SMS: PCMCIA Network Cards May Not Be Reported by Windows 95 Inventory

• Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.2

SYMPTOMS

When Systems Management Server inventories notebook computers that are running Windows 95 and using certain PCMCIA network cards, the inventory may not report the NETCARD inventory property.

CAUSE

The Windows 95 inventory process uses an inventory agent, INVDOS, which in turn calls a module, Getnet.exe to obtain network interface card (NIC) information. Getnet parses the Protocol.ini file for NIC information. Newer PCMCIA cards use the registry instead of the Protocol.ini file. The Protocol.ini file has a [data] section that contains only the entry "Netcards=". This is a default setting.

The Systems Management Server inventory process assumes that the "Netcards=" entry in the [data] section of the Protocol.ini file means that a NIC does not exist. Consequently, the NETCARD inventory property is not reported.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.2. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words:

Keywords : smsinv kbbug1.20
Version : winnt:1.2
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug