NWLink with Ethernet_II Frame Type Corrupt Packets

ID: Q120493

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 4.0
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

SYMPTOMS

A Windows for Workgroups 3.11 client can experience data corruption if you use IPX/SPX Compatible Transport with NetBIOS and an Ethernet_II (DIX) frame type to connect it to any of these network servers:

Windows for Workgroups 3.11 (ie: a peer server)

Windows NT Server version 3.5

Windows NT Workstation version 3.5

Windows NT version 3.1

Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

After you log on to the server, incorrect file information appears when you attempt to do a NET USE from an MS-DOS prompt or try to connect to the server from File Manager.

This problem occurs only when the Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 client was installed from the Windows NT Server version 3.5 CD-ROM.

CAUSE

Incorrect file information appears because the NWLINK.386 component for Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 is not handling the Ethernet_II (DIX) packet correctly.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem:

Use DirectHost IPX instead of IPX/SPX Compatible Transport with NetBIOS.

-or-

Use a Frame type other than Ethernet_II, for example, 802.3 Ethernet.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1, and Windows NT Workstation and Server versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

This has been fixed in Windows NT build 808. The updated NWLINK.386 is slated to be available in the next Service Pack for Windows NT 3.5. This fix will also be available on Internet via the FTP server internally, an updated version of NWLINK.386 is available on \\winthorn\lm\client.nt\wfw\netsetup.

Additional query words: prodnt wfw wfwg nwlink

Keywords : kbnetwork NTInterop ntprotocol kbbug3.50 NTSrvWkst
Version : 3.5 4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type :