Networking 1 min read

ODI

Last Updated May 24, 2021 1:50 pm

Short for Open Data-link Interface, an application programming interface (API) developed by Novell for writing network drivers. ODI separates the physical network layer (the Data-Link Layer in the OSI model) from the network protocol layer (the Transport Layer). As a result, the same network interface card (NIC) can be used to carry data for different protocols. For example, ODI allows a computer with just one NIC to be simultaneously connected to both an IPX/SPX network and a TCP/IP network.

Was this Article helpful? Yes No

Thank you for your feedback. 0% 0%

About the author

Webopedia Staff

Since 1995, more than 100 tech experts and researchers have kept Webopedia’s definitions, articles, and study guides up to date. For more information on current editorial staff, please visit our About page.