Article ID: 299977
Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
This article was previously published under Q299977
SUMMARY
This step-by-step article describes how to configure a Windows 2000 server with TCP/IP networking while NetBIOS is disabled.
Windows 2000 provides for the ability to disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) for selected clients on an "as needed" basis. If you would prefer to only use DNS to provide name registration and resolution on a specified computer that is used in a specialized or secured role for your network, you can select to disable NetBT services for one or all of the network adapters that are installed on that computer.
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Installation
To disable WINS/NetBT name resolution:
- Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Network and Dial-up Connections.
- Click the local area connection that you want to be statically configured, and then click Properties on the File menu.
- Click Internet Protocol(TCP/IP), click Properties, click Advanced, and then click the WINS tab.
- Click Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
- Click OK, click OK, and then click OK.
NOTE: Optionally, you can select the Use NetBIOS setting from the DHCP server if you are using a DHCP server that can selectively enable and disable NetBIOS configurations through DHCP option types. NetBIOS over TCP/IP can also be disabled for computers that are running Windows 2000 by using DHCP option types that are supported by the Windows 2000 DHCP Server service.
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Troubleshooting
Computers Running Windows 2000
- The computer no longer listens for traffic to the NetBIOS datagram service at User Datagram Protocol (UDP) port 138, the NetBIOS name service at UDP port 137, or the NetBIOS session service at Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port 139.
- If the computer needs to participate in WINS as a client, it must be physically multihomed (that is, it must have other physical network connections active and available for its use) for it to continue communicating with and using a WINS server.
Computers Operating as WINS Clients
- The computer can no longer function as a WINS server to service WINS clients over the connection unless NetBT is re-enabled.
- For those adapters to use WINS, you must either manually configure a list of WINS servers on the NetBT-enabled connections or provide such a list to these connections from a DHCP server.
NOTE: WINS servers that are configured in TCP/IP properties for the disabled network adapter do not apply for other installed network adapters.
Down-Level Clients, Services and Programs
- NetBIOS defines a software interface and a naming convention, not a protocol. NetBIOS over TCP/IP provides the NetBIOS programming interface over the TCP/IP protocol, extending the reach of NetBIOS client and server programs to the WAN, and providing interoperability with various other operating systems.
- The Workstation service, Server service, Browser, Messenger, and Net Logon services are all direct NetBT clients. They use TDI (Transport Driver Interface) to communicate with NetBT. Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000 also include a NetBIOS emulator. The emulator takes standard NetBIOS requests from NetBIOS programs and translates them to equivalent TDI primitives.
- Windows 2000 uses NetBIOS over TCP/IP to communicate with prior versions of Windows NT and other clients, such as Microsoft Windows 95. Careful testing should be done before disabling NetBIOS over TCP/IP in any production environment. Programs and services that depend on NetBIOS no longer function after you disable NetBT services, so it is important that you verify that your clients and programs no longer need NetBIOS support before you disable it.
NOTE: Computers that are running an operating system prior to Windows 2000 will be unable to browse, locate, or create file and print share connections to a Windows 2000 computer with NetBIOS disabled.
Keywords: kbhowtomaster kbnetwork KB299977
