IPX/SPX networking on Vista

I have a certain old program that needs to use IPX for networking. It is being used with the Hamachi VPN software (which does support IPX/SPX). I found this site that shows how to get the IPX/SPX protocol on Vista, but for my case it isn't good enough because I also need to be able to change the settings. Is there any other way to get it working on Vista?

The alternative is for me to install Windows 95 in a VM. How would I go about setting up a Windows 95 VM to use IPX over a network?

Macha

Posted 2009-10-11T18:34:44.680

Reputation: 4 772

Answers

Currently there aren't any fixes to install a fully function IPX/SPX networking protocol under Vista or Windows 7. The best you can get is the hack you see on that link.

A VM may or may not be a good alternative depending on what you need to do. A good VM is VMWare, but this isn't a free program. You can however install Windows 9x with IPX/SPX support.

A free alternative is going the emulator way with DOSBox. You can now install Windows95 on it and it also includes support for IPX/SPX.

Personally, if I were you I'd go the DOSbox way before considering VMWare. VMWare support for DOS based virtual machines isn't brilliant anyways and DOSBox makes a much better job at emulating a DOS environment with support for different types of hardware. Until recently installing windows 95 with it was a challenge. But not anymore.

A Dwarf

Posted 2009-10-11T18:34:44.680

Reputation: 17 756

please comment why you downvote an answer, if you feel it is wrong somehow. – A Dwarf – 2009-10-11T19:18:36.903

+1 vmware player is free. apparently the 3.0 RC can create VMs -- it's in beta but that might be good enough. don't know if 95/98 is supported though. http://communities.vmware.com/community/beta/player

– quack quixote – 2009-10-11T21:12:47.983

oops ... i'll have to owe ya one, i'm at the limit. – quack quixote – 2009-10-11T21:13:20.477

I'd suggest Micros~1 Virtual PC as a VM. It may suck for Linux, but it runs Windows and MS-DOS perfectly. – user1686 – 2009-10-12T14:03:01.603

The program in question was Theme Hospital. Conviently, the disc includes both the DOS and Windows versions so DOSBox was perfect (VMWare runs rather slowly on my PC). – Macha – 2009-10-12T16:30:41.923

Without official support I doubt you'll ever find a serious solution, unfortunately.

I've tried the solution you mentioned before to play Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 game, which uses IPX rather than IP, and I could NOT manage to make it work, after that, I've found a patch to use the more modern IP.

I'd go with the second choice, install an OS that supports IPX natively in a VM.
Windows 98 does support IPX, and configuring it should be quite straightforward.

Not very helpful answer, so I made it CW ;)

Moayad Mardini

Posted 2009-10-11T18:34:44.680

Reputation: 3 513

I broke out the old C&C Red Alert too only to be completely dismayed at it's reliance on IPX, I must have spent days trying to figure out a way to get it to work... – Chris Thompson – 2009-10-11T22:38:41.570