NET-2/NET-3 Supported functionality.

# 5 NET-2/NET-3 Supported functionality.

Contents of this section

The NET code is a complete kernel based implementation of tcp/ip for Linux. The NET-2 and NET-3 versions of code support:

Ethernet Cards

  Most popular ethernet cards are supported.

SLIP (Serial Line IP) and PPP

  for tcp/ip networking over serial lines such as the telephone via modem, or a local cable between two machines.

Van Jacobsen Header Compression

  for compressing the tcp/ip headers to improve slip performance over low speed lines.

PLIP (Parallel Lines IP)

  to allow local connections between two machines using your printer ports.

NFS (Networked File System)

  to allow you to remotely mount another machines filesystems.

AX.25 (A protocol used by Amateur Radio Operators)

  Alan Cox has some experimental code available.

PI Card (An 8530 SCC based card used by Amateur Radio Operators)

  An experimental PI Card driver is available.

IPX/SPX (Novell)

  to allow you to write custom SPX/IPX applications, or to use Linux as an IPX router.

The NET-2 and NET-3 network code does not yet currently support:

NCP (Novell) support

  to allow Linux to serve and mount Novell network devices. This is being worked on.

Lan types other than ethernet

  This means token ring, arcnet, FDDI, etc. An experimental Token Ring driver is being developed. An experimental ARCNet driver has also been developed (details further on).

ISDN Support

  this is being developed.

## 5.1 Supported Ethernet cards.

The standard linux kernel release supports the following type of Ethernet cards:

- NE2000/NE1000 and close compatibles.
- WD80*3 and close compatibles.
- SMC Ultra
- 3c501 (obselete and very slow)
- 3c503 and close compatibles.
- 3c509/3c579
- HP PCLAN (however a newer kernel is required for the HP PCLAN+)
- AT1500 and NE2100 (LANCE and PCnet-ISA) and close compatibles.
- AT1700 (not clones)
- DEPCA and close compatibles.
- D-Link DE600 pocket adaptor and close compatibles.
- AT-LAN-TEC/RealTek pocket adaptor and close compatibles.

Additional drivers are available in the 1.1.* and later development kernels.

The Ethernet-HOWTO contains a lot of very useful information on the supported ethernet cards, including information on how to choose an ethernet card if you are intending to puchase some specifically for Linux.

As mentioned above, Linux supports other means of network connection if you don't have access to an ethernet card or connection. Many universities and businesses worldwide offer some form of dial-up network access. Generally these forms of access will offer an option of either SLIP or PPP access, so you will be well catered for. All you will need is a telephone modem, the one you already have may well be good enough, and to configure your Linux system appropriately. There are sections below that describe exactly what you need.

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