New TCP/IP Features for Windows 2000
- Automatic Private Address Configuration
- Large TCP Windows
- Selective Acknowledgments
- Better RTT Estimation
- ICMP Router Discovery
- DNS Caching
- Disabling NetBIOS Over TCP/IP
TCP/IP for Windows 2000 has been updated to include several features that simplify configuration on a single subnet and optimize TCP performance in high-bandwidth network environments. This article gives a brief overview of the new features of TCP/IP as implemented under Windows 2000.
The new TCP/IP features include support for the following:
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Automatic private address configuration
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Large TCP windows
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Selective acknowledgments
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Better roundtrip time (RTT) estimation
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ICMP router discovery
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DNS caching
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Disabling NetBIOS over TCP/IP
Automatic Private Address Configuration
You use Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) to automate TCP/IP address configuration for single-subnet networks that do not contain a DHCP server.
By default, a computer running Windows 2000 first tries to contact a DHCP server on the network to dynamically obtain configuration for each installed network connection.
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If a DHCP server is reached and the leased configuration is successful, TCP/IP configuration is completed.
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If a DHCP server is not reached, the computer instead uses APIPA to automatically configure TCP/IP. When you use APIPA, Windows 2000 determines an address in the reserved IP address range from 169.254.0.1 through 169.254.255.254. This address is used as a temporary IP address configuration until a DHCP server is located. The subnet mask is set to 255.255.0.0.
The APIPA range of IP addresses is reserved by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). Any IP addresses within this range are not used on the Internet.
APIPA eliminates IP address configuration for single-network small office or home office networks that are not connected to the Internet.