Chapter 2 - Configuring the Banyan Client for Windows NT
This chapter provides information on changing the configuration the Banyan Enterprise Client for Windows NT. Although you fully configured the Banyan client during the initial installation, you may need to change configuration settings at some point.
This chapter covers:
Changing the Client's Network Protocol
When communicating with the network, Banyan Clients can either use VIP (VINES Internet Protocol) or IP (Internet Protocol) as their network protocol.
VIP is enabled by default. Instead of using VIP as the client's network protocol, you can enable IP communications. To use the IP protocol, you must have the Microsoft TCP/IP stack installed on your workstation.
To Change the Network Protocol
1. In the Banyan program group, double-click the Setup icon. The Banyan Setup window appears.
2. Double-click the Network icon. The Network Communications dialog box appears.
3. Do one of the following:
- To use IP as the workstation's network protocol, select the Enable IP Encapsulation checkbox. Enter the IP numbers of preferred IP routing servers. For instructions specifying preferred IP routing servers, see "Selecting Preferred IP Routing Servers," which follows.
- To use VIP as the workstation's network protocol, clear the Enable IP Encapsulation checkbox if it has been selected.
Selecting Preferred IP Routing Servers
An IP routing server is a Banyan server that is equipped to resolve IP addresses and route IP traffic to Banyan servers. For the client to use IP as its network protocol, the client must connect to an IP routing server on the network.
A preferred IP routing server is a specific IP routing server, identified by IP address, to which the client directly sends a connection request. If you do not provide the address of a preferred IP routing server, the client attempts to find one by broadcasting a request to the network. Since IP broadcasts are limited to the client's LAN segment; the client may be unable to find a routing server by broadcast.
To ensure that the client can find an IP routing service, you should specify the IP addresses of up to three preferred IP routing servers. The client sends connection requests to each server IP address in turn. If the client is unsuccessful connecting to any of the preferred routing servers, it then broadcasts a connection request.
The client can use different routing servers when it connects direct to a LAN or when it connects to a LAN via a modem (dial-up connection). To enhance dial-up performance, only list preferred IP routing servers that are close to the LAN containing the dial-up server.
To Specify Preferred IP Routing Servers
1. In the Banyan program group, double-click the Setup icon. The Banyan Setup window opens.
2. Double-click the Network icon. The Network Communications dialog box appears.
3. Ensure that the Enable IP Encapsulation checkbox is selected. If this checkbox is not selected, the Server Addresses boxes are not displayed.
4. Enter up to three IP routing server addresses under the Server IP Addresses section and/or the Dial-up Server IP Addresses section. When entering the IP addresses of preferred IP routing servers, enter either of the following IP addresses:
- The IP addresses of IP routing servers on a remote segment
- The IP addresses of remote segments on which one or more IP routing servers exist
5. Specify whether the client should use LAN IP addresses, Dial-up IP address, or both by marking the appropriate checkbox. If neither box is selected, the client broadcasts for an IP routing server.
The following table summarizes the effect of the two checkboxes.
Configuring the Client's Communications Settings
The following communications settings are configurable through the Network Communications dialog box:
Communications Heap Size - The heap size (amount of buffers) must be large enough to handle the number of open SPP connections and open sockets. In addition, heap size must be able to handle the data transmitted by those connections and sockets. The default size is 256 KB. The range is from 16 KB to 4096 KB.
Although the maximum heap size is 8192 KB, many workstations do not have enough memory to support a 8192 KB comm heap. Workstations with 32 MB of RAM can support a comm heap of up to 4096 KB, but workstations with 16 MB of RAM can support a comm heap of up to only 1024 KB.
Number of Sockets - Whenever a program communicates with another program, at least one socket (logical address) is open. Each socket requires 70 to 80 bytes of the communication buffer. The default is 100 sockets. The range is from 10 sockets to 500 sockets.
Total SPP Connections - One SPP (Sequenced Packet Protocol) connection is created for each network file service mapped to the workstation, for each NETBIOS session, or for any type of host connection. Each SPP requires 80 bytes to 100 bytes of the communication buffer. The default is 300 connections. The range is from 60 connections to 1000 connections.
Source Level Routing - Enable SLR only if the workstation sends and receives data through IBM Token-Ring bridges, and the Token-Ring LAN to which your workstation is connected has no servers with source level routing enabled. This option is only available if the workstation is using VIP as the network protocol.
To Configure the Communications Settings
1. In the Banyan program group, double-click the Setup icon. The Banyan Setup window opens.
2. Double-click the Network icon. The Network Communications dialog box appears.
3. In the Communications Heap Size field, enter a number from 16 to 4096. The default setting is 256 KB.
4. In the Number of Sockets field, enter a number from 10 to 500. The default setting is 100.
5. In the Total SPP Connections field, enter a number from 10 to 1000. The default setting is 300.
6. To enable SLR, select the Enable Source Level Routing checkbox.
Changing Advanced Communications Options
The Advanced Communications options are only available if the client uses the VIP network protocol. By default, the options are disabled.
Caution: Do not make changes to the Advanced Communications unless instructed to by your technical representative. Setting incorrect parameters can cause network communications to fail or adversely affect workstation performance.
The following options are available from the Advanced Communications Options dialog box:
Accept all Multicast Addresses - This option is required by certain applications or protocols, and is specific to Ethernet networks.
Accept all Functional Addresses - This option is required by certain applications or protocols, and is specific to Token-Ring networks.
Reset MAC when no traffic - This option automatically resets the Media Access Control (MAC) LAN interface driver after a period of time of no traffic on the network.
Always use Fragmentation - This option is required by certain Banyan server drivers.
NDIS Descriptors - Set NDIS buffer and packet descriptors only if instructed to by your technical representative.
Routing Metric - By default, the client is set to automatically determine the metric used to route information through the network.
To Change Advanced Communications Options
1. In the Banyan program group, double-click the Setup icon. The Banyan Setup window appears.
2. Double-click the Network icon. The Network Communications dialog box appears.
3. Click Advanced. A warning message appears.
4. Click Proceed. The Advanced Communications Options dialog box appears.
5. Select or change the appropriate advanced communications option.
Preventing User Access to Network Communications Advanced Options
After installing the client, the Setup icon in the Banyan Program group allows users to alter the communications configuration of their workstation. In most cases, the Advanced Communication Options, accessible from the Network Communications dialog box, should not be changed from the default settings. Since incorrect settings can cause network communications to fail or can severely affect performance, only experienced system administrators should alter the default settings.
To prevent users from inadvertently accessing and changing the default settings, you can disable the Advanced button on the Network Communications dialog box.
To disable the Advanced button you can do either of the following:
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Install the client and then delete the file <installdir>\RESOURCE\<location>\VNSADV.DLL, where <installdir> is the directory to which you installed the client software. <location> is the language-specific locations that you installed on the client. |
Caution: If you have multiple locations installed (for example, FRANCE and USA), you have to delete VNSADV.DLL in both location directories. If you delete the file from only one directory, the button remains active.
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Edit the SETUP.INI file on the release media and comment out the line containing the VNSADV.DLL filename. The DLL will not be installed on the workstation. |
It is recommended that you use the first method since it does not modify the release media; however, if you have many users installing the client software and you want to ensure that they do not have access to the Advanced Communications Options, you should use the second method.
You can configure the following login options from the Banyan Enterprise Client dialog box:
Login Group List - The Login Group Lists lets you specify up to three StreetTalk groups that the login program appends to your username if you do not enter a complete StreetTalk username. You can enter up to three login groups in the <group>@<organization> format.
For example, if your StreetTalk name is Mary Smith@Sales@MyCompany and you enter Sales@MyCompany in your Login Group Search List, you only need to enter Mary Smith when you log in to the network. If your StreetTalk nickname is MaryS, you need only enter MaryS.
Load Banyan Client During System Start - Enabling this option loads the Banyan workstation software each time your workstation boots.
Use Windows NT Login for the Banyan Network (Common Login) - If you enable Common Login, logging into any client on your workstation also logs you into the Banyan network. For more information, see "Setting Up Common Login," which follows.
Timeout Login Status Dialog Box - The Login Status dialog box displays your network connections to drives and printers as the login program processes your user profile. The dialog box is set to automatically close after 6 seconds. Enabling this option and specifying a time causes the dialog box to close sooner.
When you boot up a Windows NT workstation, NT presents a login dialog box. You must log into Windows NT in order to use your workstation. In addition, you must log into the Banyan Client in order to access the resources on the Banyan network.
To streamline the login process, Banyan has included a Common Login feature in the Banyan Client for Windows NT. Common Login lets you log into the Banyan network at the same time you log on to the Windows NT workstation. This feature allows you to login just once, instead of logging in separately to the Windows NT workstation, and then into your Banyan network.
In order to use Common Login, your Windows NT username must match the first part (the item part) of your StreetTalk username. If your Windows NT username does not match the first part of your StreetTalk username, create a StreetTalk nickname that uses your Windows NT username as the first part of your StreetTalk nickname.
Common Login passes your Windows NT login name together with the groups you entered in the Login Group List and your password to the client for use in the Banyan login. If the name with the groups and password do not match those required by the Banyan network, you are logged into the Windows NT network but not the Banyan network. If this happens, you can log into the Banyan network through the Banyan Login program. You can log into or out of the Banyan network without effecting connectivity to the Windows NT network. Logging out of the Windows NT network, will, however, log you out of the Banyan network.
Example
Type of Username Name Windows NT Username Michael StreetTalk Username MSmith@Marketing@WCT StreetTalk Nickname Michael@Marketing@WCT
In addition to usernames, your StreetTalk and Windows NT passwords must be the same. If you change one password, you must change the other password. If you do not change both passwords, the passwords will not be synchronized and you will be unable to use Common Login.
In order to keep your Banyan and Windows NT passwords synchronized, it is recommended that you use Banyan's Password utility to change your password. Access the Password Change utility by double-clicking the Password icon in the Banyan program group. If you use Common Login, make sure the Change NT Password checkbox is selected when you change your Banyan password. For more information on using the Password Change Utility, see the VINES User's Guide for Windows.
1. In the Banyan program group, double-click the Setup icon. The Banyan Setup window appears.
2. Double-click the Workstations icon. The Banyan Enterprise Client dialog box appears.
3. Enter login group names and select the desired options.
Using AutoAdmin Login with Windows NT 3.51
If you use Windows NT version 3.51 and enable AutoAdmin Login on your Banyan Windows NT Client, you should move the Banyan Login icon to the Windows NT Startup Group. If you do not move the Login icon to the Startup Group, you must double-click the Login icon in order to activate AutoAdmin Login. See your Windows NT documentation for information on enabling AutoAdmin Login.
Enabling Communication with Distributed WinSock Applications
The Configure Network Workstation Name dialog box lets you enter a name that the client uses for communication with distributed WinSock applications. When you are running third-party WinSock applications, you need to be able to map to the WinSock naming scheme. Since WinSock is based on server names, and Banyan networks are based on service names, this screen allows you to configure a Banyan service name that maps to the WinSock server name for the Windows NT system. The third-party application is supposed to supply the computer name in its documentation.
The Configure Network Workstation Name dialog box contains the following fields:
Name Workstation on Network: This name is used to create a PC-based StreetTalk service that is used to connect to the system over VINES IP using WinSock. The service uses the workstation name for address resolution during communication with distributed RPC applications.
Search Groups: Administrators can create StreetTalk groups with servers and workstations that participate in WinSock communications with distributed applications. This option lets you specify groups to search when looking for another system to connect to via VINES IP with WinSock. If no groups are selected, all groups will be searched. In a large network this could take some time to complete.
To Enable WinSock Communication
1. In the Banyan program group, double-click the Setup icon. The Banyan Setup window opens.
2. Double-click the Workstations icon. The Configure Network Workstation Name dialog box appears.
3. Select the Name Workstation on Network checkbox.
4. Enter a 32-character maximum item name (including the @), followed by the group and organization specified by the administrator for this workstation.
Note: Selecting the Name Workstation on Network checkbox without entering a computer name forces the machine to use a default Microsoft computer name.
5. Enter up to 10 StreetTalk groups in the Search Groups field. Group names must be separated by a blank space.
6. Click OK to close the dialog box.
Connecting to Specific Revisions of VINES Files
VINES Files services contain programs that let you access and manipulate network resources. By entering a range of VINES Files revision numbers in the VINES File Service Revision dialog box, you can make your client to connect to a specific revision of VINES Files. If you enter a range of revisions, your client searches the network for a revision of VINES Files that falls within the preferred range. If a revision in the preferred range cannot be found, the client searches for a VINES File service in the alternate revision range.
Specifying a limited range can significantly increase the time it takes your client to find a VINES Files server. While the client is searching for a matching version of VINES Files, the Close button on the Login Status dialog box is greyed out. The client uses the following order when searching for VINES Files:
search 0 hops away for the Primary Revision
search 1 hop away for the Primary Revision
search 0 hops away for the Alternate Revision
search 1 hop away for the Alternate Revision
search 0 hops away for any revision
search 1 hop away for any revision
To Connect to Specific VINES Files Revisions
1. In the Banyan program group, double-click the Setup icon. The Banyan Setup window opens.
2. Double-click the VINES Files icon. The VINES File Service Revision dialog box appears.
3. Set the client's preferred VINES Files revision by doing the following:
- In the Preferred Revision box, enter the number of the maximum acceptable revision in the Maximum field. Enter the revision number without punctuation. The last two digits of the maximum value must be 99.
- In the Preferred Revision box, enter the number of the minimum acceptable revision in the Minimum field. Enter the revision number without punctuation. The last two digits of the minimum value must be 00.
4. Set an alternate VINES Files range by entering maximum and minimum revisions in the fields in the Alternate Revision box.
5. Click OK to save your changes or Default to restore the default values.
Example
You must enter the revision number as 5 digits without any punctuation. Therefore, if you want to set a 6.10 (0) server as the maximum revision and a 5.50 (0) server as the minimum revision, you would enter the following:
Maximum 61099
Minimum 55000
So if your network consists of 5.x, 6.x, and 7.x servers, and you want to connect to a 6.x VINES Files service, you could enter the following:
Maximum 69999
Minimum 60000
Changing the Client's Language
You can install multiple locations, or language-versions, of the Banyan Client on your workstation. If you want to use languages that are not installed on your workstation, you must reinstall the Banyan Client and choose those languages during the installation procedure. See "To Install the Client Software" in Chapter 1 for instructions on adding languages.
When you want to change which language the client displays, follow the procedure below.
To Change the Client's Language
1. In the Banyan program group, double-click the Setup icon. The Banyan Setup window opens.
2. Double-click the International icon. The International dialog box appears.
3. Click the drop-down list and select the location you want to use. Only installed locations are displayed in the drop-down list.
4. Click OK.
Note: After you change the client's location, upon boot-up, finding a VINES Files server may take longer since the client now has to search for a French version of VINES Files and STDA.
