KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q104024: Ethernet Frame Types for NWLINK

Article: Q104024
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:3.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbsetup
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.1 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.1 
- Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When you install NWLink, you need to provide a value for "Frame Type"
that specifies the frame format that the NWLink packets will use.
Although default frame types exist for different versions of Novell
NetWare, NetWare networks can conceivably use one of six different
frame types. For those cases, this article describes how to determine
the correct frame type for NWLink when setting up Windows NT on an
existing NetWare network.

MORE INFORMATION
================

NetWare version 2.2 and 3.11 servers use the Ethernet_802.3 frame type by
default. In NetWare networks, this is often referred to as "raw 802.3." NetWare
version 4.0 servers use the 802.2 frame type by default.

These defaults are summarized in the following table:

  NetWare Version         Default Frame Type
  ------------------------------------------
  2.2                     Ethernet_802.3
  3.1                     Ethernet_802.3
  4.0                         802.2

Assuming the person who created the network didn't deviate from the settings
listed above, the appropriate default frame type should be selected when
installing NWLink. However, if a Windows NT computer, acting as an application
server, is not able to communicate with a Novell MS-DOS client computer after
selecting the relevant default frame type, you can determine the correct frame
type by examining the NET.CFG file located on the NetWare client.

The NET.CFG is a text file containing configuration information for a NetWare
workstation. It maintains section headings and defined options that deviate from
the established defaults for the regular workstation. Using any text file
editor, or by displaying the file at the command prompt (that is, using the
MS-DOS TYPE command), locate the Link Driver section, under which the Frame
parameter is set. This setting should look like the following:

  Link Driver "drivername"
  FRAME "frame_type"

In the above example, "drivername" is the name of the network adapter driver and
"frame_type" is the frame type that is used with the network board. The Link
Driver section supports many entries, and the FRAME parameter may not be the
first line following the section header.

NWLink's "Frame Type" parameter must be identical to the frame type specified in
the NetWare client's NET.CFG file to use NWLink to communicate with a NetWare
client.

Additional query words: IPX

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbsetup 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW310 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS310 kbWinNTAdvSerSearch kbWinNTAdvServ310 kbWinNTS310search kbWinNT310Search kbWinNTW310Search
Version           : winnt:3.1

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.