home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- DOCUMENT:Q101927 28-JUL-1993 [W_NT]
- TITLE :INF: The LHMOSTS File for TCP/IP in Windows NT
- PRODUCT :Windows NT
- PROD/VER:3.10
- OPER/SYS:WINDOWS
- KEYWORDS:
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- The information in this article applies to:
-
- - Microsoft Windows NT operating system, version 3.1
- - Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The LMHOSTS file is a local text file that maps IP addresses to
- NetBIOS names of remote servers with which you want to communicate
- over the TCP/IP protocol.
-
- Windows NT recognizes names instead of IP addresses for network
- requests and a name discovery process is used to correctly route
- network requests with TCP/IP. Because the name discovery process is
- generally not routed by an IP router, the LMHOSTS file allows Windows
- NT computers to communicate using TCP/IP across a subnet bridged by an
- IP router.
-
- Under TCP/IP alone, NBT (NetBIOS over TCP/IP) checks this list in
- memory before doing a b-node name discovery. For example, a reference
- to \\Eric would be translated to reference the actual IP address of
- 135.25.25.14 (this is a fictional address).
-
- A sample LMHOSTS file:
- ----------------------
- 142.25.125.15 Joe #PRE
- 129.102.12.10 Paul #PRE
- 148.107.16.45 James
- 135.25.25.14 Eric #PRE
- 133.120.26.225 John
- 192.36.14.250 Ed #PRE
- 221.250.05.126 Mackey
-
- Note: All addresses are fictional.
-
- When Windows NT loads, it reads the first 100 entries, by default, in
- the LMHOSTS file marked with #PRE. You can increase the number of #PRE
- entries that will load into memory at logon by adding the MaxPreLoads
- entry in the registry. This entry should be added to the
- Hkey_Local_Machine\CurrentControlSet\Services\NBT\Parameters section
- of the registry.
-
- The maximum number allowed for MaxPreLoads depends on the performance
- of the system. Some computers are able to parse or search through more
- entries in the LMHOSTS file than others. Based on system performance,
- Windows NT usually searches through about 1000 entries before timing
- out (15 seconds).
-
- Additional reference words: 3.10
- KBCategory:
- KBSubcategory: tpip
-
- =============================================================================
-
- THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS
- PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS
- ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES
- OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO
- EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR
- ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
- CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF
- MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE
- POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION
- OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES
- SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.
-
- Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.