computer science

PC/TCP Packet Driver

PC/TCP Packet Driver is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand PC/TCP Packet Driver rather than just read about it. In short: PC/TCP Packet Driver is a networking API for MS-DOS, PC DOS, and later x86 DOS implementations such as DR-DOS, FreeDOS, etc. It implements the lowest levels of a TCP/IP stack, where the remainder is typically implemented either by terminate-and-stay-resident drivers or as a library linked into an application program.

Key takeaways

PC/TCP Packet Driver belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect PC/TCP Packet Driver to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of PC/TCP Packet Driver from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

PC/TCP Packet Driver is a networking API for MS-DOS, PC DOS, and later x86 DOS implementations such as DR-DOS, FreeDOS, etc. It implements the lowest levels of a TCP/IP stack, where the remainder is typically implemented either by terminate-and-stay-resident drivers or as a library linked into an application program. It was invented in 1983 at MIT's Lab for Computer Science (CSR/CSC group under Jerry Saltzer and David D. Clark), and was commercialized in 1986 by FTP Software. A packet driver uses an x86 interrupt number (INT) between 60h .. 80h. The number used is detected at runtime, it is most commonly 60h but may be changed to avoid application programs which use fixed interrupts for internal communications. The interrupt vector is used as a pointer (4-bytes little endian) to the address of a possible interrupt handler. If the null-terminated ASCII text string "PKT DRVR" is found within the first 12-bytes -- more specifically in bytes 3 through 11 -- immediately following the entry point then a driver has been located. Packet drivers can implement many different network interfaces, including Ethernet, Token Ring, RS-232, Arcnet, and X.25.

Functions

Drivers WinPKT is a driver that enables use of packet drivers under Microsoft Windows that moves around applications in memory. W3C507 is a DLL to packet driver for the Microsoft Windows environment. Support for Ethernet alike network interface over Serial line IP (using 8250 UART), CSLIP, Parallel line IP, IPX, Token Ring, LocalTalk, ARCNET.

See also Crynwr Collection - alternative free packet driver collection Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) - developed by Microsoft and 3Com, free wrappers Open Data-Link Interface (ODI) - developed by Apple and Novell Universal Network Device Interface (UNDI) - used by Intel PXE Uniform Driver Interface (UDI) - defunct Preboot Execution Environment - network boot by Intel, widespread

References

Further reading Petrosky, Mary (5 September 1988). "Banyan seals deal with FTP for TCP/IP support: PC/TCP will work with VINES-supported nets". Network World. Vol. 5, no. 36. IDG. pp. 2, 4. ISSN 0887-7661. Derfler, Frank J., Jr. (July 1992). "TCP/IP packages for NetWare 3.11: Using the Alphabet Soup". PC Magazine. Vol. 11, no. 13. Ziff Davis. pp. 415, 417, 419, 420, 423, 425, 426, 438, 441. ISSN 0888-8507.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) "Reviews/Product comparison, PC/TCP for OS/2 Version 1.3". InfoWorld. Vol. 16, no. 37. IDG. 12 September 1994. p. 86. ISSN 0199-6649.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with PC/TCP Packet Driver

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what PC/TCP Packet Driver claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to PC/TCP Packet Driver before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about PC/TCP Packet Driver ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of PC/TCP Packet Driver

In research: PC/TCP Packet Driver appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses PC/TCP Packet Driver in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: PC/TCP Packet Driver is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computer networks engineering, Device drivers, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for PC/TCP Packet Driver outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study PC/TCP Packet Driver in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what PC/TCP Packet Driver means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain PC/TCP Packet Driver out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is PC/TCP Packet Driver in simple terms?

Why does PC/TCP Packet Driver matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study PC/TCP Packet Driver?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on PC/TCP Packet Driver.