IPX

One of the data transmission protocols used by NetWare .

Short for Internetwork Packet Exchange, a networking protocol used by the Novell NetWare operating systems. Like UDP/IP, IPX is a datagram protocol used for connectionless communications. Higher-level protocols, such as SPX and NCP, are used for additional error recovery services. The successor to IPX is the NetWare Link Services Protocol (NLSP).

See: Internetwork Packet eXchange

Novell's protocol used by Netware. A router with IPX routing can interconnect LANs so that Novell Netware clients and servers can communicate. See also: Local Area Network.

Stands for "Internetwork Packet Exchange." (I didn't know "exchange" started with an "x" either...) It is a networking protocol used to connect networks based on Novell's NetWare. IPX is connectionless, meaning it doesn't require connections to be maintained during an exchange of packets as, like a phone call does. Another nice thing about IPX is that it usually only loads when you log on to a network, so it doesn't take up unnecessary resources. As many video game players know, IPX used to be the standard connection for network games, but the TCP/IP protocol, which allows for long distance network gaming, has now become the clear leader.