ater mux layer
There is an interdependence between the two layers i.e the driver and the protocol layer of a network driver. VxWorks implements a layer in between the IP and datalink, thus eliminating the interdependence between the two layers. The intermediate layer is known as the MUX layer.
In an ordinary TCP /IP the IP layer is linked to the datalink layer. To implement a new protocol at the IP Layer level, the corresponding driver has to be written or to write a new driver the corresponding protocol has to be taken into account.
MUX is a set of library routines, which decouples the IP layer and the datalink layer. This provides the flexibility and ease in implementing a new network protocol or a network device driver. For implementing a protocol one need not bother about the driver or vice versa. Even a third party protocol can communicate with the MUX.
When an applications wishes to send a packet to the network, the IP layer puts that packet on to the MUX layer rather than sending it to the driver. Similarly when a packet is received, the END puts it on to the MUX.MUX communicates with the IP layer with functions for various services.