IPX RAS Clients Unable To View or Access NetBIOS Resources

ID: Q148693

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.00

SYMPTOMS

When you connect to a Windows NT 3.5X Remote Access Server (RAS) using your RAS client software, which is configured to use only the IPX/SPX Compatible Transport (NWLINK) protocol, NetBIOS resources such as computer names, network shares or printers from Server Message Block (SMB) based clients are not viewable.

When you use Net View \\<servername>, the following error message appears:

System error 53 has occurred.
The network path was not found.

RESOLUTION

By default, the RAS server is only configured to forward NetBIOS broadcast over IPX from the RAS client to the LAN, but not from the LAN to the client. To do this, you must enable two-way broadcasting of type 20 (14h) packets (NetBIOS over IPX).

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.

Start Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE) and locate the following Registry subkey in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree:

\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NWlnkRip\Parameters

Select the following value: NetBiosRouting

From the Edit menu, select DWORD.

Change the data from 2 to 6.

The following lists the data values you can use for NetBiosRouting:


   0 = Do not forward broadcasts(default-in order to reduce network
       traffic).

   2 = Enables forwarding of NetBIOS packets from remote client to the
       LAN.

   4 = Enables forwarding of NetBIOS packets from the LAN to the remote
       client.

   6 = Enables two-way forwarding of NetBIOS packets between remote
       clients and LAN.

Click OK and quit Registry Editor.

Shut down and restart Windows NT.

NOTE: Forwarding type 14h packets significantly increases network and RAS traffic. It is efficient to enable the NetBEUI protocol over the RAS connection rather than enabling two-way broadcasting of type 20 (14h) packets.

Additional query words: prodnt 4.0

Keywords : ntras
Version : 3.51 4.00
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :