Automating the SNA Server Win 3.x Client Login Process

• Microsoft SNA Server for Windows NT, versions 2.1, 2.11, and 3.x.

SUMMARY

When the SNA Server Windows 3.x client software is configured to use TCP/IP sockets, Netware IPX/SPX, or Banyan IP (any client-server transport except named pipes), the SNA client software (WNAP) uses a separate user login to the Windows NT servers running SNA Server to ensure security is maintained. This article describes ways to automate this client login process using SNA Server versions 2.1 and 2.11.

SNA Server 2.1

When you log into Windows NT Server using TCP/IP, Netware IPX/SPX or Banyan IP from Windows 3.x clients, the two WNAP command lines noted below can be used to remove the Domain Login dialog box when starting WNAP manually.

Add an icon in the Windows Startup group for WNAP.EXE (the SNA Windows 3.x client process) that has the following command line option. This causes WNAP to start automatically when Windows is started:

   WNAP /USER: /PWD:

This command lets the user login to the Windows NT Server using the guest account (provided that the guest account is enabled and has no password).

The next command requires that the user have a valid account in the Windows NT/SNA Server domain:

   WNAP /USER:<userid> /PWD:<password>

SNA Server 2.11/3.x

The following additional options are available under SNA 2.11 and 3.x:

1) The following two new options can be added to the [WNAP] section of

   the WIN.INI file:

      LogonUserName=<USERID>
      LogonPassword=<PASSWORD>

   WNAP will parse these entries and use them when a  application is first
   started, reducing the need for starting WNAP manually with command
   line parameters.

   Also, to use the guest account using the parameters in WIN.INI, add the
   entries as such:

      LogonUserName=guest
      LogonPassword=

2) Automated use of Windows for Workgroups 3.11 cached domain password.

If the above WIN.INI entries are not present on a Windows for Workgroups 3.11 client, and if the user is using the cached domain password feature of Windows for Workgroups (enabled in the network Control Panel Startup dialog box by selecting "Log On to Windows NT or LAN Manager Domain"), the user password is automatically retrieved from Windows for Workgroups.

WNAP will start automatically when an SNA Server application (3270, 5250, or an application written to the SNA Server APIs is started), or when Windows is started (if a WNAP icon is added to the Startup group). If the cached domain password method is used, WNAP retrieves the username when WNAP is started. If the Windows for Workgroups user logs off and on, WNAP is still running under the previous user context.

To resolve this problem, WNAP can be configured to terminate automatically when the last SNA application ends by adding AutoTerminate=Yes to the [WNAP] section of the WIN.INI file. By default, WNAP remains running even if the Windows for Workgroups user logs off and then logs back on. The user should quite all SNA applications before logging off in Windows for Workgroups. This ensures that WNAP will quit so that it will be restarted again when the new Windows for Workgroups user logs in and starts an SNA application.

To enable the AutoTerminate feature:

1. Add AutoTerminate=Yes to the [WNAP] section of the WIN.INI file.

2. Start WNAP automatically by starting an SNA application. If WNAP is started manually, WNAP will not unload, even if AutoTerminate is set to Yes.

Windows for Workgroups Domain Password Expiration

If the Windows for Workgroups user's domain password expires, or if user is required to change their domain password on the next domain login attempt, the SNA client login dialog will fail with Error 546. To solve this problem, the Windows for Workgroups user must login and change their domain password first. The user may then need to update their SNA client configuration to reflect their new password. There is no additional user interaction required when using the Windows for Workgroups cached domain password.