Failure to Obtain IP Address Via DHCP on Token Ring w/ SP2

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you run Windows NT version 4.0, with Service Pack 2 applied, in a source routed Token Ring environment and configured as a DHCP client, you may receive the following message when you start:

      The DHCP client could not obtain an IP address.

      If you want to see DHCP messages in the future, choose YES,
      otherwise choose NO.

      DHCP failed to obtain a lease for the card with network address
      <12-digit hexadecimal media access control address of the local
      network adapter>. The following error occurred: The semaphore timeout
      period had expired.

CAUSE

This problem was caused by the way that Tcpip.sys read the registry value that indicates that source routing should be used.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

To change this value in the Registry on the client, perform the following steps:

1. Start the Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).

2. Go to the following key in the Registry:

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\
         Tcpip\Parameters
   

3. Change the ArpAlwaysSourceRoute value to 1. If this value is not present, click on Edit, Add Value, and enter the following settings:

         Value Type: REG_DWORD - Boolean
         Valid Range: 0,1 (False or True)
         Default: 0 (False)
   

4. Restart the computer for the change to take effect.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

   S E R V P A C K