Small XP Lan - Use NetBeui or IPX/SPX for file and print sharing & Microsoft Networks?

[Nil Einne]

Hi all,

I'm setting up a small 2 comp LAN with 1 NIC/comp. I'm using a
hardware router to share the Internet connection but as I need to open
up ports for various apps and am even considering using the DMZ
functionality to forward all unknown traffic to my main computer, I
don't want to leave Microsoft Networks and file and print sharing
bound to TCP/IP. I was planning to use IPX/SPX instead but Pratically
Networking seems to recommend NetBeui instead. Is there any particular
reason for this? I know that IPX/SPX was developed for by Novell for
use with Netware but I've always thought MS's implementation was fine
and even if it is being superceded but TCP/IP I always though it was
an okay protocol.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

P.S. Obviously I'll firewall any exposed comp as well...

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

In article >,
(Nil Einne) wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I'm setting up a small 2 comp LAN with 1 NIC/comp. I'm using a
>hardware router to share the Internet connection but as I need to open
>up ports for various apps and am even considering using the DMZ
>functionality to forward all unknown traffic to my main computer, I
>don't want to leave Microsoft Networks and file and print sharing
>bound to TCP/IP. I was planning to use IPX/SPX instead but Pratically
>Networking seems to recommend NetBeui instead. Is there any particular
>reason for this? I know that IPX/SPX was developed for by Novell for
>use with Netware but I've always thought MS's implementation was fine
>and even if it is being superceded but TCP/IP I always though it was
>an okay protocol.
>
>Thanks for any help you can offer.
>
>P.S. Obviously I'll firewall any exposed comp as well...

In Windows XP, IPX/SPX is fully supported, and NetBEUI is
un-supported. For that reason, I'd use IPX/SPX.

"Un-supported" means that Microsoft hasn't tested NetBEUI extensively
on XP and won't give technical support on it.

I've written a page on PracticallyNetworked that gives details:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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