Cannot Connect to NCP Server Without SAP Advertising Enabled

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SAP advertising is how Novell NetWare servers advertise their services (such as file server and print server services). If SAP advertising is enabled, the Microsoft "File and printer sharing for NetWare Networks" service advertises like a Novell NetWare server by sending a broadcast every 60 seconds.

When a Novell NetWare client boots without a preferred NetWare server specified, it sends a request for the nearest NetWare server (GetNearestServer). The quickest NetWare server to respond is the one the client connects to. If SAP advertising is enabled on the Windows 95-based computer acting as a NetWare server, it may respond to this request before an actual NetWare server responds. While the Windows 95 server is designed to respond slowly, it may respond quicker than an actual NetWare server.

When the "File and printer sharing for NetWare Networks" service is enabled, two new folders are created in the Windows folder: Nwsysvol and Login. The Login folder contains Login.exe. If a computer starts without specifying a preferred server and connects to a Windows 95 server, the Windows 95 server:

1. Makes an implicit connection to the NETX/VLM client and maps the first drive to sys:\login.
2. Connects to a true Novell NetWare server and sets this server as the primary and preferred server for the NETX/VLM client. The server it uses is based on the following (in order of preference):
   • 
     
     
   • Preferred server specified by the client with the "/ps=" or "Preferred server" setting in the Net.cfg file.
   • The pass-through server used by the Windows 95-based computer.
3. Login.exe performs a global logout, remaps, and starts the login process with the true NetWare server. There is a chain execution with Login.exe from the true NetWare server using identical parameters to finish the connection for the NETX/VLM client.
   
   If the pass-through server used by the "File and printer sharing for NetWare Networks" service does not have an account for you, enter

   login <ServerName>

   where <ServerName> is the name of a NetWare server on which you have an account. In normal circumstances, NETX/VLM clients should always specify a preferred server. The real-mode client does not detect any of these events, it just receives the login connection it wanted with a NetWare server, even though a Windows 95 server first answered its "GetNearestServer" broadcast.

Windows NT

In order for Windows NT computers with Client Service for NetWare to be able to connect to Windows 95-based computers acting as Novell NetWare servers, you must enable SAP advertising.

To Enable SAP Advertising

To enable SAP advertising on a Windows 95-based computer, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click Network.
2. On the Configuration tab, click "File and printer sharing for NetWare Networks", and then click Properties.
3. In the Property box, click SAP Advertising.
4. In the Value box, click Enabled, click OK and then click OK again.