Set/Verify the Network Connection Provider Order on Windows Vista, 7, 2008

Problems can arise if the Novell Client provider is not listed in the Provider Order for the Local Area Network Connection on a Windows Vista workstation. A common symptom is seeing the drive mappings included in the "Network Location" section of the "Computer" view of Windows Explorer displayed with a red X.

Ensure that the Novell Client provider is included in the list of network providers. This can be done by following these steps:

1. Click the Start button (Windows icon)
2. Access the Manage Network Connections page by doing one of the following:
a. In the "Start search" field type "ncpa.cpl" and press the Enter key.
b. Click the Windows button, then select "Network,""Network and Sharing Center,""Manage Network Connections."
3. Highlight "Local Area Connection".
4. Click on the menu bar item "Advanced,""Advanced Settings."
Note: If you do not see the menu bar, press the ALT key.
5. Click on the "Provider Order" Tab.
6. Highlight "NetWare Services" and change the order using the up and down arrows on the right.

If "NetWare Services" is not listed, you will need to add it by reinstalling the Novell Client for Windows Vista or by editing the following registry key:

\\HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\NetworkProvider\Order\ProviderOrder

The value for the Novell Client provider is "NCFSD." The value data for the ProviderOrder value name on a typical Vista workstation with the Novell Client installed may appear as:

NCFSD,LanmanWorkstation,RDPNP,webclient

These entries appear in the Manage Network Connections UI as the following list:

NetWare Services
Microsoft Windows Network
Microsoft Terminal Server Network Provider
Web Client Network

The network provider order defines the order in which network protocols are attempted when trying to establish communications with a remote computer. This can provide improved performance when you have multiple protocols installed and your network primarily uses one. If you set a protocol at the top of the list, it will be tried first. Accordingly, if you primarily connect to Novell resources, setting "NetWare Services" as the first provider will give the best performance. If, on the other hand, you primarily connect to Microsoft servers, setting "Microsoft Windows Network" at the top would be appropriate.

The Novell Client's "UNC Path Filter" functionality figures into this behavior also. When the UNC Path Filter is enabled, the Novell Client is actively trying to prevent any names or addresses from being sent to the Microsoft Client that represent NCP servers the workstation is successfully connected to.

This "UNC Path Filter" behavior helps prevent delays that occur waiting for Microsoft to time out on things that are already known to be NCP servers.

27Oct2010, Earle Wells, Expanded list of products in "Environment" section.