DOCUMENT:Q166321 20-MAY-2002 [win95x] TITLE :Configuring Maximum IPX Packet Size in Windows 95 PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product PROD/VER::1,2,2.1 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbenv osr1 msnets osr2 win95 ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows 95 - Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release, versions 1, 2, 2.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you are using the IPX/SPX-compatible protocol that is included in Windows 95 to communicate across an IPX router, some communications may not work if the router requires a smaller packet size than is used by the LAN media (Ethernet or Token Ring, for example). In some cases, NCP-based communications with NetWare servers may succeed, but operations using other protocols running over IPX, such as SPX or NetBIOS, may not work. CAUSE ===== You may be able to work around such routing restrictions by manually limiting the size of IPX packets sent by the communicating systems. However, when you are using the version of the IPX/SPX-compatible protocol that is included in Windows 95 (all versions), it is not possible to manually specify a maximum IPX packet size. RESOLUTION ========== An update for Microsoft Windows 95 and OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2) to provide this functionality is now available from Microsoft, but has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to computers experiencing this specific problem. To resolve this problem immediately, contact Micros ft Technical Support to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Technical Support phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS This update for Windows 95 and OEM Service Release 2 should have the following file attributes (or later): File name Version Date Time Size --------------------------------------------------------- Nwlink.vxd 4.00.1112 4/23/97 11:12am 51,049 bytes It may be possible to work around this issue by limiting the maximum packet size sent by the network adapter itself. Not all network adapter drivers provide such a feature, and implementing such a feature, if it exists, may vary among network adapter drivers. Contact your network adapter manufacturer for more information about this possible workaround. It may also be possible to resolve this issue by a configuration change or updated software or firmware on the router itself. Contact your router manufacturer for more information about this possible workaround. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows 95 and OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2). This updated functionality is not included in Microsoft Windows 98. MORE INFORMATION ================ For additional information about Windows 95 updates, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q161020 Implementing Windows 95 Updates For additional information about specifying the maximum IPX packet size for the IPX/SPX-compatible protocol that is included in Windows NT, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q99745 Tuning NWLINK Registry Parameters Q103002 REG: Network Services Entries, Part 6 For information about how to contact third-party vendors, see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K Q60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P Q60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbenv osr1 msnets osr2 win95 Technology : kbWin95search kbOPKSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin95OPKOSR2 kbWin95OPKOSR1 kbWin95OPKOSR210 Version : :1,2,2.1 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.