Pathworks for DOS NetWare Coexistence SPD 34.76.01 Jan92

This document describes PATHWORKS for DOS (NetWare® Coexistence), Version 1.1, a software product designed to enable personal computers to run PATHWORKS for DOS V4.x and Novell NetWare client software concurrently.

Key Features and Purpose:

• Concurrent Operation: Allows users to access both Digital's Personal Computing Systems Architecture (PCSA) services and Novell NetWare services from a single PC equipped with an Ethernet or Token Ring controller.
• NDIS Support: Utilizes the Network Device Interface Specification (NDIS) to allow multiple protocol stacks (specifically, NetWare's IPX driver and DECnet/PATHWORKS' TCP/IP) to share a single network adapter, avoiding the need for separate network cards.
• Protocol Coexistence: Supports both IPX (for NetWare) and TCP/IP (for PATHWORKS/DECnet) simultaneously.
• Comprehensive Documentation: Includes detailed guides for installation, configuration, and use.

Requirements:

• Requires an existing installation of PATHWORKS for DOS V4.x.
• Requires Novell NetWare client software.
• Compatible with various DOS versions (e.g., 5.0, 6.0, 6.2) and Windows 3.1/3.11.
• Supports server environments like PATHWORKS for VMS, OS/2, ULTRIX, and OSF/1.

Key Limitations/Restrictions:

• If the DECnet transport is active, the PATHWORKS NETBIOS API becomes inaccessible.
• If the TCP/IP transport is disabled, PATHWORKS file and print services are unavailable.
• Limitations exist when using Windows File Manager for PATHWORKS file or print services, or for launching non-Windows applications from NetWare drives.
• Specific memory overhead (50-55 KB) is required for PATHWORKS memory modules.

In essence, the product provides a solution for integrating Digital's networking environment with Novell NetWare on the same DOS-based client PC, primarily by leveraging NDIS for shared network adapter access, but with specific functional trade-offs.