Windows TCPIP Stack Based on Unix ?


Recommended Posts

Windows' TCP/IP stack is indeed based on the TCP/IP stack from *BSD. I got it confirmed secondhand from a leading developer at Microsoft who attended a *BSD event.

However, Microsoft is apparently coming out with a new TCP/IP stack in Vista, and I believe at least one version of IIS comes with its own TCP/IP stack (since they goofed the TCP/IP stack in Windows causing it to suffer in case you have MANY connections). I do not know whether these TCP/IP stacks have the same heritage.

I've heard that the the TCP/IP stack is borrowed straight from BSD, so yes.

586627300[/snapback]

That is true of the released Windows versions that I know about. (XP, not 100% sure, but I think so)

Based off of BSD, and properly includes the copyright information that Berkeley requires.

yes, WinSock is pretty much a direct implementation of BSD sockets, and all the utilities (ping, traceert, etc.) are ports of the BSD utilities.

if you look at the string resources, you will find the BSD copyright.

unfortunatley, while BSD Sockets are great, windows version of them are bad :no:

That is true of the released Windows versions that I know about.  (XP, not 100% sure, but I think so)

Based off of BSD, and properly includes the copyright information that Berkeley requires.

586627395[/snapback]

Absolutely confirmed, MarkJ

:yes:

Vista has a totally new TCP/IP Stack as well.

--ScottKin

The IP Stack was based upon a Unix Stack, which was owned by MS. MS tinkered and castrated the stack for he workstation versions only. They did optimize it in the Windows 2003 releases, and will have a full replacement for Vista and Longhorn server.

Most forget that MS one sold a version of Unix call Xenix. The purchased a lot of the ATT rights and patents, and then CYA, (a legal move more then anything) with the SCO lawsuit.

The IP Stack was based upon a Unix Stack, which was owned by MS.

586627462[/snapback]

While Microsoft did technically 'buy' their TCP/IP stack from Spider Systems, they did not "own" it. Spider used the code available and written for BSD, so it doesn't appear that Microsoft directly copied BSD code (which, again, it is perfectly legal and legitimate to copy), they got it from a third party. Also ftp, rcp and rsh seems to have come with the bundle. I have heard that ftp was, but have never used rcp and rsh on Windows, so don't know what version(s) those were or were not included in any particular Windows version.

Anyone can look through the .exes for those files and look for "The Regents of the University of California" copyright notice, if they want to see for themselves (rather than take the word of some anonymous geeks on a forum) ;)

MS recieved and owned the rights for the code that was used in Xenix, that it had recieved from ATT, read the docs on the MS 'Settlement' in which MS paid SCO a 'fee' to cover the rest of the code they did not, in exchange MS granted full access to there libary of code on Unix to SCO, (increased the base code that SCO could use for sueing over, since they now had full rights, and not just limited).

Spider may have orginal written the code, but MS based the IP stack on Xenix code, which still had other copywrite codes attached. MS did own the code, and they did and still do hold a large peice of the ATT - Unix code rights that they purchased.

They did not use the code base for OS/2, which had it own IP stack from IBM.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Lilly Livered American Media Are Scared
    • Really? Despite the memory price rises, nothing can kill it? I thought something would.
    • I think there will be a 27H1 for actual users of 26H1 The 25h2 supports ARM too : Snapdragon X, Snapdragon X Plus and Snapdragon X Elite
    • Poll: Grand Theft Auto VI price predictions, cast your vote by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe After years of waiting, Rockstar will be solidifying the launch date of Grand Theft Auto VI with the launch of pre-orders next week. While the studio has confirmed a date for this occasion, it is yet to attach a price to the highly anticipated game. So let's see what our readers think it will cost at launch. The Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders will kick off on June 25 for digital and physical editions. Unless some last-minute changes happen, the release date will be November 19, 2026, across Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. Unfortunately, there's still no information about a PC version from the developer or the publisher Take-Two. Now the question becomes, how much will Grand Theft Auto VI cost at launch? The game is predicted by some analysts to be the biggest launch of an entertainment product ever. With the amount of hype that has been built behind it and with ballooning development costs, Take-Two may price this Grand Theft Auto entry differently from other AAA titles. The current price of a AAA game is $69.99. That norm almost rose to $79.99 before calming down. But with such a massive release, Grand Theft Auto VI may be the game that pushes the boundary again. It's also possible that Take-Two keeps the price relatively low to increase the number of players that jump in early and keep them hooked on Grand Theft Auto Online to spend on microtransactions for years to come. Keep in mind that the below poll is asking for a prediction of the standard edition price, not a deluxe or any other special edition that Take-Two will introduce for additional benefits. Also, there is the chance of the company splitting up the campaign and online portions. If you think that will happen, put your vote on what you think will be the total cost of the two. Poll Poll: How much will Grand Theft Auto VI cost? $59.99 $69.99 $79.99 $89.99 $100 or more Submit Vote If you have a very specific prediction in mind, sound off in the comments below.
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Year In
      hhgygy earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Month Later
      AMV earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      AMV earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Collaborator
      ryansurfer98 went up a rank
      Collaborator
    • One Month Later
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      513
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      171
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      82
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      74
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      72
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!