NCSA Mosaic for MS Windows User Guide: WinSock

WinSock Explained

Windows NT and Win95

The Windows NT and Windows95 operating systems have built-in support for the TCP/IP and OLE communications protocol information. Windows NT and Windows 95 users do not need to install a third-party winsock software on their systems.

NOTE: A Windows problem exists between the 32-bit system and the 16-bit subsystem if you are using Windows 95 and a 16-bit winsock like Trumpet, Spry, or Chameleon. Win32 applications cannot communicate with the 16-bit subsystem for winsock services. NCSA recommends you use the native Windows 95 TCP/IP protocol support. See "14. How do I configure the Windows 95 winsock?" on page H-4 for information about setting up the software.

Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11

The Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 operating systems do not have built-in support for the winsock. If you use one of these operating systems, you must install one of the following winsocks on your system if you plan to search the Internet.

winsock.dll

The winsock.dll provides the necessary TCP/IP networking environment under Windows. TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is the data transfer method used by the World Wide Web and the Internet.

A number of companies are developing WinSock software. The choice of which winsock to use is governed by several factors.

Your options are:

  1. Purchase a commercial product. (If you already use network software, this is your only choice.)
  2. Download, evaluate, and purchase the Shareware winsock.dll from Trumpet International Software.
  3. Download and use the freely available Chameleon Sampler from NetManage Inc.