A network protocol is a set of rules that govern how data is transferred between applications and, in this context, between a client and a database server. These rules specify, among other things, what format data takes when it is sent across the network. An example of a network protocol is TCP/IP.
The rules of a protocol are implemented in a network-protocol driver. A network-protocol driver contains the code that formats the data when it is sent from client to database server and from database server to client.
Clients and database servers gain access to a network driver by way of a network programming interface. A network programming interface contains system calls or library routines that provide access to network-communications facilities. An example of a network programming interface for UNIX is TLI (Transport Layer Interface). The power of a network protocol lies in its ability to enable client/server communication even though the client and database server reside on different computers with different architectures and operating systems.
You can configure the database server to support more than one protocol, but consider this option only if some clients use TCP/IP and some use IPX/SPX.
To determine the supported protocols for your operating system, see Database Server Connection.
To specify which protocol the database server uses, set the nettype field in the sqlhosts file.
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