Assigning LUs/Pools to Workstation MAC Addresses Not Supported (191610)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft SNA Server 3.0
  • Microsoft SNA Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q191610

SYMPTOMS

SNA Server does not allow workstations to be defined using the workstation's media access control (MAC) address, except in the case of Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) clients. IPX addresses include the MAC address of the workstation; therefore they are identified by their MAC addresses. Workstations cannot be defined using their MAC addresses if they communicate with the SNA Server using TCP/IP.

CAUSE

SNA Server was not designed to allow the use of MAC addresses for workstation definitions for TCP/IP connected clients. SNA Server does not know the MAC address of TCP/IP connected clients, because this information is not returned to the SNA Server computer by the SNA Server client software.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in SNA Server versions 3.0,3.0 SP1, 3.0 SP2, 3.0 SP3, 4.0, and 4.0 SP1.

This problem was corrected in SNA Server version 4.0 U.S.Service Pack.

For information on obtaining this Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

MORE INFORMATION

With these updates applied, SNA Server 4.0 SP1 allows you to define workstations using the client's MAC address to connect to SNA Server with TCP/IP.

NOTE: Updates must be made to both the SNA Server computer and all Windows 95 and Windows NT clients to support this new feature. TCP/IP clients that do not have the updates applied continue to function correctly, but LUs/Pools cannot be assigned to their MAC addresses.

After you apply the updates, to define workstations using a MAC address: in SNA Server Manager, in the Workstation Properties dialog box, in the Workstation ID box, type the MAC address. In addition, ensure the Workstation ID Type parameter is set to Address.

There are three ways you can add a TCP/IP connected workstation to the SNA Server configuration file:

Workstation IDWorkstation ID Type
NetBIOS nameName
TCP/IP addressAddress
MAC addressAddress

When SNABASE searches for the user's workstation definition in the configuration file, it does so in the order shown above (that is, a workstation name has the highest priority, next highest priority is the TCP/IP address, and lowest is the MAC address). The rights do NOT accumulate. For example, if both a NetBIOS name and a TCP/IP address are configured for the same workstation, the TCP/IP address is never used (assuming the workstation has a NetBIOS name).

NOTE: The new feature requires that you install Client for Microsoft Networks on the Windows 95 system that runs the SNA Server client for Windows 95.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/21/2005
Keywords:kbbug kbfix KB191610
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