PSS ID Number: 129603
Article Last Modified on 10/30/2003
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.0
- Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.1
This article was previously published under Q129603
SYMPTOMS
When you use Systems Management Server to remotely control a client through
a Windows NT Remote Access Service (RAS) server, this error message
appears:
Unable to locate <computer name>
where <computer name> is the computer name of the remote client.
CAUSE
Systems Management Server cannot access the remote client because the RAS
Service is not configured to allow listens to be posted for all NetBIOS
names.
By default, the RAS Service will only allow NCB.LISTENs to be posted for
Server and Messenger service NetBIOS names. These names consist of the 15
character NetBIOS computer name with a 16th character that is ASCII 0x00
for Server, or 0x03 for Messenger. This allows most file and print services
to operate and reduces the resource requirements for the RAS service.
When the Systems Management Server Remote Control client software is
initialized during startup, it posts NCB.LISTENs that have the NetBIOS
computer name and the following values for the 16th character:
Hex ASCII Description
---- ----- --------------------------------------
0x43 C SMS Administrators Remote Control Tool
0x44 D SMS Clients Remote Control
0x45 E SMS Clients Remote Chat
0x46 F SMS Clients Remote Transfer
When the Systems Management Server Administrators Tool attempts to remotely
control a client, it first broadcasts a NetBIOS Name Query against the
client with the NetBIOS name formatted as described above.
For the RAS Server to forward the NetBIOS Name Query to the client, it must
post each of these NetBIOS names. Otherwise, the client cannot respond and
the Administrators Tool fails to find the client.
RESOLUTION
The RAS server needs to be configured to allow all NCB.LISTENs to be posted
before remote control will work properly.
To do this, use the registry editor to modify the RAS NetBIOSGateway
Parameter.
WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide
problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them.
Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of
Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.
Go to the following key in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree:
SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RemoteAccess\Parameters\NetBIOSGateway
Change the value of RemoteListen from 1 to 2.
This will enable RAS to post NCB.LISTENs for all NetBIOS names. Once this
is done, stop and restart the RAS Services for the change to take effect.
For more information, see Appendix C of the Windows NT Server "Remote
Access Service" or Knowledge Base articles
97599,
99145, and
110315.
Additional query words: prodsms sms
Keywords: kbenv KB129603
Technology: kbSMS100 kbSMS110 kbSMSSearch