PC Ext: Using External and Dynamic Drives on Novell NetWare

• Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, versions 3.2 and 3.2a

SUMMARY

In versions 3.2 and 3.2a of Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, when you use the EXTERNAL.EXE program to connect dynamically to a Novell server, and that server is the Novell server that validates the user account on your network, the server will not disconnect the session that EXTERNAL.EXE creates.

MORE INFORMATION

The workstation that runs EXTERNAL.EXE connects to the Novell network, and the workstation shell then sends out a NetWare Core Protocol Language (NCP) request for an active Novell server to validate the user account.

When a server responds, the shell establishes a Not Logged In connection on that server. If EXTERNAL.EXE dynamically connects to the server to deliver messages to a postoffice there, the connection changes to the account name used by the workstation. When EXTERNAL.EXE subsequently dynamically disconnects from the server, the connection at the workstation is terminated (the drive letter used by EXTERNAL.EXE is unmapped) but the server keeps the connection open with the account name, not Not Logged In.

This is normal behavior for Novell, because the server must maintain a connection in order to continue to validate the user account.

NOTE: The shell and Novell NetWare communicate using a language called NetWare Core Protocol (NCP). NCP is used for all client requests for service and for the responses to those requests. NCP is the single most important application layer protocol that NetWare provides. Without NCP, none of the file services offered by NetWare would be possible.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q92369
   TITLE     : Novell NetWare and NCP Calls -- General Information