DOCUMENT:Q103882 26-FEB-2002 [crossnet] TITLE :Overview: The Network Application Programmer Interface (API) PRODUCT :Windows for Workgroups and Windows NT Networking Issues PROD/VER:: OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbnetwork kbAPI kbSDKPlatform kbNetAPI kbGrpDSNet ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The network application programmer interface (API) is provided to allow applications to access and control network resources programmatically, and to communicate between processes running on different stations. EXAMPLES -------- - NetUseAdd: redirects a local device identifier to a shared network resource. - NetShareAdd: shares a server resource. - NetWkstaSetUID2: logs on to the network. - NetServerEnum2: obtains a list of all servers of specified type(s) that are active in specified domain(s). - DosMakeNmPipe: creates a "named pipe"--a two-way inter-process communication device that can be used to communicate directly from a process on one station to a process on another without using the file system. Most network API calls go directly to the redirector. Some (such as NetUseAdd) go to MS-DOS by way of interrupt x21, which may, in turn, pass the request to the redirector. The redirector resolves some API calls (such as NetServerEnum2) locally, without having to access the network. For other API calls (such as NetUseAdd and NetWkstaSetUID2) the redirector uses the server message block (SMB) protocol to communicate with remote stations in order to effect resolution. Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbnetwork kbAPI kbSDKPlatform kbNetAPI kbGrpDSNet Technology : kbAudDeveloper kbWin32sSearch kbWin32API Version : : ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.