IPX

IPX

Internetwork Packet eXchange

IPX

(Internetwork Packet EXchange) The network layer protocol in the NetWare operating system, which years ago was the major LAN OS. Similar to the IP layer in TCP/IP, it contained a network address and allowed messages to be routed to a different network or subnet. IPX did not guarantee delivery of a complete message. Just like IP packets, NetWare IPX packets could get dropped from overloaded routers, thus either the application had to ensure delivery of the entire message or NetWare's SPX protocol had to be used. See SPX and NetWare.

IPX vs. IP
IPX and SPX were the network and transport layers, equivalent to IP and TCP in a TCP/IP network. Comparing NetWare to the OSI model, one obvious difference is the LSL layer, which provides a common interface to network drivers. ODI and NDIS are the two most commonly used LSL implementations.