RandomSponsor Setting Does Not Work on SNA Server Client for NT

ID: Q195816

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SNA Server version 4.0
Microsoft SNA Server version 4.0 with Service Pack 1

SYMPTOMS

Windows NT SNA Server clients continue to select Sponsor servers randomly even after clearing the "Select Sponsor in Random order" option in the Ntconfig.exe client configuration tool.

This problem only affects the Windows NT version of the SNA Server client.

CAUSE

The Ntconfig.exe utility of the SNA server Windows NT client incorrectly created a registry variable "RandomSponsors". The client's method of choosing a sponsor is actually controlled by a registry variable "RandomSponsor" with no "s" at the end.

RESOLUTION

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SNA Server version 4.0 and 4.0 SP1. This problem was corrected in the latest SNA Server version 4.0 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining this Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

   S E R V P A C K

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, manually create and adjust the "RandomSponsor" value in the client's registry. For information on this value and how to use it, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q160849
   TITLE     : How the SNA Server Client Chooses a "Sponsor" SNA Server

Additional query words: sponsor random ntconfig

Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,4.0SP1
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

Last Reviewed: February 16, 1999