Specifying Multiple Network Adapters in Unattended Setup

ID: Q229762

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SUMMARY

This article describes how to specify per-adapter settings in the Setup answer file for multiple network adapters during unattended Setup. You can specify separate settings such as static or DHCP IP addresses, WINS or DNS server settings, and various other items on a per-adapter basis.

The [Network] section of the answer file distinguishes between multiple adapters by using unique information from one of three sources:

  • The Plug and Play ID string.


  • The MAC address.


  • The PCI bus number, device number, and function number.



MORE INFORMATION

Using the Plug and Play ID String

This method suffices when two network adapters are of a different type or from a different manufacturer, because they have different Plug and Play IDs. The Plug and Play ID string can be found by installing the adapters in one of the computers that will be deployed, and then following these steps:
  1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.


  2. Double-click System Tools, double-click System Information, double-click Components, double-click Network, and then click the Adapter folder. A report is generated describing the name of the adapters installed, followed by the "Adapter Type."


  3. For each physical network adapter installed, record the Plug and Play ID string displayed in the "Adapter Type" field.


Or, you can use the NETAFX.EXE /L command to list the Plug and Play ID under the Network Adapters heading.

Once you have gathered this information, enter it in the unattended answer file section noted below.

The following sample demonstrates how to use this information using unique InfID parameters: 

[NetAdapters]
Adapter01=Params.Adapter01
Adapter02=Params.Adapter02

[Params.Adapter01]
InfID="PCI\VEN_8086&dev_1229"
ConnectionName = "Intel-Pro card #1"

[Params.Adapter02]
InfID="PCI\VEN_10b7&DEV_9050"
ConnectionName = "3Com card #2"

[Params.MS_TCPIP]
AdapterSections=params.TCPIP.Adapter01,params.TCPIP.Adapter02
DNS=yes
DNSSuffixSearchOrder=mycorp.com
EnableLMHosts=No

[params.TCPIP.Adapter01]
SpecificTo=adapter01
DNSDomain=mycorp.com
DHCP=yes

[params.TCPIP.Adapter02]
SpecificTo=Adapter02
DNSDomain=mycompany.com
DHCP=no
IPAddress=10.0.1.40
SubnetMask=255.0.0.0
DefaultGateway=10.0.1.40
With this configuration, both network adapters each receive their own TCP/IP properties.

Specifying the MAC Address

The method above is useful when the Plug and Play ID for each network adapter is different. However, this method does not work if the Plug and Play IDs are the same.

You can add the MAC address information for each network adapter to the answer file because the MAC address is always unique. This method requires that someone gather this information ahead of time and ensure that the answer file matches with each set of installed network adapters for each computer.

Using the MAC address option with the above example requires the additional use of the NetCardAddress parameter: 

[NetAdapters]
Adapter01=Params.Adapter01
Adapter02=Params.Adapter02

[Params.Adapter01]
InfID="PCI\VEN_8086&dev_1229" 
NetCardAddress = 009027358019
ConnectionName = "Intel-Pro card #1"

[Params.Adapter02]
InfID="PCI\VEN_8086&dev_1229"
NetCardAddress = 009027359056
ConnectionName = "Intel-Pro card #2"

Specifying the PCI Bus Number, Device Number, and Function Number

The best solution is to use the PCI bus number, device number, and function number of each network adapter because they are unique. These configuration values are identical across all your computers, providing that the following conditions are true:
  • All computers being deployed are of the same make and model.


  • The exact same make and model network adapters are located in the same physical slots in all computers being deployed.


You can find these numbers by installing the network adapters in one of the computers to be deployed, and then following these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Network and Dial-up Connections.


  3. Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.


  4. Click Configure. The Location field contains the PCI bus number, device number, and function number for that network adapter. Note this information.


  5. Click OK, and then repeat these steps for each installed physical network adapter.


Once this information has been gathered, enter the information in the unattended answer file section noted below.

This sample demonstrates using two identical Intel Pro network adapters by specifying unique PciBusNumber, PciDeviceNumber and PciFunctionNumber parameters: 

[NetAdapters]
Adapter01=Params.Adapter01
Adapter02=Params.Adapter02

[Params.Adapter01]
InfID="PCI\VEN_8086&dev_1229"
PciBusNumber = 0
PciDeviceNumber = 14
PciFunctionNumber = 0
ConnectionName = "Intel-Pro card #1"

[Params.Adapter02]
InfID="PCI\VEN_8086&dev_1229"
PciBusNumber = 0
PciDeviceNumber = 16
PciFunctionNumber = 0
ConnectionName = "Intel-Pro card #2"

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv kbsetup
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: December 29, 1999
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