Share Names Greater Than 12 Characters Cause Errors on Clients

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51 and 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51 and 4.0
• Microsoft Network Client version 3.0 for MS-DOS
• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11
• Microsoft LAN Manager version 2.2c
• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you browse a Window NT computer using the NET VIEW command from a Windows 95 or a Windows for Workgroups computer, the following error message appears:

   Error 234: Additional data is available.

   NET3513: More data is available than can be returned by LAN Manager.

   An internal LAN Manager error occurred.

CAUSE

These errors can occur if a share name of the Windows NT computer is greater than 12 characters and/or contains a space.

RESOLUTION

Make sure that all the share names on the Windows NT computer are 12 characters or less and do not contain any spaces.

MORE INFORMATION

To ensure that the problems above do not occur, Windows NT File Manager, Server Manager and the NET SHARE command do not allow share names greater than 12 characters. In addition, if the share name exceeds the 8.3 directory naming size, the following message appears when you attempt to share the directory in Windows NT:

   This sharename <share name> is not accessible from some MS-DOS
   workstations. Are you sure you want to use this sharename?

In Windows NT 4.xx, under the “Add Printer” wizard you will no longer received any warnings about name length. Also under Windows 4.0 Explorer you will not receive any warnings. Remember when browsing the browser returns ALL share names so even ONE name will prevent the ENTIRE list from being returned. So, for example, a too long data share name will prevent all printers from being browsed.

However, the Windows NT Resource Kit utility, RMTSHARE.EXE, allows you to create a share name that exceeds 12 characters. When you share a directory that exceeds the 8.3 directory naming size using Rmtshare, the message above does not appear. Therefore, there is no warning that the share name you create is not accessible from an MS-DOS networking client computer or Windows for Workgroups.

If you use the NET USE command or Explorer in Windows 95, you are able to successfully connect to the network share that exceeds 12 characters on the Windows NT computer. If you use the NET USE command in Windows for Workgroups, you are able to successfully connect to the same share. However, you cannot connect to the same share using File Manager in Windows for Workgroups. If you use the NET USE command from any of the MS-DOS client computers, you cannot connect to the share.

The following is a sample Rmtshare command line syntax, which you can use to create a share name that is greater than 12 characters:

   rmtshare \\NT_Server\Thirteen_char=c:\MyDir