Specifies the data format for frames when using the NWLink protocol on machines running Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 2000. Two machines on a network using NWLink or IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol must be using the same frame type to communicate. NWLink on Windows NT and Windows 2000 can listen to IPX/SPX traffic on the network and automatically configure itself to use the network frame type, which is usually:
The following table shows the frame types supported by NWLink.
| Network Topology | Frame Types Supported | ||||
| Ethernet II | 802.2 | 802.3 | SNAP | 802.5 | |
| Ethernet | x | x | x | x | |
| Token Ring | x | x | |||
| FDDI | x | x | |||
The NWLink property sheet on Windows NT and Windows 2000 Server allows you to configure NWLink to use multiple frame types if needed. NWLink on Windows NT and Windows 2000 Server is configured by default to be automatically detected when NWLink is first loaded. But if multiple frame types are detected, including 802.2, the 802.2 frame type will be selected by default. NWLink on Windows NT Workstation and Windows 2000 Professional can be configured for multiple frame types only by editing the registry.