DOCUMENT:Q119372 24-OCT-1999 [crossnet] TITLE :Setting the Name Resolution Search Order for TCP/IP-32 PRODUCT :Windows for Workgroups and Windows NT Networking Issues PROD/VER::3.11; WINDOWS:3.11 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft TCP/IP-32 for Windows for Workgroups, version 3.11 - Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= The Microsoft TCP/IP-32 stack uses various means to resolve a host name to an IP address of a given host. Four mechanisms are used; Local Cached Information, Hosts File, DNS Servers, and NetBIOS name resolution mechanisms. The default resolution order for resolving a host name is Local Cached Information -> Hosts File -> DNS Servers -> NetBt (NetBIOS over TCP/IP). NetBIOS over TCP/IP name resolution can consist of local subnet broadcasts. MORE INFORMATION ================ Under most circumstances, the default resolution order does not need to be changed. However, if a change is necessary there are SYSTEM.INI parameters that you can use to alter this default behavior. This is done by using the four parameters: LocalPriority, HostsPriority, DnsPriority, and NetbtPriority. These parameters are Specified in the [DNS] section of the SYSTEM.INI file. Valid values can be between -32768 and 32767. The lower the value, the higher the priority in the search order. If you specify any of these parameters in the SYSTEM.INI, only those parameters specified will take effect, and none of the other resolution methods will be used. Example ------- [DNS] DnsPriority=1 HostsPriority=2 Will search the configured DNS server first, followed by the local HOSTS file. Local Cached Information and NetBIOS name resolution mechanisms would not be used. Additional query words: wfw wfwg prodtcp32 1.00 ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbAudDeveloper kbTCPIPSearch kbWFWSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWFW311 kbTCPIP311 Version : :3.11; WINDOWS:3.11 ============================================================================= 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 1999.