Microsoft KB Archive/843236

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A Windows NT 4.0 virtual machine does not recognize an additional network adapter that you configure in Virtual Server 2005

Article ID: 843236

Article Last Modified on 11/2/2007


APPLIES TO

  • Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 Standard Edition



SYMPTOMS

When you edit the virtual machine configuration of a Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 virtual machine to add an additional network adapter, that network adapter does not appear in the Network properties dialog box of Windows NT 4.0 when you start the Windows NT 4.0 virtual machine.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 uses a virtual multifunction device to provide the functionality of multiple network adapters for your virtual machines.

A peripheral component interconnect (PCI) card that supports more than one network interface is a multifunction card. For a single network interface, Function 0 is exposed in the virtual machine. To use the functionality of two, of three, or of four network adapters, the following additional functions are exposed in the virtual machine:

  • Function 1
  • Function 2
  • Function 3

Virtual Server 2005 creates a virtual multifunction card for the DEC PCI 21140A Fast Ethernet network adapter. Windows NT 4.0 supports multifunction network adapter devices, including this multifunction network adapter. However, the INF file that is included with Windows NT 4.0 to configure the Windows NT 4.0 networking registry entries only enables this multifunction network adapter to use the first function (Function 0). Therefore, only one network adapter appears in Windows NT 4.0.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, install an updated network adapter driver for the DEC PCI 21140A Fast Ethernet network adapter. Virtual Server 2005 contains a virtual floppy disk (.vfd) file that contains an updated Windows NT 4.0 driver for this multifunction network adapter. After you install this new driver, Windows NT 4.0 recognizes up to four network adapters.

Note This updated driver is only required for Windows NT 4.0 guest operating systems. This updated driver is not required for Microsoft Windows 2000, for Microsoft Windows XP, or for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 guest operating systems. Microsoft has only tested this driver in Windows NT 4.0.

To install the updated driver, follow these steps:

  1. On the Virtual Server 2005 computer, start the Virtual Server Administration Website tool.

    To do this, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Virtual Server, and then click Virtual Server Administration Website.
  2. Type your name in the User name box, type your password in the Password box, and then click OK.
  3. Turn on the Windows NT 4.0 virtual machine if it is not already running.
  4. Remove any existing network adapters that are installed. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Log on to the virtual machine by using an account that has administrator rights.
    2. On the virtual machine, click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    3. Double-click Network, and then click the Adapters tab.
    4. In the Network Adapters list, click the network adapter, and then click Remove.
    5. When you receive the following message, click Yes:

      This action will permanently remove the component from the system.
      If you wish to reinstall it, you will have to restart the system before doing so.

      Do you still wish to continue?

    6. Click Close.
    7. When you receive the following message, click Yes:

      You must shut down and restart your computer before the new settings will take effect.

      Do you want to restart your computer now?

  5. Under Navigation, click Configure "Virtual Machine Name", where Virtual Machine Name is the name of the Windows NT 4.0 virtual machine.
  6. In the right pane, click Floppy drive under "Virtual Machine Name" Configuration.
  7. Click Known floppy disks, and then click Path\NT4 Network Driver.vfd, where Path is the location where Virtual Server 2005 is installed.

    A path that is similar to the following path appears in the Fully qualified path to file box:

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual Server\Virtual Machine Additions\NT4 Network Driver.vfd

  8. Click OK.
  9. To remotely operate the virtual machine, click the image of the virtual machine.
  10. Log on to the virtual machine by using an account that has administrator rights.
  11. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  12. Double-click Network, and then click the Adapters tab.
  13. Click Add, and then click Have Disk.
  14. Leave the default drive letter A in the Insert Disk dialog box, and then click OK.
  15. In the Choose a software supported by this hardware manufacturer's disk box, click DEC PCI Fast Ethernet DECchip 21140, and then click OK.
  16. In the Connection Type list, leave the AutoSense default option selected, and then click OK.

    Note If you have more than one network adapter that is configured for the virtual machine, you are prompted to select the connection type one time for each network adapter that is configured for the virtual machine. Therefore, if you have two network adapters that are configured for the virtual machine, you must click OK two times in the DEC DECchip 21140 Based Adapter Setup dialog box.

    Also, if you later configure an additional network adapter for the virtual machine, when you follow step 13 through step 15 to add this network adapter, you receive the following message:

    A network card of this type is already installed in the system. Do you want to continue?

    In this scenario, click OK to install the network adapter.
  17. Click Close, configure the TCP/IP settings for each installed network adapter, and then click OK.
  18. When you receive the following message, click No:

    You must shut down and restart your computer before the new settings will take effect.

    Do you want to restart your computer now?

  19. Under Navigation, click Configure "Virtual Machine Name".
  20. In the right pane, click Floppy drive under "Virtual Machine Name" Configuration.
  21. Click No media, and then click OK.
  22. To remotely operate the virtual machine, click the image of the virtual machine.
  23. Restart the Windows NT 4.0-based virtual machine.

    Note Windows NT 4.0 requires that you restart the operating system to use the additional network adapters that you installed.


MORE INFORMATION

Important With Windows NT 4.0, you can add more than four network adapters. However, because Virtual Server only supports four network adapters in the virtual machine, only the first four network adapters that you install function in the Windows NT 4.0 guest operating system.

Virtual Server 2005 uses a virtual multifunction network adapter to preserve virtual PCI card positions in the virtual machine. This helps the future expandability and compatibility of a virtual machine. Instead of using four PCI slots in the virtual machine to configure four network adapters, the multifunction adapter only uses one PCI slot. This provides more room for additional virtual PCI devices. This also helps you add future devices without having to modify existing PCI adapter positions in a virtual machine.


Additional query words: VS, VPC, nic, network interface card

Keywords: kbprb KB843236



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