Available Servers List Blank Running Rconsole 4.1 with FPNW

• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.51
• Microsoft File and Print Services for NetWare version 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you run Rconsole 4.1 in a File and Print Services for NetWare (FPNW) and NetWare network environment, the Available Servers list is not available (or blank).

CAUSE

This is a Netware Diagnostics Request, basically a remote SNMP-like request to remotely read off the diagnostics of the IPX stack. When Rconsole runs, the client requests the SPX socket number for diagnostics. The NetWare servers support this socket, but FPNW does not support this socket. RCONSOLE reads the list of available servers using the SPX connection. If it cannot make the SPX connection, it does not work. FPNW does not support RCONSOLE 4.1.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, make FPNW servers not answer GetNearestServer requests. To do this, clear the "Respond to Find Nearest Server" option in Control Panel FPNW.

When you log on, a GetNearestServer request goes out if the FPNW server reponds it is OK. However, when Rconsole runs, the GetNearestServer is sent out and SAP requests to build its own table. If the FPNW server answers before a NetWare server answers, the list is unavailable because FPNW does not support SPX socket number for diagnostics.