You would know if you had the 64 bit editions because you would have paid a lot more for it.  Normal consumer Windows is 32 bit Windows.  64 bit Windows is only sold with high end workstations. 

Steve

What are you actually out to achieve with IPX/SPX as this is an old network protocol now - even Novell (the creators of this protocol) themselves recognised that IP was the way to go and put IPv4  as the Native transport in Novell 5.0 rather than IPX/SPX

Are you trying to set up multiplayer LAN game of some sort ?

This can be done with multicast IP - which uses a special IP address range (Class D = 224.0.0.0 -> 239.255.255.255) and can usually be configured on the main Multiplayer Host server.

yes sentinel i am out to achieve a multiplayer LAN of some sort. Red Alert is the game (it is old you may not have heard of it) anyway it must use this protocal to work on a network, um could you explain more in depth whatt his means: "This can be done with multicast IP - which uses a special IP address range (Class D = 224.0.0.0 -> 239.255.255.255) and can usually be configured on the main Multiplayer Host server".  Thanks for the info

Yes - I have heard of Red Alert and even played it too..........I just dug out my old copy and manual - and it does seem it only supports IPX.

Most modern games (e.g Half Life, Age of Empires etc etc) use Multicast IP for multi player games - as this is ideally suited for that environment. There needs to be a hosting server (Multicast Source) which all other players listen or "receive " information from. Other users then simply join a multi-player game by "joining" the multicast group -e.g 239.10.20.5 - which is advertied by the IP network.

But back to Red Alert C & C.....two options come to  mind :

(1) See if the authors of Red ALert (Westwood Studios) have a multicast patch or add-on for the game - rather than just IPX.

(2) Add IPX/SPX as a network protocol to your network adaptors. There will be more LAN traffic as IPX is a "chatty" protocol sending SAP messages - (Service Advertisent Protocol) every sixty seconds - as well as IPX RIP(Routing information Protocol) every sixty seconds too.

well i will see if westwood has a patch for it i doubt if they do though cause i went to their FAQ's on how to set up a network game and they said for their older games (Red Alert 2 and down) all had to have ipx/spx protocal.  I already added ipx protocal to my list and installed it, but the network option is still hidden when i go into the game.

Im not exactly clear on all of this: "Be aware that IPX/SPX is not transported over the Iternet or routers automtically - your fellow players will need to be on the same local LAN ( on the same switch ports) for this to work. Routers can be configured to forward/route IPX inforamtion - but need to be multi-protocol routers such as Cisco routers. "

However my network only consists of 3 computers, one i had no trouble setting up ipx and hosting a server, but it has windows 98 which explains alot.  Also i wont have to go across routers i only have 1 network hub so theyll all be on the same local LAN i believe, but you said it has to be a multi-protocal router.  Im not sure if mine is, its a: 5 port Belkin 10/100BT ethernet switch if that tells you anything i dont know.

fish

Im not exactly clear on all of this: "Be aware that IPX/SPX is not transported over the Iternet or routers automtically - your fellow players will need to be on the same local LAN ( on the same switch ports) for this to work. Routers can be configured to forward/route IPX inforamtion - but need to be multi-protocol routers such as Cisco routers. "

Your 3 PC's are effectively on the same LAN (switch ports) so this will not be a problem.....

I just wanted to point out a scenqrio - where if you wanted to play with a colleague two miles away and therefore over the Internet - you would have problems getting IPX to work without a multi protocol router.

In my old Red Alert notes it says if RD does not detect multiplayer game - then try changing the "Socket Number" from its default to "0 to 16383".  This can be done by running the RD setup program.

actually i do play against my friend 2 miles away but i do that over the modem LOL.  Ok so my comps are on the same network thats good, um im not sure what RD setup program is or how to run it so, OH  wait i just found it in the start menu but it has 2 options here:  under optional information it says: socket number ______

and destination address ________.

theres nothing currently in either box, does   "changing the "Socket Number" from its default to "0 to 16383"

mean to put 0 in the first blank (socket number) and 16383 in the second blank (destination address)

Just enter a value for the "socket number " say "900" and leave the destination address blank.

Each PC will need to use the same socket number "900 - in your case" for each Red Alert game to recognise each other.....so just need to repeat this sequence on other PC's.

Hope this works 

thanx alot sentinel ill try entering 900 and see what happens, also i went wo westwood and they said that the frame type should be 802.3. mine is on auto detect and every time  i try to change it my computer freezes up. any ideas to that or should i just leave it on auto detect?

-fish

Browsing around various sites this seems to be a common issue RA2 - people having big problems with multiplayer LAN mode.........so you are not alonei, There was also talk of the v1.006 patch - have you applied this patch for RA2.

The LAN encapsulation is important - as Novel IPX has slightly different format of Ethernet frame than 802.3 - hence why RAW or Ethernet 2 is sometimes used

Leave it at Auto for the moment - goto your Network card where you added  NWLink PX/SPX/NetBIOS compatible Transport Protocol - select properties and enter a Network Number - (e.g.  2222)

Make this the same value  on each PC on your LAN.  IPX will send packets with structure....and I'm assuming your IPX network address is still blank or zero.

p.s. is the patch you talked about for RA2 or red alert 1? cause a patch would be the best solution for this.

thanks, fish

"Leave it at Auto for the moment - goto your Network card where you added  NWLink PX/SPX/NetBIOS compatible Transport Protocol - select properties and enter a Network Number - (e.g.  2222)

Make this the same value  on each PC on your LAN.  IPX will send packets with structure....and I'm assuming your IPX network address is still blank or zero."

do you mean put the network number or internal network number to 2222?

either way i believe my computer will freeze up and network connection properties stops responding.  when i end task my desktop disappeares and i have to logoff with control alt delete

Leave the Internal network number alone for the moment - just try changing the Nework number

There are various patches out there - this was the best site I came across for history/versions and patc info - have  browse

http://ra.afraid.org/html/ra/versions.html