NetWare® Loadable Module™ (NLM) applications are the building blocks used to customize the NetWare OS. NLM applications are built to run in server memory with the NetWare OS, or starting with NetWare 5.0, they can be also loaded into protected address space.
You can load or unload NLM applications to or from server memory while the server is running. After an NLM is loaded on a server, the NLM becomes part of the OS. As such, it can directly access NetWare services provided by that server without using a service protocol such as the Novell® NCP™ service. NLM applications can also call functions that use NCP services for access to remote servers.
NLM applications add openness, modularity, and flexibility to the NetWare operating system because they can
Be loaded and unloaded as needed.
Allocate and deallocate memory as needed.
Link with and access the NetWare operating system and other NLM applications.
NLM applications, such as print and communication servers and server-based utilities, enable NetWare users to extend the flexibility and capability of their networks.