This chapter describes the use of LAN drivers
that support the LAN devices listed in the Software Product Description
for the OpenVMS Operating System (SPD 82.35.xx). Most of the LAN devices
are described here, but see the Software Product Description for the
OpenVMS Operating System for the definitive list of supported devices.
The LAN drivers support two user interfaces or
APIs, QIO and VCI (VMS Communications Interface). This chapter describes
the QIO interface to the LAN drivers, primarily. But most of the
QIO functionality applies to the VCI interface as well. And the description
of the other features and characteristics of the LAN devices and LAN
drivers applies equally to either interface.
The LAN drivers are composed of a set of LAN common
routines that implement the user interfaces plus a LAN port driver
for each different type of LAN device. The LAN drivers comprise the
Data Link layer as defined by the OSI Model defined in “Local Area Network (LAN) Terminology”.
