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Q135700: Modifications to NETBT.SYS to Support Layered Drivers

Article: Q135700
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:3.51
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbnetwork
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.51 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.51 
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SYMPTOMS
========


Under Windows NT, when a device driver creates an I/O Request Packet (IRP) to
pass to an underlying driver, it creates the IRP with a fixed number of I/O
stack locations, one for each driver in the chain of layered drivers for which
the request is bound. Each stack location contains the parameters, function
codes, and context used by the corresponding driver to determine what it is
supposed to be doing with the request.

In Windows NT 3.51, I/O Request Packets built by the NETBT.SYS driver always have
a stack frame size of 1. This presents a problem should device driver developers
wish to "layer" an additional driver between NETBT.SYS and TCPIP.SYS because
there are not enough stack frames in the IRP for the vertical driver to use.

For certain operations, NetBT also incorrectly passes IRPs directly to TCP/IP,
thereby skipping any intermediate drivers in the driver chain.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this problem, install the fix mentioned below.

To correct this problem, apply the fix mentioned below.


STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.51. This
problem was corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Windows NT Workstation
or Server version 3.51. For information on obtaining this update, query on the
following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

  S E R V P A C K



Additional query words: prodnt irp stack frame

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Keywords          : kbnetwork 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNT351search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS351search
Version           : winnt:3.51

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