How to Find Lana Numbers for Applications

Last reviewed: May 9, 1997
Article ID: Q103275

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

SUMMARY

Microsoft LAN Manager redirector uses a NetBIOS interface to communicate with lower-level transport protocols (that is, NBF, TCP). NetBIOS requires that the redirector provide a LAN adapter (Lana) number to identify a unique combination of one protocol driver and one network adapter (NIC) MAC driver. For each protocol and network card, there is exactly one unique Lana number. In Windows NT, Lana numbers are not important to the redirector because the Windows NT redirector uses TDI (Transport Device Interface) to communicate with the lower-level transports.

Although TDI does not require Lana numbers, they are still important to other NetBIOS-based applications running in Windows NT. These applications submit NetBIOS commands called NetBIOS Command Blocks (NCBs). The NCB structure contains a field called Lana Number that must be filled in with the unique number (that is, the protocol/MAC pair) of the network where the destination computer is located.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on NetBIOS, see the IBM Local Area Network Technical Reference.

To see the NetBIOS Interface dialog box (which includes a box that details the Network Route and Lana number associated with the particular network), choose the Networks icon in Control Panel, choose the Add Software button, select NetBIOS Interface, choose Continue, and choose Configure.

Any changes you make in the NetBIOS Interface dialog box, will appear in the Registry under the following key:

   =================================================================
   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NETBIOSInformation\parameters
   =================================================================

   LanaNum1     0x2
   LanaNum2     0x3
   LanaNum3     0x4
   LanaNum4     0x5
   LanaNum5     0x1
   LanaNum6     0

   ROUTE
        "Nbf" "RasHub" "RasHub04"
        "Nbt" "Streams"
        "NWNBLINK" "Streams"
        "Nbf" "RasHub" "RasHub05"
        "Nbf" "Elnk16" "Elnk1601"
        "Ubnb" "Streams"

To interpret this information, you can compare the LanaNumX value with the ROUTE values. For example, you can tell that "Ubnb" "Streams" is Lana number 0. The value LanaNum6 has a data value of 0 and the 6th position in the ROUTE list is "Ubnb" "Streams". Lana number 1 is the 5th position in the ROUTE list which corresponds to "Nbf" "Elnk16" "Elnk1601".

You can also obtain the order of Lana numbers from the following Registry key:

   =================================================================
   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NETBIOS\linkage
   =================================================================
   BIND
        \Device\Streams\NWNBLINK
        \Device\Streams\Ubnb
        \Device\Streams\NBT
        \Device\Nbf_Elnk1601
        \Device\Nbf_RasHub04
        \Device\Nbf_RasHub05

   EXPORT
        \Device\Netbios\Streams\NWNBLINK
        \Device\Netbios\Streams\Ubnb
        \Device\Netbios\Streams\NBT
        \Device\Netbios\Nbf_Elnk1601
        \Device\Netbios\Nbf_RasHub04
        \Device\Netbios\Nbf_RasHub05

   LanaMap
        010401000103010101020105

   ROUTE
        "NWNBLINK" "Streams"
        "Ubnb" "Streams"
        "Nbt" "Streams"
        "Nbf" "Elnk16" "Elnk1601"
        "Nbf" "RasHub" "RasHub04"
        "Nbf" "RasHub" "RasHub05"

If you look at the LanaMap, you can translate it and also figure out the Lana number associated with each network. For example, note the 01 before each set of numbers in the following portion of the LanaMap:

   01 04 - 01 00 - 01 03 - 01 01 - 01 02 - 01 05

If you disregard the 01, you will find the actual Lana numbers (in this case, 04 00 03 01 02 05).

From this information you can determine that:

     "NWNBLINK" "Streams" is Lana number 04
     "Ubnb" "Streams" is Lana number 00
     "Nbt" "Streams" is Lana number 03
     "Nbf" "Elnk16" "Elnk1601" is Lana number 01
     "Nbf" "RasHub" "RasHub04" is Lana number 02
     "Nbf" "RasHub" "RasHub05" is Lana number 05

To see a list of the NetBIOS interface bindings, choose the Network icon in Control Panel, choose Bindings, select NetBIOS Interface, and choose Show Bindings For. If you use the arrow keys to manipulate the order of the bindings, you actually manipulate the BIND, EXPORT, and ROUTE order in the Registry.

For More information on the BIND, EXPORT, and ROUTE parameters, see the DDK or the Resource Kit Registry Help files.

NOTE: There is a new NCB command NCBENUM that is supported by the WIN32 API: Enumerate LAN adapter (Lana) numbers. When this value is specified, the NCB_BUFFER member points to a buffer to be filled with a LANA_ENUM structure.

Additional query words: prodnt
Keywords : kbnetwork ntprotocol NTSrvWkst
Version : 3.1
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: May 9, 1997
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