WinSock

Windows sockets
Winsock

   <networking, standard> (Winsock) A specification for
   {Microsoft Windows} network software, describing how
   applications can access network services, especially {TCP/IP}.
   Winsock is intended to provide a single {API} to which
   application developers should program and to which multiple
   network software vendors should conform.  For any particular
   version of {Microsoft Windows}, it defines a binary interface
   ({ABI}) such that an application written to the Windows
   Sockets API can work with a conformant {protocol}
   implementation from any network software vendor.

   Winsock was conceived at Fall Interop '91 during a {Birds of a
   Feather} session.

   Windows Sockets is supported by {Microsoft Windows}, {Windows
   for Workgroups}, {Win32s}, {Windows 95} and {Windows NT}.  It
   will support protocols other than {TCP/IP}.  Under {Windows
   NT}, {Microsoft} will provide Windows Sockets support over
   {TCP/IP} and {IPX}/{SPX}.  {DEC} will be implementing
   {DECNet}.  {Windows NT} will include mechanisms for multiple
   {protocol} support in Windows Sockets, both 32-bit and 16 bit.

   Mark Towfiq said, "The next rev. of Winsock will not be until
   toward the end of 1993.  We need 1.1 of the {API} to become
   firmly settled and implemented first."

   Windows Sockets API
   (ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/micro/pc-stuff/ms-windows/winsock).
   or (ftp://microdyne.com/pub/winsock) or send a message
   "help" to either <[email protected]> or
   <[email protected]>.

   Windows Sockets specification (ftp://rhino.microsoft.com).

   Currently NetManage (NEWT), Distinct, FTP and Frontier are
   shipping Winsock {TCP/IP} stacks, as is {Microsoft} (Windows
   NT and {TCP/IP} for WFW), Beame & Whiteside Software (v1.1
   compliant), and Sun PC-NFS.  Windows 95 has "dial-up
   networking" which supports Winsock and TCP/IP.

   winsock.dll is available from some {TCP/IP} stack vendors.
   {Novell} has one in beta for their {Lan Workplace} for {DOS}.

   Peter Tattam <[email protected]> is
   alpha-testing a shareware Windows Sockets compliant {TCP/IP}
   stack (ftp://ftp.utas.edu.au/pc/trumpet/winsock/winsock.zip).
   and (ftp://ftp.utas.edu.au/pc/trumpet/winsock/winpkt.com).

   The Consummate Winsock App List
   (http://wwwvms.utexas.edu/~Neuroses/cwsapps.html).

   [Adapted from: Aboba, Bernard D., comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc
   Frequently Asked Questions, 1993 Usenet: news:news.answers,
   (ftp://netcom1.netcom.com/pub/mailcom/IBMTCP/)].

   [Current status?]

   (1996-06-20)