Using Systems Management Server Remote Control over a RAS Server

• Microsoft Systems Management Server versions 1.0 and 1.1

SYMPTOMS

When you use Systems Management Server to remotely control a client through a Windows NT Remote Access Service (RAS) server, this error message appears:

   Unable to locate <computer name>

CAUSE

Systems Management Server cannot access the remote client because the RAS Service is not configured to allow listens to be posted for all NetBIOS names.

By default, the RAS Service will only allow NCB.LISTENs to be posted for Server and Messenger service NetBIOS names. These names consist of the 15 character NetBIOS computer name with a 16th character that is ASCII 0x00 for Server, or 0x03 for Messenger. This allows most file and print services to operate and reduces the resource requirements for the RAS service.

When the Systems Management Server Remote Control client software is initialized during startup, it posts NCB.LISTENs that have the NetBIOS computer name and the following values for the 16th character:

   Hex    ASCII   Description
   ----   -----   --------------------------------------
   0x43   C       SMS Administrators Remote Control Tool
   0x44   D       SMS Clients Remote Control
   0x45   E       SMS Clients Remote Chat
   0x46   F       SMS Clients Remote Transfer

For the RAS Server to forward the NetBIOS Name Query to the client, it must post each of these NetBIOS names. Otherwise, the client cannot respond and the Administrators Tool fails to find the client.

RESOLUTION

The RAS server needs to be configured to allow all NCB.LISTENs to be posted before remote control will work properly.

To do this, use the registry editor to modify the RAS NetBIOSGateway Parameter.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

Go to the following key in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree:

   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RemoteAccess\Parameters\NetBIOSGateway

This will enable RAS to post NCB.LISTENs for all NetBIOS names. Once this is done, stop and restart the RAS Services for the change to take effect.

For more information, see Appendix C of the Windows NT Server "Remote Access Service" or Knowledge Base articles Q97599, Q99145, and Q110315.