Article ID: 236869
Article Last Modified on 10/30/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
This article was previously published under Q236869
SUMMARY
The Microsoft Loopback adapter is a tool for testing in a virtual network environment where access to a network is not feasible. Also, the Loopback adapter is essential if there are conflicts with a network adapter or a network adapter driver. Network clients, protocols, and so on, can be bound to the Loopback adapter, and the network adapter driver or network adapter can be installed at a later time while retaining the network configuration information. The Loopback adapter can also be installed during the unattended installation process.
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Manual Installation
- Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Hardware.
- Click Add/Troubleshoot a device, and then click Next.
- Click Add a new device, and then click Next.
- Click No, I want to select the hardware from a list, and then click Next.
- Click Network adapters, and then click Next.
- In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft.
- In the Network Adapter box, click Microsoft Loopback Adapter, and then click Next.
- Click Finish.
After the adapter is installed successfully, you can configure its options manually, as with any other adapter. Note that if the TCP/IP properties are configured to use DHCP (the default), the adapter will eventually use an autonet address (169.254.x.x/16) because it is not actually connected to any physical media.
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Unattended Installation
Modify the Unattend.txt file using the following example as a guide to install the Microsoft Loopback adapter:
[NetAdapters]
Adapter01=Params.Adapter01
[Params.Adapter01]
InfID="*msloop" ; Microsoft Loopback Adapter
ConnectionName = "MS Loopback Adapter"
[NetProtocols]
MS_TCPIP=Params.MS_TCPIP
; TCP/IP parameters
; Use parameter values specific to your network
[Params.MS_TCPIP]
AdapterSections=params.TCPIP.Adapter01
DNS=yes
DNSSuffixSearchOrder=mycorp.com
EnableLMHosts=No
; Adapter Specific TCP/IP parameters
; Use parameter values specific to your network
[params.TCPIP.Adapter01]
SpecificTo=Adapter01
DNSDomain=mycorp.com
DNSServerSearchOrder=192.168.5.251
WINS=no
DHCP=no
IPAddress=192.168.5.10
SubnetMask=255.255.255.0
DefaultGateway=192.168.5.254
Additional query words: Loopback Adapter
Keywords: kbhowto kbhowtomaster kbnetwork KB236869
