Knowledge Base

SMB Traffic During Windows NT Domain Logon

Article ID: 139608

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q139608

SUMMARY

The following article explains the network traffic that occurs when a Windows NT Workstation logs on to a Windows NT Domain in a Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) environment. It focuses on the NetBIOS names that get registered during the bootup and logon processes.

MORE INFORMATION

SETUP

This information is based on a Windows NT Workstation version 3.51 with Service Pack 2. The computer name of the workstation is NTWINSCLIENT, and is a member of the NTWINSDOM domain. The user login name is NEWUSER. This domain contains a single primary domain controller (PDC) and one Windows NT Workstation. There is a WINS server on the network, but it is not a member of this domain. The IP address of the workstation is xxx.57.9.54 and the IP address of the PDC is xxx.57.11.179 where xxx represents any valid number for an IP address.

At the workstation, if you issue the command "NBTSTAT -n" (without the quotation marks) at a command prompt, the following information appears: 
Node IpAddress: [xxx.57.9.54] Scope Id: []

              NetBIOS Local Name Table

   Name                 Type        Status
   ---------------------------------------------
   NTWINSCLIENT   <00>  UNIQUE      Registered
   NTWINSDOM      <00>  GROUP       Registered
   NTWINSCLIENT   <03>  UNIQUE      Registered
   NTWINSCLIENT   <20>  UNIQUE      Registered
   NTWINSDOM      <1E>  GROUP       Registered
   NEWUSER        <03>  UNIQUE      Registered


The following explains the relevant server message block (SMB), NetBIOS, and NBT traffic during the bootup and logon processes as recorded with Microsoft Network Monitor. It also shows items from the NBTSTAT -n command being registered.
  1. The Windows NT Workstation boots up. This shows the registration request and reply for the unique computername of NTWINSCLIENT:

    Windows NT Workstation to the WINS Server:

    NBT: NS: Registration req. for NTWINSCLIENT <00>


    WINS Server to the Windows NT Workstation:

    NBT: NS: Registration (Node Status) resp. for NTWINSCLIENT <00>, Success, Owner Addr. xxx.57.9.54

  2. The Windows NT Workstation verifies and queries the WINS server for the name and IP address of a domain controller (DC) in its domain:


    Windows NT Workstation to the WINS Server:

    NBT: NS: Registration req. for NTWINSDOM <00>


    WINS Server to the NT Workstation:

    NBT: NS: Registration (Node Status) resp. for NTWINSDOM <00>, Success, Owner Addr. xxx.57.9.54


    Windows NT Workstation to the WINS Server:

    NBT: NS: Query req. for NTWINSDOM <1C>


    WINS Server to the Windows NT Workstation:

    NBT: NS: Query (Node Status) resp. for NTWINSDOM <1C>, Success

  3. After obtaining the IP address, it broadcasts the logon request so the computername can exist in the domain:

    Windows NT Workstation Broadcast:

    NBT: DS: Type = 17 (DIRECT GROUP) SMB: C transact, File = \MAILSLOT\NET\NTLOGON NETLOGON: SAM LOGON request from client


    Windows NT Workstation Broadcast:

    ARP_RARP: ARP: Request, Target IP: xxx.57.11.179

  4. When the DC responds to the broadcast, it gives the client the name of the server that can validate the computer name in the domain:

    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    ARP_RARP: ARP: Reply, Target IP: xxx.57.9.54 Target Hdwr Addr: 00AA0051E2B3

  5. The Windows NT Workstation then begins the logon process of its computer name:

    Windows NT Workstation to the NT Domain Controller:

    NBT: DS: Type = 17 (DIRECT GROUP) SMB: C transact, File = \MAILSLOT\NET\NTLOGON NETLOGON: SAM LOGON request from client


    Windows NT Workstation to the NT Domain Controller:

    NBT: DS: Type = 17 (DIRECT GROUP) SMB: C transact, File = \MAILSLOT\NET\NTLOGON NETLOGON: SAM LOGON request from client


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    NBT: DS: Type = 16 (DIRECT UNIQUE) SMB: C transact, File = \MAILSLOT\NET\GETDC209 NETLOGON: SAM Response to SAM LOGON request


    Windows NT Workstation to the WINS Server:

    NBT: NS: Query req. for NTWINSPDC


    WINS Server to the Windows NT Workstation:

    NBT: NS: Query (Node Status) resp. for NTWINSPDC, Success


    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    NBT: SS: Session Request, Dest: NTWINSPDC , Source: NTWINSCLIENT<00>, Len: 68


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    NBT: SS: Positive Session Response, Len: 0

  6. The two machines (DC and workstation) then negotiate at what level of SMB they are going to communicate on:

    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C negotiate, Dialect = NT LM 0.12


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R negotiate, Dialect # = 7

  7. The workstation connects to the IPC$ share on the DC so the computer name can be validated as existing on the domain:

    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C session setup & X, Username = , and C tree connect & X, Share =\\NTWINSPDC\IPC$


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R session setup & X, and R tree connect & X, Type = IPC


    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C NT create & X, File = \lsarpc


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R NT create & X, FID = 0x800

    At this point Microsoft RPC traffic over SMBs occurs between the Windows NT DC and the Windows NT Workstation. This traffic is not shown because it does not pertain to the subject matter.


    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C close file, FID = 0x800


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R close file


    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C NT create & X, File = \NETLOGON


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R NT create & X, FID = 0x801

    At this point Microsoft RPC traffic over SMBs occurs between the Windows NT DC and the Windows NT Workstation. This traffic is not shown because it does not pertain to the subject matter.

  8. The Workstation then registers the computer name for the Messenger Service:

    Windows NT Workstation to the WINS Server:

    NBT: NS: Registration req. for NTWINSCLIENT <03>


    WINS Server to the Windows NT Workstation:

    NBT: NS: Registration (Node Status) resp. for NTWINSCLIENT <03>, Success, Owner Addr. xxx.57.9.54


    Windows NT Workstation to the WINS Server:

    NBT: NS: Registration req. for NTWINSCLIENT


    WINS Server to the Windows NT Workstation:

    NBT: NS: Registration (Node Status) resp. for NTWINSCLIENT,Success, Owner Addr. xxx.57.9.54


    Windows NT Workstation Broadcast:

    NBT: DS: Type = 17 (DIRECT GROUP) SMB: C transact, File = \MAILSLOT\BROWSE BROWSER: Host Announcement [0x01] NTWINSCLIENT

  9. The Windows NT Workstation now requests to become a browser for the domain, because a.) there are no backup browsers in this two-computer domain, and b.) the Windows NT Workstation is capable of being a backup browser:

    Windows NT Workstation to the WINS Server:

    NBT: NS: Registration req. for NTWINSDOM <1E>


    WINS Server to the Windows NT Workstation:

    NBT: NS: Registration (Node Status) resp. for NTWINSDOM <1E>, Success, Owner Addr. xxx.57.9.54


    Windows NT Workstation Broadcast:

    NBT: DS: Type = 17 (DIRECT GROUP) SMB: C transact, File = \MAILSLOT\BROWSE BROWSER: Announcement Request [0x02]


    Windows NT Workstation Broadcast:

    NBT: DS: Type = 17 (DIRECT GROUP) SMB: C transact, File = \MAILSLOT\BROWSE BROWSER: Host Announcement [0x01] NTWINSCLIENT

  10. The user presses CTRL+ALT+DEL and logs into the domain. Because this user has never logged into this computer before, there is no cached information at the workstation. The workstation needs to contact the domain controller for validation:

    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    NBT: SS: Session Request, Dest: NTWINSPDC , Source: NTWINSCLIENT<00>, Len: 68


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    NBT: SS: Positive Session Response, Len: 0


    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C negotiate, Dialect = NT LM 0.12


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R negotiate, Dialect # = 7


    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C session setup & X, Username = , and C tree connect & X, Share =\\NTWINSPDC\IPC$


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R session setup & X, and R tree connect & X, Type = IPC


    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C NT create & X, File = \lsarpc


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R NT create & X, FID = 0x804

    At this point Microsoft RPC traffic over SMBs occurs between the Windows NT DC and the Windows NT Workstation. This traffic is not shown because it does not pertain to the subject matter.


    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C close file, FID = 0x804


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R close file


    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C NT create & X, File = \lsarpc


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R NT create & X, FID = 0x805

    At this point Microsoft RPC traffic over SMBs occurs between the Windows NT DC and the Windows NT Workstation. This traffic is not shown because it does not pertain to the subject matter.


    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C close file, FID = 0x805


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R close file


    Windows NT Workstation to the Windows NT DC:

    SMB: C NT create & X, File = \NETLOGON


    Windows NT DC to the Windows NT Workstation:

    SMB: R NT create & X, FID = 0x806

    At this point Microsoft RPC traffic over SMBs occurs between the Windows NT DC and the Windows NT Workstation. This traffic is not shown because it does not pertain to the subject matter.

  11. This is where the user name gets registered for the Messenger Service:

    Windows NT Workstation to the WINS Server:

    NBT: NS: Registration req. for NEWUSER <03>


    WINS Server to the Windows NT Workstation:

    NBT: NS: WACK (Node Status) resp. for NEWUSER <03>,Success


    WINS Server to the Windows NT Workstation:

    NBT: NS: Registration (Node Status) resp. for NEWUSER <03>, Success, Owner Addr. xxx.57.9.54


Additional query words: prodnt login bootup sniffer trace

Keywords: kbhowto kbnetwork KB139608


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