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Different Network Model

Chapter 10 of STREAMS Modules and Drivers, UNIX SVR4.2 describes the TPI interface model. This model is supported in IRIX. When an application uses the TLI library functions such as t_open(), the library uses IRIX-provided TPI STREAMS modules which implement the protocol described in chapter 10.

Chapter 11 of STREAMS Modules and Drivers, UNIX SVR4.2 describes the Data Link Provider Interface (DLPI) as implemented using STREAMS facilities.

The IRIX networking support is not STREAMS-based, but rather is based on BSD ifnet architecture. This is discussed in Chapter 16, "Network Device Drivers." The IRIX network support includes DLPI support as an add-on feature to the ifnet driver interface. If you are porting a network device driver to IRIX, it is better to convert it to the ifnet interface. You can install a DLPI-based network device driver, but only other STREAMS modules could use it--there would be no connection to the rest of the IRIX networking system.


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