How To Demonstrate Windows NT Network Features w/o a Network

ID: q106208

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

Under Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server, if there is no network adapter in the computer, the network services will not start. This behavior is by design, because many of these services would be useless without a network connection through the network adapter.

If you want to "fool" Windows NT into thinking a network is present, for example, when you want to demonstrate the network capabilities of Windows NT without being connected to a network, you can install the MS Loopback Adapter driver in the Network application in Control Panel. This driver allows the computer to connect to "network resources" that are actually local. This feature is particularly useful for demonstrating applications such as SQL Server for Windows NT at events and trade shows.

The MS Loopback Adapter can also be used to enable a standalone computer to generate UPS Shutdown messages. The Windows NT "System Guide" states that the Alerter and Messenger services must be started for a computer to generate a UPS alert. These services will not start without a network adapter present. Installing the MS Loopback Adapter allows the Alerter and Messenger services to start on a standalone system.

The MS Loopback Adapter driver supports the following frame types:

   802.3 (Ethernet)
   802.5 (Token Ring)
   FDDI

When you install the MS Loopback Adapter driver, the following key and subkeys are added to the Registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\:

   Loop
      Linkage
         Disabled
      Parameters
         TCPIP

The only user-configurable parameter is the frame type, as described above.

Additional query words: prodnt "Cannot find domain controller"

Keywords          : kbnetwork
Version           : 3.1
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: August 17, 1998