Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

network redirector
     
         An {operating system} {driver} that sends data to
        and receives data from a remote device.  A network redirector
        often provides mechanisms to locate, open, read, write, and
        delete files and submit print jobs.
     
        It also makes available application services such as {named
        pipes} and {mailslots}.  When an application needs to send or
        receive data from a remote device, it sends a call to the
        redirector.  The redirector provides the functionality of the
        {Application layer} and {Presentation layer} of the {OSI}
        model.
     
        In {Microsoft Networking}, the network redirectors are
        implemented as {installable file systems} (IFS).
     
        (1999-08-08)