WFWG: Using Two Network Cards with the SMCMAC.DOS Driver

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1

The following article contains information on the use of Windows for Workgroups with third-party products or configurations that have not been tested and are not supported by Microsoft.

If the steps or procedures described in this article do not function properly, contact the manufacturer of the third-party product for more information or use a supported configuration.

SYMPTOMS

The Standard Microsystems Corporation (SMC) network interface card driver (SMCMAC.DOS), which is included with Windows for Workgroups version 3.1, does not support using two SMC network cards at the same time. Windows for Workgroups does not display a warning message and will allow setup for two SMC network cards. If two SMC network cards are set up with the SMCMAC.DOS driver, the following error message appears when you start the machine:

   Error 5733: The protocol manager has reported an incomplete binding.

CAUSE

This is a limitation with the SMCMAC.DOS NDIS driver and applies to both Microsoft LAN Manager and Windows for Workgroups. SMC has a workaround for this limitation for Microsoft LAN Manager, and it should also work with Windows for Workgroups.

WORKAROUND

To work around the limitation, use the following steps.

1. Obtain the self extracting archive file NDS119.EXE, from either the SMC forum on CompuServe or directly from SMC. This file contains another NDIS driver for the second network card.

2. Run the NDS119.EXE file and once the files have been extracted, copy the file SMCMAC2.DOS to your Windows for Workgroups directory.

3. Start Windows for Workgroups and open the Control Panel from the Main group and select Network, Adapters.

4. If there are already two drivers installed for the SMC network cards, then exit Windows and skip to step 6. Otherwise, choose Add.

5. Select an appropriate network card driver for the second SMC network card, configure the correct settings for the card, and choose Restart Computer when prompted.

6. Edit the CONFIG.SYS file and add any of the following lines if they are not present, or modify any lines that need to be, so they match the below lines:

         DEVICE=<Windows Path>\PROTMAN.DOS /I:<Windows Path>
         DEVICE=<Windows Path>\SMCMAC.DOS
         DEVICE=<Windows Path>\SMCMAC2.DOS
         DEVICE=<Windows Path>\WORKGRP.SYS
   

7. Restart the computer by turning it off and on.

   NOTE: The SMCMAC2.DOS driver is written so that it may require the computer be restarted to properly initialize.

The SMC products included here are manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.