Advantages of TCP/IP ...vs. IPX/SPX

[jspeicher]

Here is a sample of what I'm looking at:


Your company just bought a new subsidiary based in another city. Your local operation already uses TCP/IP for local networking and Internet. The new subsidiary uses Novell NetWare 4.0 w/ IPX/SPX for local access, and an IPX-to-IP gateway for Internet. What kinds of arguments might you use to persuade the subsidiary to switch their network to TCP/IP?


So far....
The working protocol of the internet = TCP/IP, businesses are moving to/using the internet more than ever. Application protocols developed specifically for TCP/IP such as SMTP, FTP, Telnet, and SNMP.

 

[Kelemvor]

Because all the cool companies already use TCP/IP. IPX is so last year...

 

[melthemoose]

I would respond COST.

when a company standardizes on a single platform/vendor their overall support costs drop rather dramatically (I have seen anywhere from 20-60%, the gartner group puts it around the mid point: 40%). So switching to an IP based network, while incurring the initial cost hit, will in the long run pay itself back.

With IPX applications and the use of the internet, the costs are higher if you are using/implementing VPNs. Encapsulating IPX frames in an IP packet and then encrypting it requires more expensive hardware than doing a straight IPSec VPN.

 

[JeffMD]

There is also the ability to find and hire people who know the protocals. IPX has NO future and is being compleatly phased out. Schools do not have classes on them. IT students are much more likely to learn about and have hands on experience with TCP/IP. IPX users will tend to be older people with experience and demand higher pay checks.

 

[jspeicher]

thank you guys, that really helped.

 

[stash]

That's simple. All versions of Netware previous to 6.5 are not supported.

http://support.novell.com/lifecycle/eoltable.html

 

[spidey07]

even better - reduce network bandwidth and overall slow performance by elminating IPX RIP/SAP broadcasts. Simplify with one network protocol and simplify routing and eliminate split-horizon problems.