Lesson 4:?Network Bindings

Network bindings enable communication among network adapter card drivers, protocols, and services. Figure 4.10 shows an example of network bindings. In this example, the workstation service is bound to each of three protocols, and each protocol is bound to at least one network adapter card. This lesson describes the function of bindings in a network and the process for configuring them.

Figure 4.10??Network bindings

The Windows XP Professional network architecture uses a series of interdependent layers. The bottom layer of the network architecture ends at the network adapter card, which places information on the cable, allowing information to flow between computers.

After this lesson, you will be able to

• Explain how to configure network bindings

Estimated lesson time: 20 minutes

Binding Between Architectural Levels

Binding is the process of linking network components on different levels to enable communication between those components. A network component can be bound to one or more network components above or below it. The services that each component provides can be shared by all other components that are bound to it. For example, in Figure 4.10, TCP/IP is bound to both the Workstation service and the Server service.

Combining Network Bindings

Many combinations of network bindings are possible. In the example shown in Figure 4.10, all three protocols are bound to the Workstation service, but only the routable protocols, NWLink and TCP/IP, are bound to the Server service. It is possible to select which protocols are bound to the network adapter cards if you are a member of the Administrators group. Network adapter card (0) is bound to all three protocols, and network adapter card (1) is bound only to the routable protocols.

When adding network software, Windows XP Professional automatically binds all dependent network components accordingly. Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) 5.1 provides the capability to bind multiple protocols to multiple network adapter card drivers.

Configuring Network Bindings

You can configure your network bindings using My Network Places.

To configure network bindings, complete the following steps:

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel window, click Network And Internet Connections.
3. In the Network And Internet Connections window, click Network Connections.
4. In the Network Connections window, on the Advanced menu, click Advanced Settings.
5. In the Advanced Settings dialog box, under Client For Microsoft Networks, do one of the following:
   • To bind the protocol to the selected adapter, select the check box to the left of the adapter.

     There should be a check mark in the check box.

   • To unbind the protocol from the selected adapter, clear the check box to the left of the adapter.

     There should not be a check mark in the check box.

Specifying Binding Order

You also can specify binding order to optimize network performance. For example, a computer running Windows XP Professional has NWLink IPX/SPX and TCP/IP installed. However, most of the servers to which this computer connects are running only TCP/IP. Verify that the Workstation binding to TCP/IP is listed before the Workstation bindings for the NWLink IPX/SPX protocol. In this way, when a user attempts to make a connection to a server, the Workstation service first attempts to establish the connection using TCP/IP.

To specify binding order, complete the following steps:

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel window, click Network And Internet Connections.
3. In the Network And Internet Connections window, click Network Connections.
4. In the Network Connections window, on the Advanced menu, click Advanced Settings.
5. In the Advanced Settings dialog box, under Client For Microsoft Networks, click the protocol for which you want to change the binding order.
6. Use the arrow buttons to change the binding order for protocols that are bound to a specific adapter:
   • To move the protocol higher in the binding order, click the upward pointing arrow.
   • To move the protocol lower in the binding order, click the downward pointing arrow.

Practice:?Working with Network Bindings

In this practice, you'll change the binding order of the protocols bound to your network adapter card. Then you'll unbind a protocol from your network adapter card and bind a protocol to your network adapter card. Finally, you'll uninstall a network protocol.

After completing this practice you will be able to

• Change the binding order of protocols
• Bind and unbind a protocol
• Remove a protocol

To complete this practice, you need

• TCP/IP installed as the first network protocol on the computer and NWLink installed as the only other installed protocol.

Run the NetworkBindings file in the Demos folder on the CD-ROM accompanying this book for a demonstration of changing the binding order for a protocol.

Exercise 1: Changing the Binding Order for a Protocol

In this exercise, you'll change the binding order of the protocols bound to your network adapter card.

To change the protocol binding order

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel window, click Network And Internet Connections.
3. In the Network And Internet Connections window, click Network Connections.
4. In the Network Connections window, on the Advanced menu, click Advanced Settings.

   The Advanced Settings dialog box appears.

   What is the order of the protocols listed under Client For Microsoft Networks?

5. Under Client For Microsoft Networks, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

   There should still be a check mark in the check box in front of Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

6. Click the upward pointing arrow.

   Notice that the order of the protocols listed under Client For Microsoft Networks has changed. Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is now listed above NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol.

7. Leave the Advanced Settings window open.

Exercise 2: Unbinding a Protocol

In this exercise, you'll unbind TCP/IP from your network adapter card, leaving NWLink as the only protocol available to access other computers.

To unbind TCP/IP

1. In the Advanced Settings dialog box, under Client For Microsoft Networks, unbind Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) by clearing the check box to the left of the entry.
2. Click OK.

   TCP/IP is no longer bound to your network adapter card.

Exercise 3: Binding a Protocol

In this exercise, you'll bind TCP/IP to your network adapter card.

To bind TCP/IP

1. On the Advanced menu of the Network And Dial-Up Connections window, click Advanced Settings.

   The Advanced Settings dialog box appears.

2. Under Client For Microsoft Networks, select the check box to the left of Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

   There should now be a check mark in the check box to the left of Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

3. Click OK.

   TCP/IP is now bound to your network adapter card.

Exercise 4: Uninstalling NWLink

In this exercise, you'll uninstall the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol.

To remove NWLink

1. In the Network Connections window, double-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.

   The Local Area Connection Properties dialog box appears, displaying the adapter in use and the network components configured for this connection.

2. Click NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol, and then click Uninstall.

   The Uninstall NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol dialog box appears.

3. In the Uninstall NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol dialog box, click Yes to continue.
4. Click OK.
5. In the Network Connections window, double-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.

   Notice that NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol is no longer listed as an installed protocol.

6. Click Cancel.
7. Close the Network Connections window.

Lesson Review

Here are some questions to help you determine whether you have learned enough to move on to the next chapter. If you have difficulty answering these questions, review the material in this lesson before beginning the next chapter. The answers are in Appendix A, "Questions and Answers."

1. What is binding?
2. What is the significance of the binding order of network protocols?
3. Can a network component bind to more than one component above or below it? Why is that important?
4. What function does NDIS provide and what version is in Windows XP Professional?

Lesson Summary

• Binding is the process of linking network components on different levels to enable communication between those components.
• A network component can be bound to one or more network components above or below it.
• The services that each component provides can be shared by all other components that are bound to it.
• To control which components are bound together, you must be a member of the Administrators group.
• You can specify binding order to optimize network performance.