Bulletin Number: 300
Date: 22 April 1994
Summary: NetBIOS and Windows for Workgroups
Server: All
Software Version: VINES 5.52 (5) and greater, Windows for Workgroups 3.11
Category: Windows for Workgroups, NetBIOS
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***** When trying other setups, remember that Banyan DOS NetBIOS requires the use of LANA0, but can share it with VINES and perhaps other protocols.*****
Introduction
This technical bulletin describes using Banyan's DOS NetBIOS implementation with Windows for Workgroups to enable enterprise-wide file sharing.
The scenarios described in this bulletin work only with Windows for Workgroups 3.11.
Communicating over Banyan DOS NetBIOS
Banyan site-specific patch 5.53(6)-VNS-KG-1 updates Banyan's DOS NetBIOS client software. This software patch allows Windows for Workgroups to ignore the single LAN segment restriction normally imposed by other implementations of NetBIOS.
All users in a workgroup who connect to the same Banyan NetBIOS naming service can share resources as specified by Windows for Workgroups regardless of physical location. They can also share resources with machines on the same LAN segment which are only using Microsoft's NetBIOS (such as Windows NT or NTAS workstations).
Modifying your workstation configuration involves:
* Configuring the workstation's network setup
* Editing the AUTOEXEC.BAT file
* Editing the PROTOCOL.INI file
Configuring the Workstation's Network Setup
Use the Network Setup applet in the Network program group and the Network applet in the Control Panel to configure the workstation's network settings:
1. Double-click the Network Setup icon in the Network program group. The Network Setup dialog box appears.
2. Choose the Drivers button. The Network Drivers dialog box appears.
3. If the IPX/SPX transport with NetBIOS driver appears, select it. If it does not appear, proceed to Step 5.
4. Choose Remove. The IPX/SPX driver no longer appears in the list.
5. Select Banyan VINES.
6. Choose Set as Default Protocol. This sets Banyan VINES as the default protocol.
7. Choose the Close button. The Network Setup dialog box appears.
8. Choose the OK button.
Use the Network applet in the Control Panel to make sure all users who will share resources belong to the same workgroup.
At each user's workstation:
1. Double-click the Network icon in the Control Panel. The Microsoft Windows Network dialog box appears.
2. Make sure the Workgroup text box displays the correct workgroup name.
3. Choose the OK button.
To Edit the AUTOEXEC.BAT File
When you make changes through Network Setup, the workstation AUTOEXEC.BAT file may get modified and leave you with a configuration that may not work correctly.
1. Use a text editor to open the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
2. Make sure the network commands in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file are listed in this order:
net initialize
cd <vinesdir>
ban /nc
ndisban
net start
arswait
redir <4, all>
z:\\login
where <vinesdir> is the directory containing your Banyan network software and <4, all> are the two versions you can use (either REDIR4, or REDIRALL).
3. Check that the REDIR version is the one you want. In some cases, the setup program adds REDIRALL by default.
4. Save and close the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
To Edit the PROTOCOL.INI File
1. Open the PROTOCOL.INI file using a text editor.
2. Locate the [Network.Setup] section.
3. Set LANA0 to ban$vines, if it is not already.
4. Locate the [NETBEUI] section.
5. Change the LANABASE entry to match the LANA for ms$netbeui (usually 1) from the network.setup section. If there is no LANABASE entry, add the line:
LANABASE=1 (or the correct number for your setup)
6. Save and close the PROTOCOL.INI file.
This completes the workstation modifications. You must restart your workstation for these changes to take effect.
The next section describes a different scenario, configuring your Windows for Workgroups workstation to use the distributed features of Banyan's DOS NetBIOS implementation for applications only.
Using Banyan DOS NetBIOS
When using Banyan DOS NetBIOS with Windows for Workgroups, keep in mind:
* Banyan DOS NetBIOS must be loaded before WFW starts if you are to use it for sharing.
* The default parameters for PCNETB may not be sufficient. If you receive error messages or notice poor performance, use the following settings for the /nam and /ses settings:
/nam:32
/ses:16
* Depending on how you use the workstation, you may receive a message that NETHEAP needs to be increased. This message gives you instructions and suggests a new value for the NETHEAP setting.
When trying other setups, remember that Banyan DOS NetBIOS requires the use of LANA0, but can share it with VINES and perhaps other protocols.