README.TXT: TCP/IP-32 For Windows For Workgroups 3.11

 Last reviewed: October 14, 1997
Article ID: Q131064

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft TCP/IP-32 for Windows for Workgroups, version 3.11

SUMMARY

This article contains the complete text of the README.TXT file included with the Microsoft TCP/IP-32 For Windows For Workgroups 3.11.

Note that this article reflects the text of a static document. Therefore, some of the information in this article may be outdated. For example, as of May 20, 1996, Microsoft no longer maintains support forums on CompuServe.

MORE INFORMATION

RELEASE NOTES FOR MICROSOFT(R) TCP/IP-32 FOR WINDOWS(TM) FOR WORKGROUPS 3.11 

                    PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT

General

This product is compatible with, and supported exclusively on, the Microsoft Windows For Workgroups 3.11 platform.

If you are running a different TCP/IP product on your system, you must remove it before installing Microsoft TCP/IP-32. If you experience difficulties with another vendor's product, remove the existing TCP/IP stack, exit Network Setup completely, reboot your system, and then proceed to add the Microsoft TCP/IP-32 drivers by following the instructions given in the documentation.

Known Problems

There have been a number of reports on IBM TokenRing, EtherLink III cards, and ODI drivers that are related to bugs in drivers other than TCP/IP-32.

These Windows For Workgroups 3.11 patches are described in the following Application Notes: 

 WG0990 (contains updated ELNK3.386)
 WG0988 (contains updated IBMTOK.386)
 WG1004 (contains updated MSODISUP.386)
You can obtain these Application Notes from the following sources:
  • The Internet (ftp.microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)
  • Microsoft Product Support Services

Application Notes are available by modem from the Microsoft Download Service (MSDL), which you can reach by calling (425) 936-6735. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The highest download speed available is 14,400 bits per second (bps). For more information about using the MSDL, call (800) 936-4200 and follow the prompts.

Previous Beta Users

If you had installed a previous beta of the Microsoft TCP/IP-32 for Windows for Workgroups product, you may encounter one of the following errors: 

  "Setup Error 108: Could not create or open the protocol.ini file."
  "Setup Error 110: Could not find or open win.ini."
If this happens do the following:

  1. Remove any previous versions of Microsoft TCP/IP-32.

  2. Exit Network Setup and restart your system.

  3. Rename any OEMx.INF (where x is any number) files that are in your WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.

  4. Go back into Network Setup and install Microsoft TCP/IP-32 following the installation instructions in the manual.

Mosaic

NCSA's Win32s version of their popular Mosaic application requires that you pick up version 115a or greater of the Win32s distribution to function correctly.

DHCP Automatic Configuration

DHCP is a new TCP/IP protocol that provides the ability to acquire TCP/IP addressing and configuration dynamically with no user intervention. DHCP depends on your network administrator to set up a DHCP server on your network. A DHCP server is scheduled to ship as part of Windows NT(TM) Server version 3.5.

If you enable automatic DHCP configuration without a DHCP server available on your network, the following message will appear after approximately a 10 second black-screen delay during the Windows for Workgroups booting process: 

  "The DHCP client was unable to obtain an IP network address from a DHCP
   server. Do you want to see future DHCP messages?"
This message means that TCP/IP has initialized but without any addressing information. If you are running TCP/IP as your only protocol, you will not have access to the network. This situation requires that you go back to the TCP/IP configuration settings, disable DHCP, and manually specify your TCP/IP network parameters. If you are running multiple protocols, you should have access to your network with these.

If you do have a DHCP server on your network and this message appears, this indicates that the server was unavailable and that your lease has expired. DHCP will (in the background) continue to try to acquire a valid lease while Windows for Workgroups continues to run (although you will not have TCP/IP functionality). If you are running with DHCP automatic configuration, use the IPCONFIG utility to learn your IP configuration.

DHCP Options

The following changes are not reflected in the TCP/IP-32 documentation.

Currently Microsoft DHCP clients support only the following options:

  • DHCP protocol options 

          - DHCP message type (53)
      - Lease Time (51), Renewal Time (58), Rebind Time (59)
  • Information options: 

          - Subnet Mask (1)
      - Default Router (3)
      - DNS Server (6)
      - WINS Server (NetBIOS Name Server) (44)
      - NetBIOS Node Type (46)
      - NetBIOS Scope Id (47)

Any other options received by the client are ignored and discarded.

No Option Overlays - Option Limit Is 336 Bytes

The DHCP client does not recognize option overlays. If a non-Microsoft server is sending the options, make sure that either all the options fit within the standard option field, or at least that those used by the Microsoft clients (listed above) are contained in the standard Option field. Since the Microsoft client only supports a subset of the defined DHCP option types, 336 bytes should be sufficient for any configuration.

Ipconfig - Moving Client to New Address

When a DHCP client is moved to a new reserved address or is moved from an address to make way for an exclusion or another client's reservation, the client should first release its current address using ipconfig /release. This may be followed by ipconfig /renew to get a new address.

ARP Conflicts - Report to DHCP Server Administrator

Before the TCP/IP stack comes up with the address acquired via DHCP, the stack ARPs for the address. If a machine is already running with this address, the client will display a popup informing the user of the address conflict. Users should contact the CP server administrator when this occurs. Once the server has excluded the conflicting address, the client should get a new address using ipconfig /renew. If this is unsuccessful, the client may need to reboot.

NetBIOS over TCP/IP

Multihomed Computer NetBIOS Node Type

A computer can be one of four NetBIOS node types: broadcast node, mixed node, point-to-point node, or hybrid node. The node type cannot be specified per network adapter card. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to have one or more network adapter cards function as broadcast nodes and other network adapter cards to function as hybrids.

You accomplish this by setting the node type to broadcast node, and configuring WINS name server addresses for the network adapter cards that will function as hybrids. The presence of the WINS addresses will effectively override the broadcast node setting for the adapters on which they are set.

To make an adapter a broadcast node, configure DHCP to set the node type to Bnode, or in the absence of DHCP, the computer will assume Bnode behavior by default.

Including Remote LMHOSTS Files

You must modify the Registry of a remote computer if network clients will #INCLUDE the LMHOSTS file on the remote Windows NT computer. The share containing the LMHOSTS file must be in the Null Sessions list on the Server by adding the share name to the following Windows NT Registry key: 

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services
   \LanManServer\Parameters\NullSessionShares

Microsoft TCP/IP Workstations with UB NetBIOS Name Servers

The Microsoft clients can be configured to use a UB name server by adding the SYSTEM.INI parameter RefreshOpCode under the [NBT] section. Set its value to 9 to interoperate with UB name servers.

NetDDE Applications Communicating over Subnets via LMHOSTS

If you are connecting to a remote machine via a NetDDE application, using a #PRE LMHOSTS entry, you must have a separate entry specifying a special character in the 16th byte: 

 138.121.43.100  REMOTEDDE       #PRE
 138.121.43.100  "REMOTEDDE      \0x1F"
A special entry is not required if #PRE is not used.

Browsing Resources on Remote IP Subnetworks

Browsing remote IP subnetworks requires a Windows NT computer on the local subnet.

Using File Manager to Access Servers Specified in LMHOSTS

Reading and parsing LMHOSTS to resolve a name is done by the NBT driver at run time. This operation is not permissible under certain conditions. One such condition commonly encountered is when a network connection is attempted from the File Manager. The result is that the name is reported as 'not resolved' even if the name exists in LMHOSTS file (since the driver wasn't even allowed to open LMHOSTS file). The workaround for such conditions is to put a #PRE against the name in the LMHOSTS file. This causes the name to be stored in the name cache when the machine is first initialized, so the name gets resolved without the driver having to open LMHOSTS at run time.

IP Routing

Multiple Default Gateways in Microsoft TCP/IP Act as Backup Gateways When more than one default gateway is specified for a given IP network or for multiple IP networks on different network cards, the first default gateway for the first network card is always used to route IP network traffic. All the subsequent gateways are used as backup when the first default gateway is discovered to be unavailable. The Dead Gateway Detection mechanism is used only with TCP (connection-oriented traffic). Therefore, utilities like PING will only use the first default gateway. Notice that t his only applies to IP datagrams that have to be routed to a remote network (that is, to a network to which the workstation is not directly connected).

FTP

FTP is implemented in a Windows console in this release. It is not presently hooked to the Microsoft TCP/IP-32 Help file, although the Help file does have FTP command summaries in it. Many of the documented command line options are supported, although they require you to modify your FTP Program Item manually.

The FTP application which ships with this product does not support the "!" command, which typically invokes a user shell.

ODI Driver Support

Due to system restrictions, TCP/IP-32 cannot support more than one network adapter using ODI drivers. Multihomed configurations are supported using NDIS drivers only.

If after installing TCP/IP-32 you have problems accessing the network over your ODI drivers, please make sure that the syntax and frame types listed in your NET.CFG file are correct for your network.

DNS Resolution Hierarchy

The Microsoft TCP/IP-32 stack uses various means to resolve a host name to get the IP address of a certain host. The various mechanisms used are Local Cached Information, Hosts File, DNS Servers, and NetBIOS name resolution mechanisms. The default resolution order for resolving a host name is Local Cached Information -> Hosts File -> DNS Servers -> NetBt (NetBIOS over TCP/IP). NetBIOS over TCP/IP name resolution can consist of local subnet broadcasts, and/or querying the Windows Internet Names Server (WINS) running on Windows NT Servers.

Your Guide to Service and Support for Microsoft TCP/IP-32

Microsoft Support: Network Advanced Systems Products Support Options

The following support services are available from Microsoft for Microsoft Advanced Systems products, including Microsoft Mail Server and its gateways, SQL Server, LAN Manager, Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server, and SNA Server.

Electronic Services

Microsoft Forums

These forums are provided through the CompuServe Information Service, (800) 848-8199, representative 230 (sales information only). Access is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

These forums enable an interactive technical dialog between users as well as remote access to the Microsoft Knowledge Base of product information, which is updated daily. These forums are monitored by Microsoft support engineers for technical accuracy. If you are already a subscriber, type "GO <forum name>" at any ! prompt. 

   MSCLIENT    Microsoft Network Client support
   WINNT       Microsoft Windows NT support
   MSSQL       Microsoft SQL Server support
   MSWRKGRP    Microsoft Windows for Workgroups support
   MSNETWORKS  Microsoft LAN Manager support
   MSAPP       Microsoft applications support
   MSWIN32     Information on Win32
   MSDR        Development-related discussion forum
   WINEXT      Support for extensions and drivers for Windows
   WINSDK      Support for Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit

Microsoft Download Service

Use the Microsoft Download Service (MSDL) to access the latest technical notes on common advanced system products support issues via modem. MSDL is at (425) 936-6735, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays (1200, 2400, or 9600 baud; no parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit).

Internet

Use the Internet to access the Microsoft Driver Library and Microsoft Knowledge Base. The Microsoft Internet FTP archive host FTP.MICROSOFT.COM (ip address 198.105.232.1) supports anonymous login. When logging in as anonymous, please offer your complete e-mail name as your password.

Telephone Support

Microsoft FastTips

An interactive, automated system providing support at no charge through toll lines and accessed by touch-tone phone. FastTips provides fast access to answers to common questions and a library of technical notes delivered by phone recording or fax. FastTips is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Microsoft Advanced Systems products (800) 936-4400

Additional Information

For additional information about Microsoft support options or for a list of Microsoft Solution Providers, call the Microsoft Sales and Information Group at (800) 936-3500, Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., Pacific time, excluding holidays.

This list includes only domestic support programs.

Microsoft's customer support services are subject to Microsoft's then-current price, terms, and conditions.

Additional query words: 3.11 wfwg wfw
Keywords : nttcp kbnetwork kbref
Version : 3.11
Platform : WINDOWS

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: October 14, 1997
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