Network Protocol Combinations

[Bill Stanton]

Trying to find the correct combination of
network protocols to have installed and
enabled.

I have Two XP-HomeEdition machines that
share a dial-up connection to the Internet.
With that, the wizard installs TCP/IP and
sets the IP of the host and automatic
detection on the client. DHCP is enabled
in XP and cannot be disabled. The ICS
is working perfectly.

I was not able to get file & printer sharing
to work without installing "IPX/SPX/NetBIOS
Compatible Protocols".

On the client, access to disk resources on the
network (host) are instantaneous and the
printer works satisfactorily.

The PROBLEM IS: On the host, access to
network resources is inordinately slow. It
takes 45 seconds to a full minute to find
the workgroup common to the client. Then,
an equal amount of time to display the
resources on the network (client & host).

I have the idea that there's contention or
confusion amongst the protocols as to who
is suppose to service the requests, if that
makes any sense. The only difference I see
between the two machines is the presense
of "Microsoft TCP/IP version 6" appears
when I look at connection properties on
the client, but does not appear on the host.
I suspect that "adding a network printer"
on the client might account for that.

On the host, the Binding for the "local area
connection" has IPX/SPX/NetBIOS first
and Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) second.
The client order is the same except it has
Microsoft TCP/IP version 6 between them,
i.e., it's second in the list.

Anyway, is there a fixed or recommended
configuration of protocols for a set up such
as mine? The performance from the host is
the only problem remaining on the home
network.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Trying to find the correct combination of
network protocols to have installed and
enabled.

I have Two XP-HomeEdition machines that
share a dial-up connection to the Internet.
With that, the wizard installs TCP/IP and
sets the IP of the host and automatic
detection on the client. DHCP is enabled
in XP and cannot be disabled. The ICS
is working perfectly.

I was not able to get file & printer sharing
to work without installing "IPX/SPX/NetBIOS
Compatible Protocols".

On the client, access to disk resources on the
network (host) are instantaneous and the
printer works satisfactorily.

The PROBLEM IS: On the host, access to
network resources is inordinately slow. It
takes 45 seconds to a full minute to find
the workgroup common to the client. Then,
an equal amount of time to display the
resources on the network (client & host).

I have the idea that there's contention or
confusion amongst the protocols as to who
is suppose to service the requests, if that
makes any sense. The only difference I see
between the two machines is the presense
of "Microsoft TCP/IP version 6" appears
when I look at connection properties on
the client, but does not appear on the host.
I suspect that "adding a network printer"
on the client might account for that.

On the host, the Binding for the "local area
connection" has IPX/SPX/NetBIOS first
and Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) second.
The client order is the same except it has
Microsoft TCP/IP version 6 between them,
i.e., it's second in the list.

Anyway, is there a fixed or recommended
configuration of protocols for a set up such
as mine? The performance from the host is
the only problem remaining on the home
network.

Thanks,
Bill

The only protocol you need on either computer is TCP/IP (the default
version, which is version 4). Using more than one protocol can cause
network problems.

Un-install IPX/SPX/NetBIOS from both computers.

TCP/IP version 6 was probably installed by the "Advanced Networking
Pack for Windows XP" from Windows Update. This Microsoft Knowledge
Base article has details, including how to un-install it.

Overview of the Advanced Networking Pack for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;817778

To get everything working using only TCP/IP version 4:

1. Permanently disable XP's built-in Internet Connection Firewall on
local area network connections -- it's for use only on a direct modem
connection to the Internet. Disable and un-install all other
firewalls while troubleshooting. Details here:

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/ic_firewall.htm

2. Make sure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all computers.
Details here:

Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (NetBT)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Bill Stanton]

Steve,
I'll go through all of these steps Friday night and
let you know how things turn out.
Thanks, Bill

 

[Bill Stanton]

Steve,
I followed your instructions in every detail
including reading the URL references you
included for additional understanding.

TCP/IP is now the ONLY protocol installed
and NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled. Both
machines have identical configurations except
that the host has a dial-up connection to
service itself and ICS to the client.

I had to disable Norton Internet Security
to get F&P sharing to work, so I'll study
Symantec's discussions about excluding
LAN connections from their watchful eye.
I'm hoping they can discern LAN traffic
from Internet traffic.

Long day, I'll post whatever I find out
about Norton, so keep an eye on the
thread late tomorrow, Sunday.

Thanks for your most valuable help.

Bill

 

[Bill Stanton]

Status:
ICS is working normally.

ICF is enabled on the gateway only.

Norton Internet security un-installed on each machine
and Norton System Works 2003 installed on each
machine... Norton AntiVirus is only running task
associated with System Works, i.e., no firewalls.

Client can see shared folders on the gateway (host)
and print on the host's printer.

Host can see shared folders on the client, but takes
about 30 to 40 seconds between each step:

My Network Places
Entire Network
Microsoft Windows Network
Wishram (common workgroup name)
+ Office (Host machine name)
+ Kitchen (Client machine name)

I have no idea what might be causing such a significant
delay in accessing shared network resources from the
host. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Bill Stanton]

I don't know if I just side-stepped a performance problem
that needed more attention than I've given it, but I solved
the performance problem of accessing the client's hard-drive
from the host by creating a short cut to the client hard-drive.
I.e., once the hard-drive was found and appeared in the
"My network places" tree, I dragged it onto "My network
places" as shown in Windows Explorer.

Bill

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I don't know if I just side-stepped a performance problem
that needed more attention than I've given it, but I solved
the performance problem of accessing the client's hard-drive
from the host by creating a short cut to the client hard-drive.
I.e., once the hard-drive was found and appeared in the
"My network places" tree, I dragged it onto "My network
places" as shown in Windows Explorer.

Bill

That's a fine solution, Bill -- it's exactly what My Network Places is
for.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Bill Stanton]

Okay Steve, "this case is closed"!!!
Bill

That's a fine solution, Bill -- it's exactly what My Network Places is
for.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Tommy Toes]

That's a fine solution, Bill -- it's exactly what My Network Places is
for.

But WHY does it take so long?
I've got the same symptoms, and have just been living with it.
I've only got a few computers on the LAN, but paths are constantly
changing, so shortcuts aren't a long term fix for me - is there any
way to shorten the delay?