Microsoft KB Archive/156384

= Control of Source Routing on Token Ring IP Broadcasts =

Article ID: 156384

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q156384



SYMPTOMS
Attempts to pass IP broadcasts, such as DHCP traffic, over a Token Ring transparent bridge may fail. This failure results in various symptoms, such as the inability to obtain an IP address via DHCP, or the inability to resolve the names of computers on the other side of the bridge.



CAUSE
Computers running Microsoft Windows NT set the source routing bit in all IP broadcast traffic by default. Transparent bridges may discard frames with source routing information when passing them to different media types, such as Ethernet.



RESOLUTION
WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

In order to configure a computer running Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0 to send IP broadcasts without source routing, the following Registry parameter must be added and set to 0:

When you set this parameter to 1, you force TCP/IP to transmit ARP queries with source routing enabled on token ring networks. By default, the stack transmits ARP queries without source routing first, and retries with source routing enabled if no reply was received. After applying the hotfix referenced in this article, adding this parameter and setting it to 0 will cause all IP broadcasts to be sent without source routing.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression-tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.

Additional query words: prodnt

Keywords: kbnetwork KB156384

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