Windows NT 4.0 Server

Installation
Minimum requirements for NT Server 4.0:
  • 125M Free disk space
  • 16M RAM
  • 486-DX33
  • CD-ROM (if not installing over network)
  • VGA compatible display

Windows NT Setup
WINNT32.EXE is used to upgrade only from a previous version of Windows NT.

WINNT.EXE is used for the regular Windows NT setup, or an installation through DOS or Windows 95.

Upgrading from Windows 3.1x or a previous version of NT will keep all user, network and program settings.

There are no conversion options from Windows 95 to Windows NT that will allow you to maintain user settings. To dual boot between the two, install NT in a separate directory and reinstall all your applications.

Command modifiers for installation:

/B Put boot files on hard drive instead of using boot floppies (takes an extra 4-5MB of hard disk space).
/S Specify source file location(s) - multiple locations will speed up installation.
/U Specify answer file location for use with unattended installation - MUST be used with /s to specify source file location(s).
/T Specifies location of temp directory created for install (/t:<path>).
/OX Create the setup disks from CD-ROM or shared network folder. Used to replace damaged boot disks.
/F Don't verify files. Can speed up installation.
/C Don't check for free space when creating boot disks.
/I Specify setup information (.inf) file. This file tells setup how to run. The default name is DOSNET.INF.

Setup disks can be created by running WINNT.EXE /OX or running WINNT.EXE from the cdrom.

  • Answer file - Used when performing unattended installs.  Provides information that would normally be answered by the user during setup.  Default name is UNATTEND.TXT.

  • UDF (Uniqueness Database File) - Used in conjunction with the answer file when performing unattended installs. Provides information for settings that are user or group specific.  Default name is $UNIQUE$.UDF.

    • To uninstall NT on a FAT partition, you will need to boot to DOS, run SYS.COM, and remove the WINNT directory and files.

    In the server properties menu, there are options to optimize server memory for certain situations.

    Minimize Memory Used Allows memory to be allocated for up to 10 network connections.
    Balance Provides memory for up to approximately 64 connections (default).
    Maximize Throughput for File Sharing Optimizes server memory for file sharing operations.
    Maximize Throughput for Network Applications Optimizes server memory for server-based network applications. Key word is SQL.

    Virtual memory
    Virtual memory can be controlled in the Control Panel -> System properties under the Performance tab.

    The paging file size can be in/decreased here, and even distributed across multiple drives to speed up access.

    The most efficient paging file is distributed on several drives but not on the boot or system drive.

    The initial paging file size equals the amount of RAM the system plus 12MB for NT Workstation and the amount of physical RAM for NT Server.

    Paging file size can increase during operation, but will not shrink. Page file size will be reset when the computer is restarted.

    Multiple Disk Sets

    Disk Striping Divides data into 64k blocks and spreads it equally among all disks in the array. Needs a minimum of two hard disks. Does not provide fault tolerance.
    Disk Mirroring Duplicates a partition on another physical disk. Provides fault tolerance by keeping data stored on two different disks, in case of drive failure.
    Disk Duplexing Duplicates a partition on another physical disk which is connected to another Hard Drive Controller. Provides fault tolerance by keeping data stored on two different disks, in case of drive failure, and by having two hard drive controllers, in case of drive controller failure.
    Disk Striping with parity Distributes data and parity information across all disks in the array. The data and parity information are arranged so they are always on separate disks. A parity stripe block exists for each row across the disk. The parity stripe is used for disk reconstruction in case of a failed disk. Supports a minimum of three disks and a maximum of thirty-two disks.
    Volume Set Merges numerous partitions into one drive mapping. Drives are read one at a time. Does not provide fault tolerance.

    System and boot partitions cannot be part of a stripe or volume set, but can be a part of disk mirroring and duplexing partitions.

  • Speed factors
    • Disk striping will provide the fastest read/write performance as it can read multiple disks at a time.
    • Disk striping with parity is slower, as it has to write the parity information, but is still faster than disk mirroring and volume set.
    • Disk mirroring is slow due to the redundancy factor of writing the same information to two drives at once.
    • Volume set can only read/write one drive at a time.

    To recover from drive failure with disk mirroring, you must install the new drive, boot the system into NT, run Disk Administrator, break the mirror from the Fault Tolerance menu, and then reestablish the mirror. This will not be done automatically.

    To recover from drive failure with disk striping with parity, you must install the new drive, boot the system into NT, run Disk Administrator, and choose the Regenerate option.

    To recover from multiple drive failure with disk striping with parity, you must install the new drives, boot the system into NT, and restore the system backup from tape.

    File systems
    NTFS has file level security, and is faster over 400M, but has a larger overhead (cannot format a floppy disk with NTFS) and cannot be read by DOS, WIN 3.1, WIN 3.1.1 or WIN95.

    FAT16 is compatible with MS-DOS & WIN95 but has no file-level security.

    FAT32 is not NT compatible.

    For upgrading NT3.51 HPFS you must convert that partition(s) to NTFS before upgrading the OS using CONVERT.EXE.

    NTFS vs. FAT
    FAT
  • Files and directories on a FAT partition only contain the standard attributes of Archive, Read-Only, System and Hidden.
  • Cannot set local security access on a FAT volume.
  • Can convert the partition to NTFS by running CONVERT.EXE
  • A FAT partition can be defragmented by booting with a DOS diskette and running DEFRAG.EXE
  • File moved from a FAT partition to an NTFS partition retain their attributes and long-filename.

    NTFS

  • NTFS partitions contain the standard attributes, as well as security descriptors basing file access from file-level security.
  • Can set local security access on an NTFS volume.
  • Partition cannot be converted to FAT. The partition must be deleted and recreated as a FAT partition.
  • NTFS partitions cannot be defragmented. To defragment an NTFS partition, it must be formatted and restored from backup.
  • Files moved from an NTFS partition to a FAT partition do not retain their attributes or security descriptors, but will retain their long filenames.

    • Security

    Share-Level Security - Governs user accesses a resource through the network. Can be implemented on NTFS or FAT partitions. Applied through the Sharing tab of the resource's properties.

    File-Level Security - Governs local user file and folder security on NTFS partitions only. Applied through the Security tab of the resource's properties.

    Share Security Levels

    Full Control
  • Is assigned to the Everyone group by default.
  • Allows user to take ownership of files and folders.
  • Users can change file access rights.
  • Grants user all permissions assigned by the Change and Read levels.
    • Change
  • User can add and create files.
  • Grants ability to modify files.
  • User can change the attributes of the file.
  • User can delete files.
  • Grants user all permissions assigned by the Read level.
    • Read
  • User can display and open files.
  • User can display the attributes of the file.
  • User can execute program files.
    • No Access
  • User cannot display, access, or modify files.

    • NTFS Permissions (For a Folder - a user can...)

    Read (R) Display folder names, attributes, owner, and permissions.
    Write (W) Add files and folders, change a folder's attributes, and display owner and permissions
    Execute (X) Display folder attributes, make changes to folders within a folder, and display owner and permissions.
    Delete (D) Delete a folder
    Change Permission (P) Change a folder's permissions
    Take Ownership (O) Take ownership of a folder

    NTFS Permissions (For a file - a user can...)

    Read (R) Display file data, attributes, owner, and permissions.
    Write (W) Display owner and permissions, change file attributes, create data in, and append data to, a file.
    Execute (X) Display file attributes, owner and permissions. Run a file if it is an executable.
    Delete (D) Delete a file.
    Change Permission (P) Change a files's permissions
    Take Ownership (O) Take ownership of a file.

     

    Permissions are cumulative, except for No Access, which overrides anything.

    When a resource has both File-Level and Share-Level Securities enabled, the most restrictive security is given to the user.

    File permissions override the permissions of its parent folder.

    Anytime a new file is created, the file will inherit permissions from the target folder.

    The priority of attributes to a file is:
          1) File
          2) Directory
          3) Share
    File attributes override directory attributes, which override share attributes.

    Copying within a partition Creates a new file resembling the old file. Inherits the target folders permissions.
    Moving within a partition Does not create a new file. Simply updates directory pointers. File keeps its original permissions.
    Moving across partitions Creates a new file resembling the old file, and deletes the old file. Inherits the target folders permissions.

    Auditing can be enabled in the User Manager. The Event Viewer is used to view audited events.

    When using Event Viewer, only local administrators can see the security log, but anyone (by default) can view other logs.

    Only administrators have the right to share folders on NT Server ( and Power Users on NT Workstation)

    Groups and Account Management

  • Global groups - Groups which contain users with similar rights and requirements. Can only be created on Domain Controllers, and can only contain users in that specific domain.

  • Local groups - Groups used to allow members to access resources in the local computer/domain. Can be created on any NT system. Should only contain global groups from the computer's domain or a trusted domain but can also include members (not recommended).

    Creating new accounts requires only two pieces of information: username and password.

    Duplicating an account requires three pieces of information: username, password and full name.

    Disabling an account is typically used when someone else will take the users place or when the user might return.

    Delete an account only when absolutely necessary for space or organization purposes.

    When copying a user account, the new user will stay in the same groups that the old user was a member of. The user will keep all group rights that were granted through groups, but lose all individual rights that were granted specifically for that user.

    NT Default Accounts

    Backup Operators Group designated for members to backup and restore computers from tape. Backup Operators can only backup and restore from tape when logged in locally to the computer. This group is found on all NT Servers.
    Account Operators Group designated for members to manage user and group accounts. This group is found only on Domain Controllers.
    Server Operators Group designated for members to manage resources, but cannot manage user accounts. Can backup and restore from tape. This group is found only on Domain Controllers.
    Replicator Group designated for NT computers to perform directory replication. This group is found on all NT Servers.

    • RAS (Remote Access Services)

    RAS is capable of using the following connection protocols:
    • SLIP - Has less overhead than PPP, but cannot automatically assign an IP address, and only uses TCP/IP.
    • PPP - Can automatically assign IP addresses, supports encryption and other protocols besides TCP/IP.
    • RAS - Used by Windows 3.x and Windows NT 3.x clients.

    RAS supports call back security to either the calling number or to a specified, non-changing number.

    RAS for NT 4.0 supports multilink (the use of more than one modem to achieve higher transmission speeds). Multilink cannot be used with callback security unless there are two (or more) ISDN modems configured on the same phone number.

    RAS uses NetBEUI as the default network protocol, but can also use TCP/IP and IPX/SPX. TCP/IP will need to be used if you are using programs that utilize the Windows Sockets (Winsock) interface over the RAS services.

    RAS will default to the first network protocol on each side of the connection. Thus, if NetBEUI is the first protocol that is in common, Winsock applications (such as a web browser) will not be available to the client.

    To speed up NetBIOS resolution on RAS clients, put an LMHOSTS file on each client locally.

    RAS encryption settings

    Allow any authentication including clear text This will allow RAS to use a number of password authentication protocols including the Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) which uses a plain-text password authentication. This option is useful if you have a number of different types of RAS clients, or to support third-party RAS clients.
    Require encrypted authentication This option will support any authentication used by RAS except PAP.
    Require Microsoft encrypted authentication This option will only make use of Microsoft's CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol). All Microsoft operating systems use MS-CHAP by default.
    Require data encryption This option will enable the encryption of all data sent to and from the RAS server.

    RAS will write to a log file which can be used for troubleshooting RAS services. In order to enable RAS to write to the log, you have to enable it in the Registry.

    Netware

    NWLink (MS's version of the IPX/SPX protocol) is the protocol used by NT to allow Netware systems to access its resources.

    NWLink is all that you need to run in order to allow and NT system to run applications off of a NetWare server.

    To allow file and print sharing between NT and a NetWare server, CSNW (Client Services for NetWare) must be installed on the NT system. Both NWLink and CSNW are automatically installed when Gateway Services for Netware is installed.

    Gateway Services for Netware can be implemented on your NT Server to provide a MS client system to access your Netware server by using the NT Server as a gateway. You must have a group account setup on the Netware server called NTGATEWAY. In this Netware group you add user accounts of all the NT accounts you need to access the Netware server. However, a single account is all that is needed in the NT Server is used to access Netware resources for all NT users.

    NWLink is automatically installed when Gateway Services for Netware is installed.

    Frame types for the NWLink protocol must match the computer that the NT system is trying to connect with. Unmatching frame types will cause connectivity problems between the two systems. If multiple frame types are in use, you should manually specify each frame type. If NT is set to auto sense the frame type it will only detect one frame type and in the following order: 802.2, 802.3, Ethernet_II and 802.5 (token ring).

    If you decide to convert a Netware server to an NT Server, you will first need to implement the NWLink and Gateway Services for Netware on the NT Server. Once the conversion has completed, you will need to make sure all Netware workstations have had the Microsoft (SMB) redirector installed on their systems to access the NT Server.

    Netware 3 servers uses Bindery emulation (Preferred Server in CSNW). Netware 4 servers use NDS (Default Tree and Context.)

    There are two ways to change a password on a netware server - SETPASS.EXE and the Change Password option (from the CTRL-ALT-DEL dialog box). The Change Password option is only available to Netware 4.x servers using NDS.

    Networking

    Computer Name Resolution:
    • DNS (Domain Name Services) - Used to resolve DNS host name to an IP address.
    • WINS (Windows Internet Naming Service) - Used to resolve NetBIOS computer name to an IP address.
    • HOSTS - File which contains mappings between DNS host names and their IP addresses. Must be maintained manually.
    • LMHOSTS - File which contains mappings between NetBIOS computer names and their IP addresses. Must be maintained manually.

    TCP/IP is an internet protocol currently used for most networking situations. Each computer using TCP/IP will contain a unique address in a x.x.x.x format (where each x equals a number between 0 and 255) and a subnet mask.

    Subnet mask - A value that is used to distinguish the network ID portion of the IP address from the host ID.

    Default gateway - A TCP/IP address for the host which you would send packets to, to be sent elsewhere on the network (typically a bridge or a router).

    Common TCP/IP problems are caused by incorrect subnet masks and default gateways.

    Install a WINS server in addition to a DNS server to alleviate traffic due to b node broacasts.

    If bandwidth is hogged by a particular group of users on a TCP/IP network, create a separate physical subnet by installing a 2nd NIC on the server, installing a new hub, and putting the problem users on this hub.

    UNIX computers use the TCP/IP protocol.

    NetBEUI is a non-routable protocol that is used solely by Microsoft O/S's.

    Universal Naming Convention (UNC) - Universal network pathname which is integrated into Microsoft systems. Named as \\computername\sharename, where computername = the NetBIOS name of the computer, and sharename = the share name of the folder.

    Trap messages are sent using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).

    Profiles

    Profiles are the user settings which are loaded when a user logs in. They can contain desktop and start menu preferences. These files can be located either locally or on a server which has been mapped in the User Manager.

    NTUser.dat and *.dat files are the typical, user-configurable profiles used.

    NTUser.man and *.man files are read-only. If the user attempts to configure their desktop, the *.man file will not be updated. When the user logs in again, it will restore the original profile.

    You may copy profiles using the User Profiles menu located under CONTROL PANEL | SYSTEM PROPERTIES.

    Policies

    Policies take precedence over profiles.

    Individual policies take precendence over group policies.

    Machine policies take precedence over all policies.

    Printing

    Microsoft uses the terminology "Print Device" to refer to the physical piece of hardware, whereas a "Printer" is a conceptual idea describing the icon in the Control Panel.

    NT 4.0 has the option to maintain drivers for different operating systems on the server. Each operating system uses different drivers. For example, NT 4.0, NT 3.51 and Win95 systems cannot use the same print drivers. By installing the drivers for each of these types of system on the print server, each of these tpyes of clients can automatically download the driver they need without manual installation.

    NT clients (3.51 and 4.0) automatically download updated drivers from the server. Win95 machines will initially download print drivers but will not automatically update to a newer version of the driver. Win 3.1x and DOS clients must have the drivers installed on each client manually.

  • Print Pooling - Consists of two or more identical print devices associated with one printer.

  • Availability - This option allows you to specify which hours the printer can be printed to.

  • Priority - This option specifies which virtual printer should print first if other virtual printers are trying to print to the same physical printer at the same time. Priorities range from 1 - 99 with 1 being the lowest and 99 the highest.

    You can select Restart in the Document Menu of the printer to reprint a document from the beginning. This is useful when a document is printing and the printer jams. Resume can be selected to start printing where you left off.

    You can change the directory containing the print spooler in the advanced server properties for the printer.

    To remedy a stalled spooler, you will need to stop and restart the spooler services in the Services applet of control panel.

    Printing to a TCP/IP printer requires you to know the IP address and printer name.

    The DLC protocol needs to be installed in order to connect to a HP print server.

    The AppleTalk protocol needs to be installed to communicate with Apple printers.

    Use the PCL.SEP separator to switch from PostScript to PCL.

    Use PSCRIPT.SEP separator to switch from PCL to PostScript.

    • Troubleshooting

    To create a boot disk, format the diskette from the NT system you want a boot disk for (Win 95 and DOS will not work), and copy over the following files: NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, BOOT.INI and NTBOOTDD.SYS (SCSI only).

    To create an Emergency Repair diskette, you can choose to do so either during the installation of NT, or you can run RDISK.EXE. When RDISK.EXE is run with the /S option, the utility backs up user accounts and file security.

    To use the Emergency Repair diskette, you will need to boot the server with the NT installation boot diskettes, and choose to repair NT with the Emergency Repair disk that was created.

    The Emergency Repair Process can a) inspect the registry files and return them to the state on the repair disk, b) inspect the startup environment, c) verify the system files and d) inspect the boot sector.

    To troubleshoot bootup problems, you can edit the Boot.Ini file and add the /SOS switch to the end of the Windows NT entries in the [Operating Systems] section of the Boot.Ini file to display driver names while they are being loaded. The VGA startup option has /SOS added by default.

    Use the Last Known Good option on bootup to restore the system to a bootable state if problems arise from switching video drivers or changing registry settings.

    Common error codes:

    • No system or boot disk message when trying to dual-boot = BOOTSECT.DOS is corrupt
    • Copy single file non-critical error - could not copy file = Occurs when you install Windows NT from an unsupported CD-ROM or network drive.

  • Server stop errors - In the System Properties -> Startup/Shutdown tab, there are options to configure where you would like the Server stop errors to be written. The errors are written to a .DMP file which is readable by the program DUMPEXAM.EXE. You must have free space in a swapfile on your boot drive equal to or larger than the amount of physical RAM in your system in order to generate a dumpfile.

    • PDCs and BDCs

    To upgrade from a member server to a BDC or PDC, NT Server must be reinstalled.

    To downgrade from a PDC or BDC to a member server, NT Server must be reinstalled.

    To change a PDC to a BDC, or a BDC to a PDC, you must promote a BDC to a PDC in the Server Manager. There is no "Demote" option here, only Promote a BDC. NT will disconnect the current PDC if online and handle everything automatically.

    Only when a PDC goes offline unexpectedly, will there be an option to Demote to a Backup Domain Controller. This will only be seen when the original PDC comes back online.

    A BDC cannot automatically promote itself when the PDC becomes disconnected from the network. A BDC will continue to service login requests during the time that the PDC is unavailable.

    Browser Services

    All NT Servers have browser services available. The Master browser will maintain a browse list which contains a list of all workstations, servers and domains on the network. There can be only one master browser per subnet.

    The PDC will always be the domain master browser. All BDC'S will be backup domain master browsers and are capable of becoming domain master browsers in the event of a PDC failure. All member servers are capable of becoming master browers or backup browsers.

    You can disable the ability of a server to become a master browser by making the proper changes in the registry.

    ARC Naming Convention

    The Advanced Risc Computing (ARC) path is located in the BOOT.INI and is used by NTLDR to determine which disk contains the operating system.

    multi(x) Specifies SCSI controller with the BIOS enabled, or non-SCSI controller.
    x=ordinal number of controller.
    scsi(x) Defines SCSI controller with the BIOS disabled.
    x=ordinal number of controller.
    disk(x) Defines SCSI disk which the OS resides on.
    When multi is used, x=0. When scsi is used, x= the SCSI ID number of the disk with the OS.
    rdisk(x) Defines disk which the OS resides on. Used when OS does not reside on a SCSI disk.
    x=0-1 if on primary controller. x=2-3 if on multi-channel EIDE controller.
    partition(x) Specifies partition number which the OS resides on.
    x=cardinal number of partition, and the lowest possible value is 1.

    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1). These are the lowest numbers that an ARC path can have.

    Performance Monitor

  • Memory - add more RAM if you detect problems with the following:
    • Pages/sec - excessive disk paging. Should not be above 20.
    • Available bytes - virtual memory available. Should not be below 4MB.
    • Commited bytes - memory being used by applications. Should be less than RAM in computer.

  • CPU - upgrade the processor if you detect problems with the following.
    • %Processor time - amount of time the processor is in use. Upgrade if constantly over 80%.
  • System Object: Processor Queue Length - should not be over 2.

  • Disks - upgrade hard disk or controller, add another hdd controller to balance the load, or implement disk striping for multiple I/O channels if receiving inadequate disk performance.
    • %Disk Time Counter - amount of time the disk is in use. Should not be over 90%.
    • Current Disk Queue Length - files in disk queue. Should not be over 2.

    Must run DISKPERF -Y to enable disk performance counters.

    Alert view allows alerts to be made when the counters surpass the threshold you set.

    Log view allows the tracked objects to be written to a log file. Used to create a baseline for future reference.

    Report view gives the ability to present a consice report of current statistics.

    UPS

    Wrong polarity setting (e.g. positive instead of negative) can make the UPS alert service not work. Instead of getting warnings and a clean shutdown, you'll get an abrupt power off when the juice is gone from the UPS.

    Using a standard RS-232 cable instead of a special UPS cable can cause unpredictable results, including BSOD.

     

    Special thanks to Joe Seeley for providing updates to this material.