Software Registration Information for Network Components

Because installation of a network adapter card results in separate Registry entries for the driver and for the adapter, the Software subtree will contain several subkeys to describe the network component. For each network component, a special subkey named NetRules is created in the appropriate driver or adapter registration subkeys. The NetRules subkey identifies the network component as part of the network ensemble.

For example, the standard software registration entry for the Etherlink II driver will appear under this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft    \Elinkii\CurrentVersion

The standard entries for the driver might include the following values:

Description = 3Com Etherlink II Adapter Driver
InstallDate = 0x2a4e01c5
...
RefCount = 0x1
ServiceName = Elnkii
SoftwareType = driver
Title = 3Com Etherlink II Adapter Driver

And under the Etherlink II driver's related NetRules subkey, these value entries might appear:

bindable = elnkiiDriver elnkiiAdapter non exclusive
bindform = "ElnkIISys" yes no container
class = REG_MULTI_SZ "elnkiiDriver basic" 
Infname = OEMNADE2.INF
InfOption = ELNKII
type = elnkiiSys ndisDriver elnkiiDriver
use = driver

The Etherlink adapter is described in a NetworkCards subkey under this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
    \Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkCards\netcard#

The standard entries for the adapter might include these values:

Description = 3Com Etherlink II Adapter 
InstallDate = 0x2a4e01c5
Manufacturer = Microsoft
ProductName = Elnkii
ServiceName = Elnkii02
Title = [01] 3Com Etherlink II Adapter 

And these value entries might appear under the adapter's related NetRules subkey:

bindform = "Elnkii02" yes yes container
class = "elnkiiAdapter basic" 
Infname = OEMNADE2.INF
InfOption = ELNKII
type = elnkii elnkiiAdapter

The value entries for the NetRules subkeys are defined in Chapter 14, "Registry Entry Values." The information in the main entries for network adapters and drivers is maintained by the system and should not be changed by users.