MITnet and Windows 95: How Does It Stack Up?

John Saylor
Network Services

Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 95 (Win 95) comes with the 
necessary software to run a computer on a TCP/IP network like MITnet. In 
other words, with Win 95, you can get on the network "right out of the 
box." However, this isn't quite as straightforward as it sounds. As is 
often true with computer software, this upgrade has some trade-offs. In 
fact, IS recommends that you wait before upgrading to Win 95. Here are 
some reasons why.

Let's Start with the Stack
A protocol stack acts as the translator between your Windows machine 
and the network at large. Since MITnet uses the TCP/IP protocol, you 
need a TCP/IP stack to connect your machine to MITnet.

Windows 3.x users who want to connect to MITnet must install LAN 
WorkPlace 4.2, which comes with a TCP/IP stack and a set of network 
applications. Most users aren't aware of the TCP/IP stack, since it 
loads when their computers start up and requires no interaction.

Win 95 comes with its own TCP/IP stack. This stack and the LAN WorkPlace 
stack offer competing advantages for MIT users. However, you can't run 
both "flavors" of the TCP/IP stack at the same time.

The LAN WorkPlace Advantage
The main reason to stick with LAN WorkPlace is that, for now, some of 
its network applications won't work with the Win 95 TCP/IP stack. These 
include:

*       Rapid Filer 
*       TechInfo for Windows
*       Finger 
*       IP Resolver
*       Netware/IP

If you need any of these applications for your work, IS recommends that 
you postpone upgrading to Win 95.

A second reason to stick with LAN WorkPlace is that Network Help Desk 
staff are experienced with it and can help you if you encounter 
problems. They may not have ready answers to questions about Win 95 and 
MITnet.

Pluses of Microsoft's Stack
Microsoft's TCP/IP stack has pluses too (though IS doesn't recommend its 
use until compatibility issues are resolved). This stack is better 
integrated into Win 95 and has some technical advantages over the LAN 
WorkPlace stack. And it is compatible with some applications from LAN 
WorkPlace:

*       Host Presenter
*       TechMail for Windows
*       TechNotify for Windows
*       Leash
*       LPR Spooler for Windows

However, for the Kerberos-enabled applications in this list (TechMail, 
TechNotify, and Leash) to work, you need to make adjustments to your 
machine's configuration. You also need to edit your autoexec.bat file to 
run these applications on a Win 95 machine. For details, see

http://web.mit.edu/win95/netapps-notes.html/

Information Clearinghouse
For more information about Win 95 and LAN WorkPlace, visit the MIT Win 
95 Home Page at

http://web.mit.edu/win95/

If you're at all interested in putting a Win 95 machine on MITnet, check 
this page often. It is the clearinghouse for information, including news 
about releases of Win 95-compatible network applications.