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How do I install additional network protocols like IPX or Netbeui?

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In one of your other articles you mentioned that it might sometimes be easier to connect computers on a small LAN using a networking protocol other than TCP/IP - you mentioned IPX and Netbeui. Great, so how do I do that?

TCP/IP is the protocol of the internet (in fact, the I stands for Internet), so anything you do on the internet requires that you use TCP/IP.

TCP/IP can be a little difficult to set up at times, though, because it requires things like routers and subnets and DNS ... oh my! If all you want is a few machines on a small local area network, different protocols might be easier to setup.

Protocols like IXP/SPX and Netbeui are less efficient, and even somewhat less secure, than TCP/IP, but on a small network that may simply not be an issue. Also, with TCP/IP being the predominant network protocol these days, not all applications, and not all networking hardware support other protocols.

But the good news is that for simply sharing files and printers across a local area network, once installed, these protocols usually "just work".

Let's install IPX.

In Control Panel, open up Network Connections:

Network Connections Window

Right click on Local Area Connection, and click on Properties, and this dialog results:

Local Area Connection Properties Dialog

Click on the Install... button, and this dialog appears:

Network Component Selection Dialog

Click on Protocol, and click Add.... After a few seconds, a dialog similar to this will appear:

Network Protocol Selection Dialog

Click on the NWLink IPX/SPX... protocol, and click OK. The protocol will be installed.

Once you're done, you'll return to the Properties dialog, only this time the new protocol will be listed:

Local Area Connection Properties Dialog (with IPX)

Click on Close, and it's likely you'll then need to reboot your machine for the installation to complete.

Now you'll note that Netbeui was not one of the options. That's because technically Netbeui is no longer a supported protocol by Microsoft. However, they still include the drivers on the Windows XP CD-ROM. The process is similar to what we just did for IPX, but rather than walk through it again, an article in the Microsoft Knowledgebase details How to install Netbeui on Windows XP.

Which protocol you'll actually want is somewhat vague, because it depends on what problem you're attempting to solve, and what your applications and networking equipment support. But do remember this: you will need TCP/IP to talk to anything on the internet. Fortunately, you can have more than one protocol installed at the same time.

Related:

Article 9265 | Posted October 11, 2005

Recent Comments
0 Comments

hi, i've install the protocol on both computer. however, i can't see the other computer in my workgroup except for itself in my new computer. as for my old computer, theres nothing in workgroup.

Posted by: Chris at January 2, 2006 7:03 AM

I can't even install IPX the option isn't their. Is their any otherway to install IPX in XP??

Posted by: billyboy at February 3, 2006 2:56 AM

you are like totally cool and you changed my life. thank you for your help, solving my weird problems. u roxxx like the all and like stuff.

Posted by: rene at June 19, 2006 1:07 PM

ummmm, i did what u said, so far anyways, and i cant
find any thing in the ''Select Network Protocol'' except for network monitor driver. I cant find anything else

Posted by: joe ken at April 20, 2008 6:45 PM

Is it possible to install the IPX protocol on Windows Vista? If so, how?
thanks!

Posted by: Michael at May 2, 2008 10:41 PM

the installing ipx/spx protocol isnt there for my computer
wat can i do to have it installed?

Posted by: tommy at July 25, 2008 11:49 AM

when trying to install ipx like explained above. windows xp prompts me with : "unable to find any drivers for this device" this happends when i click add under install protocol. THe (latest)drivers for my integrated lan (3com 3c920) havve been installed.
I have tried many options but nothing works.

Regards Mark

Posted by: mark at August 7, 2008 7:58 AM

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