Windows sockets
<networking, standard> (Winsock) A specification for
Microsoft Windows network software, describing how applications can access network services, especially
TCP/IP. Winsock is intended to provide a single
API to which application developers should program and to which multiple network software vendors should conform.
For any particular version of
Microsoft Windows, it defines a binary interface (
ABI) such that an application written to the Windows Sockets API can work with a conformant
protocol implementation from any network software vendor.
Winsock was conceived at Fall Interop '91 during a
Birds of a Feather session.
Windows Sockets is supported by
Microsoft Windows,
Windows for Workgroups,
Win32s,
Windows 95 and
Windows NT.
It will support protocols other than
TCP/IP.
Under
Windows NT,
Microsoft will provide Windows Sockets support over
TCP/IP and
IPX/
SPX.
DEC will be implementing
DECNet.
Windows NT will include mechanisms for multiple
protocol support in Windows Sockets, both 32-bit and 16 bit.
Mark Towfiq said, "The next rev. of Winsock will not be until toward the end of 1993.
We need 1.1 of the
API to become firmly settled and implemented first."
Windows Sockets API (ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/micro/pc-stuff/ms-windows/winsock). or (ftp://microdyne.com/pub/winsock) or send a message "help" to either <
[email protected]> or <
[email protected]>.
Windows Sockets specification (ftp://rhino.microsoft.com).
Currently NetManage (NEWT), Distinct, FTP and Frontier are shipping Winsock
TCP/IP stacks, as is
Microsoft (Windows NT and
TCP/IP for WFW), Beame & Whiteside Software (v1.1 compliant), and Sun PC-NFS.
Windows 95 has "dial-up networking" which supports Winsock and TCP/IP.
winsock.dll is available from some
TCP/IP stack vendors. Novell has one in beta for their Lan Workplace for
DOS.
Peter Tattam <
[email protected]> is alpha-testing a shareware Windows Sockets compliant
TCP/IP stack (ftp://ftp.utas.edu.au/pc/trumpet/winsock/winsock.zip). and (ftp://ftp.utas.edu.au/pc/trumpet/winsock/winpkt.com).
The Consummate Winsock App List (http://wwwvms.utexas.edu/~Neuroses/cwsapps.html).
[Adapted from: Aboba, Bernard D., comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc Frequently Asked Questions, 1993
Usenet: news:news.answers, (ftp://netcom1.netcom.com/pub/mailcom/IBMTCP/)].
[Current status?]
