Training
Module
Fundamentals of computer networking - Training
Learn the fundamental principles of computer networking to prepare you for the Azure admin and developer learning paths.
This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
A network protocol, which is the highest driver in the Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) hierarchy of drivers, is often used as the lowest-level driver in a transport driver that implements a transport protocol stack, such as a TCP/IP stack. A transport protocol driver allocates packets, copies data from the sending application into the packet, and sends the packets to the lower-level driver by calling NDIS functions. A protocol driver also provides a protocol interface to receive incoming packets from the next lower-level driver. A transport protocol driver transfers received data to the appropriate client application.
At its lower edge, a protocol driver interfaces with intermediate network drivers and miniport drivers. The protocol driver calls Ndis*Xxx
functions to send packets, read and set information that's maintained by lower-level drivers, and use operating system services. The protocol driver also exports a set of entry points (ProtocolXxx
functions) that NDIS calls for its own purposes or on behalf of lower-level drivers to indicate up receive packets, indicate the status of lower-level drivers, and to otherwise communicate with the protocol driver.
At its upper edge, a transport protocol driver has a private interface to a higher-level driver in the protocol stack.
Note
For more information about the NDIS driver stack and a diagram showing the relationship between all four NDIS driver types, see NDIS Driver Stack.
Training
Module
Fundamentals of computer networking - Training
Learn the fundamental principles of computer networking to prepare you for the Azure admin and developer learning paths.