Configuring  The 4200 Network Controller
For Networks




The model 4200 can be configured for use on networks using NetBEUI or TCP/IP. The 4200 is normally shipped ready for  TCP/IP connectivity. A typical network not using routers will recognize and identify the Network Controller. 

If you are using a router or wide-area network, you can alter the configuration in any manner by connecting a monitor and keyboard to the Network Controller. Using the DOS setup contained in the 4200, you can set a static IP address. If you are not familiar with the procedure, there is a web site that provides specific instructions for setting network paths: http://www.wown.info/j_helmig/doscltcp.htm
 
 

Make sure that in the NC's c:\net\system.ini file:  filesharing=yes
Also, in the c:\net\protocol.ini file:  DisableDHCP=1

If after the the 4200 Network Controller is configured, it cannot be recognized on your network, there is a Name Resolution issue that can be resolved by following the procedure below. 

Microsoft TCP/IP Host Name Resolution

Applicable to: 

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 , 3.51 , 4.0 
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 , 3.51 , 4.0 
  • Microsoft Windows 95 
  • Microsoft TCP/IP-32 for Windows for Workgroups 
  • Microsoft LAN Manager 
  • Microsoft Network Client for MS-DOS version 3.0 

SUMMARY

This article discusses the different methods of host name to IP address resolutions used by Microsoft Windows clients. The sequence of methods is different than the sequence used to resolve NetBIOS names to IP addresses. 

MORE INFORMATION

On a network using the TCP/IP protocol, it is necessary to convert names of resources to IP addresses to connect to these resources. Microsoft Windows clients will follow a sequence of methods in attempting to resolve a name to an address, stopping the search when it successfully matches a name to an IP address. 

There are two main sequences used in almost all cases: NetBIOS resolution and Host name resolution. Clients connecting to resources on Microsoft servers, typically through Windows File Manager or Network Neighborhood, most often use NetBIOS name resolution. 

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

Q119493 NetBIOS over TCP/IP Name Resolution and WINS 
Host name resolution resolves the names of TCP/IP resources that do not connect through the NetBIOS interface. The most common example of this is a Web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer. Other examples include Internet applications such as Ping, FTP, and Telnet. Many modern database and mail applications that connect using Winsock, the Microsoft Windows implementation of TCP/IP sockets, also use host name resolution. Examples of these types of applications are Outlook and Exchange. 

When troubleshooting name resolution issues, it is important to narrow down whether the application is resolving a NetBIOS name or a host name. 

NOTE : In the context of this article, the term "client" does not necessarily refer to a workstation. A Windows NT server will take the role of client when it requires access to resources that require host name resolution. 

Host name resolution generally uses the following sequence: 

  1. The client checks to see if the name queried is its own. 

    2.  
  2. The client then searches a local Hosts file, a list of IP address and names stored on the local computer. 

    3.  

     

    NOTE : The Hosts file location depends on the operating system:  

       Windows NT                  %Systemroot%\System32\Drivers\Etc
   Windows 95                  <drive>\<Windows folder>
   Windows for Workgroups      <drive>\<Windows folder>
   Windows 3.1                 <drive>\<Windows folder>
   MS-Client 3.0               <Boot volume>\Net
   Lan Manager 2.2c Client     <Boot volume>\Net
    Where %Systemroot% is the folder in which Windows NT is installed, <drive> is the drive on which the OS is installed, and <boot volume> refers to a boot floppy disk or drive C. 

    A sample hosts file, Hosts.sam, is installed with the TCP/IP protocol showing the proper format. 

  3. Domain Name System (DNS) servers are queried. 

    4.  
  4. If the name is still not resolved, NetBIOS name resolution sequence is used as a backup. This order can be changed by configuring the NetBIOS node type of the client. 

    5.  
The Windows client will try each of these methods until it either successfully resolves the name or exhausts these methods. Windows NT, Windows 95, and Windows for Workgroups clients using Microsoft TCP/IP 3.11b follow this sequence. Lan Manager 2.2c or Microsoft Client 3.0 clients will not use NetBIOS name resolution as a backup. 

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

Q169141 NetBIOS and hostname resolution for MS-Client and LM 2.2c 
When resolving names the client will skip methods for which it is not configured. For example, if there is no hosts file on the system, then it will skip step #2 above and try a query to a DNS server. If no DNS server IP addresses are entered in the client TCP/IP configuration, then the client will skip to the next step in the sequence after DNS. 

The method for changing host name resolution order differs among operating systems and versions. These are documented in the Resource Kits for the specific operating systems, as well as in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. 

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

Q171567 Windows NT 4.0 ServiceProvider Priority Values Not Applied 
Q139270 How to Change Name Resolution Order on Windows 95 and Windows NT 
Q119372 Setting the Name Resolution Search Order for TCP/IP-32 

Troubleshooting 

Problem: Client is unable to resolve a host name. 

Troubleshooting steps: 

If a client cannot resolve a host name, then it is best to verify the Host name resolution sequence listed above that the client should be using. If the name does not exist in any of the resources that the client uses, then you must decide to which resource to add it. If the name exists in one of the resources, such as a DNS server or a Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) server and the client is not resolving the name correctly, focus your attention on troubleshooting that specific resource. 

Also, confirm that the client is trying to resolve a host name and not a NetBIOS name. Many applications have multiple methods that they can utilize to resolve names, this is especially true of mail and database applications. The application may be configured to connect to resources using NetBIOS. Depending on the client configuration the client may bypass host name resolution. From there it will be necessary to either change the connection type to TCP/IP sockets or to troubleshoot the problem as a NetBIOS issue. 

Problem: Client resolves a name very slowly, or fails to resolve a name and takes a long time to report a failure. 

Troubleshooting steps: 

Having DNS servers configured in a client's TCP/IP configuration, but the server is not available to the client usually causes this. Because the TCP/IP protocol assumes an unreliable network, a client will repeatedly attempt to connect to a DNS server before abandoning the attempted query. The client will then attempt to query a second DNS server if one is configured and take the same time to fail. Only then will the client step through to NetBIOS name resolution as described above. 

There are three ways to approach this issue. 

  • If the host name is correctly entered in a host file, it will be resolved before the client attempts to query DNS. This solution works well if DNS servers are temporarily unreachable and there is a small number of host names that need to be resolved . Manually configuring Hosts files for numerous clients may be prohibitive. 

    •  

     

    -or- 

  • If DNS servers are available, but the DNS Server addresses in the clients TCP/IP configuration are incorrect, then correcting these addresses will allow the clients to contact the DNS servers immediately. Even if a DNS server reports that it cannot resolve a name, this will happen much faster than if the client cannot reach a DNS server at all. 

    •  

     

    -or- 

  • If DNS servers are configured on the client, but these servers are permanently unavailable, then remove the IP addresses of the DNS servers from the client configuration. The client will then bypass the DNS lookup without delay. 

    •  

     

    -or- 

  • If records in the DNS database are missing or incorrect, then there will be a delay as DNS servers query other DNS servers before reporting that they cannot resolve the name. This will usually cause a delay of just a few seconds. 

    •  
For additional information on TCP/IP and name resolution, please see the following white paper available on the Microsoft anonymous ftp server: 
File Name: Tcpipimp2.doc 
Location : ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-docs/papers/ 
Title : "Microsoft Windows NT 3.5/3.51/4.0: TCP/IP Implementation Details TCP/IP Protocol Stack and Services, Version 2.0. "

For more information, go to the applicable Microspft site

 Changing from "NetBEUI" to "TCP/IP", and assigning Static IP Addresses.

 1.  Disconnect power from the NC (Network Controller).

 2.  Connect a keypad & monitor to the NC.

 3.  Reconnect power to the NC.

 4.  During NC boot-up, when the display reads:
     "Verifying DMI Pool Data .........",
     Press <F5> a few times to stop the config & autoexec files
     from loading.  Press <Ctrl-C> to enable a clean Dos prompt.

 5.  At the Dos prompt, type: CD\NET <ENTER>.
     Type: SETUP <ENTER>.

 NOTE: In the following steps, use the Tab key to toggle
       between the upper & lower selection boxes.

       Use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight (Select)
       the appropriate line in the selected box.

 6.  At the first setup screen,
     highlight "Change Network Configuration".
     Press <ENTER>.

 7.  Highlight "Add Protocol".
     Press <ENTER>.

     Highlight "Microsoft TCP/IP".
     Press <ENTER>.

 8.  Tab to the Upper Box & highlight "Microsoft NetBEUI".
     Tab to the Lower Box & highlight "Remove".
     Press <ENTER>.

 9.  Tab to the Upper Box & highlight "Microsoft TCP/IP".
     Tab to the Lower Box & highlight "Change Settings".
     Press <ENTER>.

 10. Tab to the Upper Box & highlight "Disable Automatic Configuration=x"
     where "x" may be "0" or "1".
     Press <ENTER>

     Highlight "1" & then press <ENTER>

     This line should now read "Disable Automatic Configuration=1"

 11. In a similar fashion, "Edit" the following lines to set
     your Unique Network IP Addresses:

 NOTE: The following are EXAMPLE settings, ONLY.

     IP Address=10 40 255 97
     IP Subnet Mask=255 255 255 255
     Default Gateway 0=10 40 255 96

 IMPORTANT: Unlike standard Windows Networking nomenclature,
     the above settings DO NOT use "DOT"s as separators.
     SPACES are used instead.

 12. Press <Esc> to return to the previous screen.
     Press <ENTER>.

 13. Highlight "Change Names" & then press <ENTER>.

     "Edit" the appropriate lines to reflect your network names.

     Highlight "The listed names are correct."
     Press <ENTER>.

 14. Highlight "The listed options are correct."
     Press <ENTER>.

 15. After the NC has finished configuring its network drivers,
     press <F3> to exit setup.

     DO NOT restart the NC at this time.

 16. Type: EDIT SYSTEM.INI <ENTER>.

     Change the 3rd line to read: "filesharing=yes".

     Press <Alt-F> & then press <S> to save the changes.
     Press <Alt-F> & then press <X> to exit the MS-DOS editor.

 This completes the TCP/IP setup.

 Reboot the NC (interrupt its power for a second).