CONTENTS 1. Description of NetWare DOS Requester Software 2. New NET.CFG parameters and changes since 1.10 VLMs 3. NET.CFG Parameters for the NetWare DOS Requester Option 1. Description of NetWare DOS Requester Software The NetWare DOS Requester consists of a number of files that provide NetWare support for a DOS client. Unlike previous versions of the NetWare DOS client, the Requester is built on a number of Virtual Loadable Modules (VLMs). The VLM.EXE (VLM manager) is responsible for loading the required modules. NOTE: The NetWare DOS Requester is NOT compatible with NETX.COM or NETX.EXE. Use NETX.VLM for compatibility with shell calls. The following table lists the current core modules in their default load order. The table also includes descriptions, default values, and flags indicating whether the module is "Required" or "Optional" for each of NetWare Directory Services or bindery services. MODULE DESCRIPTION NDS BIND PNW ====== =========== === ==== === CONN.VLM Connection table manager R R R IPXNCP.VLM Transport protocol R R R implementation using IPX TRAN.VLM Transport protocol multiplexor R R R SECURITY.VLM NetWare enhanced security O O O NDS.VLM NetWare protocol implementation R O O using Directory Services BIND.VLM NetWare protocol implementation O R O using the Bindery PNW.VLM NetWare protocol implementation O O R using Personal NetWare NWP.VLM NetWare protocol multiplexor R R R FIO.VLM File Input/Output R R R PRINT.VLM Printer Redirection O O O GENERAL.VLM Miscellaneous functions for R R R NETX.VLM and REDIR.VLM REDIR.VLM DOS redirector R R R NETX.VLM NetWare shell compatibility O O O RSA.VLM RSA encryption for directory O O O services reauthentication WSSNMP.VLM Desktop SNMP module, which O O O includes support for MIB-II System and SNMP groups WSREG.VLM MIB registration module O O O WSASN1.VLM ASN.1 translation module O O O WSTRAP.VLM Trap module O O O MIB2IF.VLM MIB-II interface groups support O O O MIB2PROT.VLM MIB-II support for the O O O TCP/IP groups AUTO.VLM Auto-reconnect/auto-retry O O O NMR.VLM NetWare management responder O O O -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. NEW NET.CFG PARAMETERS Since the VLMs 1.10 A> CONFIRM CRITICAL ERROR ACTION = ON|OFF {default is ON} Previously in Windows, critical errors may have been intercepted by Windows before the VLMs received the critical error. If the user entered CANCEL after receiving, the Windows error "Cannot read from device network-- Cancel--Retry", Windows would proceed to tear the connection to the server down without user intervention or notification. This new net.cfg parameter will intercept the INT 24 (critical error), and allow the user to "Retry" manually, before the connections are torn down. For this parameter to work, the NETWARE.DRV v3.03 must be loaded (WINDR1.EXE). Make sure to have the following in the SYSTEM.INI file: [boot] network.drv=netware.drv B> EOJ = ON|OFF {default is ON} Previous versions of the VLMs would not parse this parameter. This version of the VLMs will now parse the EOJ = ON|OFF NET.CFG parameter. This option will turn the end of job automatic closing of files, locks, semaphores, and so forth, ON or OFF. This supports EOJs from a DOS INT 21 D6 function call. C> FORCE FIRST NETWORK DRIVE = ON|OFF {default is OFF} Previously, if you typed logout from any drive other than a local drive or the FIRST NETWORK DRIVE, the SYS:LOGIN drive would be mapped to the drive letter you logged out from. If set to ON, this parameter will force the SYS:LOGIN drive to be mapped to the "FIRST NETWORK DRIVE = ?" drive upon logout. D> LIP START SIZE=xxx {default is 0, min is 576, max is 65535, 0 is off} This parameter was provided for those that operate across mulitple hop routes, with one segment of the connection that has smaller packet sizes than the local routes, but larger than the minimum packet size of 576 bytes. This improved algorithm improves performance while drastically improving thruput. E> LOAD LOW FIO=ON|OFF {default is OFF} FIO.VLM now can be loaded low (In conventional or UMB memory). This increases performance for repeated reads and writes, such as with database applications To load the transient portion of FIO.VLM into conventional or UMB memory, add the following parameter to the workstation's NET.CFG under the NETWARE DOS REQUESTER heading: LOAD LOW FIO = ON F> LOAD LOW NETX=ON|OFF {default is OFF} NETX.VLM now can be loaded low (In conventional or UMB memory). This increases performance for repeated reads and writes, such as with database applications To load the transient portion of NETX.VLM into conventional or UMB memory, add the following parameter to the workstation's NET.CFG under the NETWARE DOS REQUESTER heading: LOAD LOW NETX = ON G> LOAD LOW REDIR = ON|OFF {default is OFF} REDIR.VLM now can be loaded low (In conventional or UMB memory). This increases performance for repeated reads and writes, such as with database applications. To load the transient portion of REDIR.VLM into conventional or UMB memory, add the following parameter to the workstation's NET.CFG under the NETWARE DOS REQUESTER heading: LOAD LOW REDIR = ON H> LOCK DELAY = xxx {default is 1, min is 0, max is 255} This version of the VLMs will now parse this parameter. The "Lock Delay" determines the delay between LOCK RETRIES. The delay value determines the number of 64 KB empty loops to execute between RETRIES. This parameter is dependant on processor speed. Faster CPUs will execute a 64 KB no-op loop faster; therefore, they may need to have this parameter increased. I> LOCK RETRIES = xxx {default is 3, min is 0, max is 255} The "Lock Retries" determines the number of retries that are executed if a SHARE violation/failure occurs when opening or locking a file. CHANGES TO NET.CFG PARAMETERS Since the v1.10 VLMs A> READ ONLY COMPATIBILITY = ON|OFF {default is OFF} In previous versions of the VLMs, READ ONLY COMPATIBILITY defaulted to ON. The default was changed to make the VLMs consistent with NETX.EXE v3.32. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. NET.CFG File Parameter for the NetWare DOS Requester Option The following table lists the parameters for the various modules of the NetWare DOS Requester. The following list is complete. Any parameters which may have been used previously by the NetWare DOS Requester but are not listed here are invalid. Parameter/Default Minimum Maximum Module AUTO RECONNECT = ON -- -- AUTO.VLM NDS.VLM Note: When this parameter is OFF, the AUTO.VLM load fails at pre-initialization time. AUTO LARGE TABLE = OFF -- -- AUTO.VLM Note: When this parameter is OFF, the user name and password maximum lengths are 16 chars each for auto reconnect. AUTO RETRY = 0 0 3640 AUTO.VLM AVERAGE NAME LENGTH = 48 2 48 CONN.VLM BIND RECONNECT = OFF -- -- AUTO.VLM BIND.VLM BROADCAST RETRIES = 2 0 255 PNW.VLM BROADCAST SEND DELAY = 0 0 255 PNW.VLM BROADCAST TIMEOUT = 3 1 255 PNW.VLM CACHE BUFFERS = 5 0 64 FIO.VLM CACHE BUFFER SIZE =(Media dependent) -- FIO.VLM CACHE WRITES = ON -- -- FIO.VLM CHECKSUM = 1 0 3 IPXNCP.VLM NWP.VLM 0 = disabled 1 = enabled but not preferred 2 = enabled and preferred 3 = required CONFIRM CRITICAL ERROR ACTION =ON -- -- VLM.EXE NOTE: Netware.drv v3.03 or higher must be used for this parameter to work. CONNECTIONS = 8 2 50 CONN.VLM FIO.VLM NDS.VLM SECURITY.VLM AUTO.VLM DOS NAME = MSDOS 1 5 chars NETX.VLM GENERAL.VLM EOJ=ON -- -- NETX.VLM REDIR.VLM EXCLUDE VLM = -- -- VLM.EXE FIRST NETWORK DRIVE = A Z GENERAL.VLM NETX.VLM NOTE: If FIRST NETWORK DRIVE is not specified, it will default to the first available drive letter. FORCE FIRST NETWORK DRIVE=OFF -- -- GENERAL.VLM HANDLE NET ERRORS = ON -- -- IPXNCP.VLM LARGE INTERNET PACKETS = ON -- -- IPXNCP.VLM NWP.VLM LIP START SIZE = 0 576 65535 IPXNCP.VLM NWP.VLM LOAD CONN TABLE LOW = OFF -- -- CONN.VLM LOAD LOW CONN = ON -- -- CONN.VLM LOAD LOW FIO = OFF -- -- FIO.VLM LOAD LOW IPXNCP = ON -- -- IPXNCP.VLM LOAD LOW NETX = OFF -- -- NETX.VLM LOAD LOW REDIR=OFF -- -- REDIR.VLM LOCAL PRINTERS = 3 0 9 PRINT.VLM LOCK DELAY=1 0 255 NETX.VLM GENERAL.VLM LOCK RETRIES=3 0 255 NETX.VLM GENERAL.VLM LONG MACHINE TYPE = IBM_PC 1 6 chars NETX.VLM GENERAL.VLM MAX TASKS = 31 5 254 CONN.VLM MESSAGE LEVEL = 1 0 4 VLM.EXE 0 = V_LEVEL_STD; always display message and critical errors 1 = V_LEVEL_WARNING; display warning type messages 2 = V_LEVEL_PROG; display the program load message 3 = V_LEVEL_CONFIG; display configuration information 4 = V_LEVEL_DIAG; display diagnostic information MESSAGE TIMEOUT = 0 0 10000 NWP.VLM MINIMUM TIME TO NET = 0 -- VLM.EXE MOBILE MODE = 0 0 65535 PNW.VLM NAME CONTEXT = "" -- -- NDS.VLM Note: Quotation marks are required. NETWARE PROTOCOL = VLM.EXE Note: The is the list of protocols to be used (NDS.VLM, BIND.VLM and PNW.VLM) by the Requester in the order of their priority. Each protocol is separated by a comma or space in the list (NDS,BIND,PNW). If you exclude any one of the protocol .VLM files from the list, the excluded .VLM file will not load. NETWORK PRINTERS = 3 0 9 PRINT.VLM NOTE: If set to 0, PRINT.VLM will not load. PB BUFFERS = 3 0 10 FIO.VLM IPXNCP.VLM 0 = off nonzero = on PBURST READ WINDOW SIZE = 16 2 64 FIO.VLM PBURST WRITE WINDOW SIZE = 10 2 64 FIO.VLM PREFERRED SERVER = -- -- BIND.VLM PREFERRED TREE = -- -- NDS.VLM PREFERRED WORKGROUP = -- -- PNW.VLM PRINT BUFFER SIZE = 64 0 256 PRINT.VLM PRINT HEADER = 64 0 1024 PRINT.VLM PRINT TAIL = 16 0 1024 PRINT.VLM READ ONLY COMPATIBILITY = OFF -- -- REDIR.VLM RESPONDER = ON -- -- PNW.VLM SEARCH MODE = 1 0 7 GENERAL.VLM SET STATION TIME = ON -- -- VLM.EXE SHORT MACHINE TYPE = IBM 1 4 chars NETX.VLM GENERAL.VLM SHOW DOTS = OFF -- -- REDIR.VLM SIGNATURE LEVEL = 1 0 3 NWP.VLM SECURITY.VLM 0 = disabled 1 = enabled but not preferred 2 = preferred 3 = required NOTE: This parameter designates the level of enhanced security support. Enhanced security includes the use of a message digest algorithm and a per-connection/pre-request session state for increased protection against intruder attacks. When this parameter is set to 0 (disabled), the SECURITY.VLM will not load. TRUE COMMIT = OFF -- -- FIO.VLM USE DEFAULTS = ON -- -- VLM.EXE VLM = -- 50 VLMs VLM.EXE WORKGROUP NET = -- -- PNW.VLM