KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q142684: NetworkAddress Parameter Not Supported for a Modem

Article: Q142684
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 3.51 4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

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

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

Assigning a specific media access control address with the parameter

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NdisWAN\Parameters\ 
NetworkAddress

for the modem used for a RAS connection is not supported. Every time a RAS
connection is made, the assigned media access control address is set randomly.


CAUSE
=====

There are two reasons why assigning a specific media access control address is
not supported. The first reason is that a modem uses Serial.sys, and serial is
not a device that NetworkAddress is relative to. The second reason is that the
NetworkAddress registry override parameter is an optional value that is enforced
only for Token Ring. So, if Serial.sys supported the NetworkAddress parameter,
assigning a specific media access control address could be done. However, this
would get more complicated with multiple serial devices in a machine. So,
although a modem is a WAN device, it does not use a network device driver, which
is where the optional NetworkAddress registry override parameter would be
managed.

Additional query words: prodnt
======================================================================
Keywords          : kbenv 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS351search
Version           : 3.51 4.0

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

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.