No Authentication Using Non-Domain Controller for RAS Server

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11
• Microsoft TCP/IP-32 for Windows for Workgroups
• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to connect to a computer running Windows NT Server and the Remote Access Service (RAS) from either a RAS client or a Dial-Up Networking (DUN) client, you may receive the following error:

No domain server was available to validate your password. You may not be able to gain access to some network resources.

CAUSE

Certain RAS devices may use their own PPP validation and not the validation of the RAS server. This may not be a problem if such a device is directly connected to a primary domain controller (PDC) or a backup domain controller (BDC). However, if the RAS server is a member server that participates in domain security, the RAS client may not be able to get validated.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, perform one of the following:

• Exchange your RAS device for one that is on the Microsoft Windows NT Server Hardware Compatibility List. For more information, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:




Q131303 Latest Windows 2000/Windows NT Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)

-or-


• On the RAS client, specify the domain name in the user credentials, such as the following:

  <DomainName>\<UserName>

MORE INFORMATION

The problem has to do with the way the authentication takes place. The RAS server attempts to log the client into its local account database first (if one exists). Next, the RAS server appends the domain name and sends the validation request to the appropriate domain controller. If the RAS device attempts the validation, it never appends the domain name. As a result, if there is not an account in the local account database, the client will not be validated.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbinterop kbnetwork ntras NTInterop ntnetserv NTSrvWkst
Version : WINDOWS:3.11,95; winnt:3.5,3.51,4.0; :
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbprb