NetworkAddress Parameter Not Supported for a Modem
Article ID: 142684
Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q142684
SYMPTOMS
Assigning a specific media access control address with the parameter
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NdisWAN\Parameters\
NetworkAddress
for the modem used for a RAS connection is not supported. Every time a RAS
connection is made, the assigned media access control address is set
randomly.
CAUSE
There are two reasons why assigning a specific media access control address
is not supported. The first reason is that a modem uses Serial.sys, and
serial is not a device that NetworkAddress is relative to. The second
reason is that the NetworkAddress registry override parameter is an
optional value that is enforced only for Token Ring. So, if Serial.sys
supported the NetworkAddress parameter, assigning a specific media access
control address could be done. However, this would get more complicated
with multiple serial devices in a machine. So, although a modem is a WAN
device, it does not use a network device driver, which is where the
optional NetworkAddress registry override parameter would be managed.
Additional query words: prodnt
Keywords: kbenv KB142684