[comp.protocols.pcnet] PCLAN/NetBIOS/TCP problem

tony@scotty.dccs.upenn.edu (Anthony Olejnik) (06/20/89)

I'm having a problem with IBM's PCLAN program.  The problem appears
with both versions 1.2 and 1.3 (I don't know about earlier versions).

I've noticed that when using either Ungermann-Bass PCNIUs (with Release
16.0 of their TCP/PC software) or WD8003E's (with PC/TCP v2.03 pl 1
software) the PCLAN server does not drop non-existent sessions.

Both of the HW/SW combinations are using the NetBIOS as referenced in
RFC's 1001 & 1002.

Clients who connect to the server are still "seen" by the server even
after the PC is turned off.  This presents a problem the next day when
the same clients attempt to connect to the server again.  If the server
has available NETBIOS/TCP sessions, then the client is able to re-connect.
However, this still leaves a non-existent session on the server end.
If the server does not have any available NETBIOS/TCP sessions, then the
client is not able to re-connect.

Is this a problem with PCLAN?
Is this a problem with my configuration of PCLAN?
   (I start the server via the following command: net start srv test /cac:0)
Is this a problem with both UB and FTP's software?
Is this a (RFC 1001/2) NetBIOS bug? 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

--tony olejnik
  University of Pennsylvania
  Data Communications and Computing Services
  Suite 221A
  3401 Walnut Street
  Philadelphia, PA 19104
  (215) 898-9408
  tony@dccs.upenn.edu

gts@violet.berkeley.edu (Greg Small) (06/24/89)

= Article 26 of comp.protocols.pcnet:     Date: 19 Jun 89 21:16:56 GMT
= From: tony@scotty.dccs.upenn.edu (Anthony Olejnik)
=
= I'm having a problem with IBM's PCLAN program.  When using either Ungermann-
= Bass PCNIUs (with Release 16.0 of TCPPC) or WD8003E's (with PC/TCP v2.03 pl
= 1) the PCLAN server does not drop non-existent sessions.
= 
= Clients who connect to the server are still "seen" by the server even after
= the PC is turned off.  This presents a problem the next day when the same
= clients attempt to connect to the server again.  If the server has available
= NETBIOS/TCP sessions, then the client is able to re-connect.  However, this
= still leaves a non-existent session on the server end.

The temporary solution for UB TCP-PC 16.0 is to turn on TCP Heartbeats.  This
allows the server to time-out the connection.  RFC1001/1002 also provides a
separate heartbeat for Netbios sessions only but that is not implemented in
16.0 (comming in 16.1?).  You should check PC/TCP for a similar option.

There is a similar problem that PC Net/LAN does not clean up a Netbios
connection if the workstation IP address is changed while the server has a
Netbios connection open.  When the workstation logs back into the server the
connection under the old IP address is maintained.

I guess from your question that the UB TCPPC 16.0 and the PC/TCP interoperate
OK under RFC1001/1002?

Gregory T Small                                      (415)642-5979
Personal Computer Networking & Communications        gts@violet.Berkeley.EDU
Workstation Support Services - Software Group        ucbvax!jade!gts
267 Evans Hall                                       SPGGTS@UCBCMSA.BITNET
University of California, Berkeley, Ca 94720