Err Msg When Adding Remoteboot Workstations to Windows NT

• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to add a remoteboot workstation to the Remoteboot Manager in Windows NT. The following error messages appears when you manually enter the media access control address of a workstation:

   The following error occurred creating the workstation: Chosen profile is
   incompatible with this workstation.

   You have specified a profile which is not compatible with the adapter
   for this workstation."

CAUSE

Windows NT examines the media access control address of the workstation's network adapter to determine if the adapter is valid for the selected configuration. The first six hexadecimal digits are examined and compared to a database kept by the Remoteboot Manager. The first six digits are a unique vendor ID. The remaining six digits are a unique network adapter address.

Should a vendor acquire a new vendor ID, Windows NT will flag this media access control address as invalid because the new ID does not match those held in the remoteboot database.

RESOLUTION

Update the database so that it will recognize the new vendor ID. The steps below are an example, using an updated vendor ID for a 3Com Etherlink III adapter.

1. Obtain the new media access control address for the workstation that you want to add as a remoteboot workstation. This can often be done with utilities that are included with the adapter. Another method can also be used: with the remoteboot service started, boot the remote workstation. Although the boot process will not be able to complete, the media access control address of the workstation will be broadcast over the network and captured by the Windows NT remoteboot service. Press F5 while Remoteboot Manager is the foreground task to refresh the screen. The media access control address of the machine just booted should be displayed. Note the first six digits of this address (the vendor ID).

2. Open a Command Prompt. Some commands entered will display many lines of text that may scroll off the Command Prompt window. To retain this information click the Command Prompt Control box and choose Properties. Select the Screen Size and Position tab. In the Screen Size Buffer section increase the value for height to a value such as 200.

3. At the command prompt, type RPLCMD and press ENTER. A menu will be

1. Select Boot, then Enum. When asked for the Information Level, enter 2.

2. A good deal of information will scroll by. The information for each adapter will begin with an entry called "Bootname." Additional information for each adapter is indented below that line. Scroll to the entry describing the network adapter of interest.

   This can be easily done by reading the BootComment line for each record since this line describes the network card to which the record applies. In the case of the Etherlink III used in this example you will find that the BootName entry for this card is DOSH.

3. Note all the information for this adapter, as you will need this information later.

4. Again, select Boot.

5. Select Add. You will now be prompted for a BootName. Type the same name as found in the information you recorded in step 6. For the the 3Com Etherlink III, this name is DOSH.

6. You are now prompted for a VendorName. Type the first six digits of the media access control address found in step 1.

7. You are now prompted for a BbcFile. Enter the same information as found in step 6. For the 3Com Etherlink III the BbcFile is:

   BBLOCK\NETBEUI\ELNK3\DOSBB.CNF.

8. For BootComment, add any description that makes sense to you.

9. For WindowsSize, enter a 0 (zero).

10. You will now be taken back to the menu. Select Quit.