Network redirector

In DOS and Windows, a network redirector, or redirector, is an operating system driver that sends data to and receives data from a remote device. A network redirector provides mechanisms to locate, open, read, write, and delete files and submit print jobs.

The network redirector was first implemented in MS-DOS 3.1 in 1984. ^{[1] [2]}

It provides application services such as named pipes and MailSlots. When an application needs to send or receive data from a remote device, it sends a call to the redirector. The redirector provides the functionality of the presentation layer of the OSI model. ^{[3] [4]}

Networks Hosts communicate through use of this client software: Shells, Redirectors and Requesters.

In Microsoft Networking, the network redirectors are implemented as Installable File System (IFS) drivers.

See also

• Universal Naming Convention (UNC)

References

1. Necasek, Michal (2012-06-03). "Redirectors and DOS 3.0". OS/2 Museum. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
2. Duncan, Ray (1989-02-14). "Power Programming: Comparing DOS and OS/2 File Systems". PCMag. 8 (3): 321. ISSN   0888-8507. OCLC   960872918 . Retrieved 2025-10-06. p. 324: …in a thinly disguised form, installable file systems have been supported in DOS for quite a while! The network redirector, which first appeared in DOS Version 3.1, is really just an installable file system.
3. This article is based on material taken from Network+redirector at the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing prior to 1 November 2008 and incorporated under the "relicensing" terms of the GFDL, version 1.3 or later.
4. "OSI REFERENCE MODEL | the A+ Certification & PC Repair Handbook (Charles River Media Networking/Security)".

External links

• Network Redirector Drivers at Microsoft Docs