chance. That is not too big a hit when you consider all the benefits and performance improvements that should also be realized from the implementation of Pure-IP (i.e. more efficient network traffic, no SAP broadcasting, better filtering of traffic on WAN links, etc.).
Overall, Pure-IP implementation was and is a painful development task for Novell to go through, but the long-term gains will be enormous! Novell went through this same "bite the bullet" development pain with the introduction of NDS. Now look at the benefits and advantages they have in making the big switch. Microsoft still has to go through the Directory Services pain! Microsoft will eventually have to go through the Pure-IP pain. And your right Jim, as painful as Pure-IP has been for Novell, the magnitude of pain will be far greater for Microsoft!
Love this conversation Jim! Thanks.
By the way, for any people that want to know the dirty details of how Pure-IP works and its benefits, go to Novell's NetWare 5 page:
novell.com
Paul - about marketshare...
I give, you win! I have been to two groupware presentation from both IBM and Novell, and they both identified the marketshare as I described with volumes from IDC. I have looked all over for actual figures that explicitly stated these points. I cant find them. So you win! Microsoft rules the marketshare in all aspects of the industry, but what do you expect from a monopoly company.
LB - Microsoft catching up with Exchange...
Look at my above statement to Paul...I give and I can't find the actual stats that I have heard on several occasions. So I am at a loss for words why I said that - other than to say that with Exchange 5 out now, those Microsoft clonies will jump on it.
OK - my fingers are worn out and I must watch the Oscars!
Night folks!
ToySoldier |
