Prev Next

NCB info Overview Group

The NCB structure represents a network control block. It contains information about the command to perform, an optional post routine, an optional event handle, and a pointer to a buffer that is used for messages or other data. A pointer to this structure is passed to the Netbios function.

typedef struct _NCB { // ncb 

    UCHAR  ncb_command; 

    UCHAR  ncb_retcode; 

    UCHAR  ncb_lsn; 

    UCHAR  ncb_num; 

    PUCHAR ncb_buffer; 

    WORD   ncb_length; 

    UCHAR  ncb_callname[NCBNAMSZ]; 

    UCHAR  ncb_name[NCBNAMSZ]; 

    UCHAR  ncb_rto; 

    UCHAR  ncb_sto; 

    void (*ncb_post) (struct _NCB *); 

    UCHAR  ncb_lana_num; 

    UCHAR  ncb_cmd_cplt; 

    UCHAR  ncb_reserve[10]; 

    HANDLE ncb_event; 

} NCB;

Members

ncb_command

Specifies the command code and a flag that indicates whether the NCB structure is processed asynchronously. The most significant bit contains the flag. If the ASYNCH constant is combined with a command code (by using the OR operator), the NCB structure is processed asynchronously. The following command codes are supported.

Code	Meaning
NCBACTION	Windows NT only: Enables extensions to the transport interface. NCBACTION is mapped to TdiAction. When this code is specified, the ncb_buffer member points to a buffer to be filled with an ACTION_HEADER structure, which is optionally followed by data. NCBACTION commands cannot be canceled by using NCBCANCEL. NCBACTION is not a standard NetBIOS 3.0 command.
NCBADDGRNAME	Adds a group name to the local name table. This name cannot be used by another process on the network as a unique name, but it can be added by anyone as a group name.
NCBADDNAME	Adds a unique name to the local name table. The TDI driver ensures that the name is unique across the network.
NCBASTAT	Retrieves the status of either a local or remote adapter. When this code is specified, the ncb_buffer member points to a buffer to be filled with an ADAPTER_STATUS structure, followed by an array of NAME_BUFFER structures.
NCBCALL	Opens a session with another name.
NCBCANCEL	Cancels a previous pending command.
NCBCHAINSEND	Sends the contents of two data buffers to the specified session partner.
NCBCHAINSENDNA	Sends the contents of two data buffers to the specified session partner and does not wait for acknowledgment.
NCBDELNAME	Deletes a name from the local name table.
NCBDGRECV	Receives a datagram from any name.
NCBDGRECVBC	Receives a broadcast datagram from any name.
NCBDGSEND	Sends datagram to a specified name.
NCBDGSENDBC	Sends a broadcast datagram to every host on the local area network (LAN).
NCBENUM	Windows NT only: Enumerates LAN adapter (LANA) numbers. When this code is specified, the ncb_buffer member points to a buffer to be filled with a LANA_ENUM structure. NCBENUM is not a standard NetBIOS 3.0 command.
NCBFINDNAME	Determines the location of a name on the network. When this code is specified, the ncb_buffer member points to a buffer to be filled with a FIND_NAME_HEADER structure followed by one or more FIND_NAME_BUFFER structures.
NCBHANGUP	Closes a specified session.
NCBLANSTALERT	Windows NT only: Notifies the user of LAN failures that last for more than one minute.
NCBLISTEN	Enables a session to be opened with another name (local or remote).
NCBRECV	Receives data from the specified session partner.
NCBRECVANY	Receives data from any session corresponding to a specified name.
NCBRESET	Resets a LAN adapter. An adapter must be reset before it can accept any other NCB command that specifies the same number in the ncb_lana_num member.
	Use the following values to specify how resources are to be freed:
	If ncb_lsn is not 0x00, all resources associated with ncb_lana_num are to be freed.
	If ncb_lsn is 0x00, all resources associated with ncb_lana_num are to be freed, and new resources are to be allocated. The ncb_callname[0] byte specifies the maximum number of sessions, and the ncb_callname[2] byte specifies the maximum number of names. A nonzero value for the ncb_callname[3] byte requests that the application use NAME_NUMBER_1.
NCBSEND	Sends data to the specified session partner.
NCBSENDNA	Sends data to specified session partner and does not wait for acknowledgment.
NCBSSTAT	Retrieves the status of the session. When this value is specified, the ncb_buffer member points to a buffer to be filled with a SESSION_HEADER structure, followed by one or more SESSION_BUFFER structures.
NCBTRACE	Activates or deactivates NCB tracing. This command is not supported.
NCBUNLINK	Unlinks the adapter. This command is provided for compatibility with earlier versions of NetBIOS. It has no effect in Windows NT or Windows 95.

ncb_retcode

Specifies the return code. This value is set to NRC_PENDING while an asynchronous operation is in progress. The system returns one of the following values:

Value	Meaning
NRC_GOODRET	The operation succeeded.
NRC_BUFLEN	An illegal buffer length was supplied.
NRC_ILLCMD	An illegal command was supplied.
NRC_CMDTMO	The command was timed out.
NRC_INCOMP	The message was incomplete. The application is to issue another command.
NRC_BADDR	The buffer address was illegal.
NRC_SNUMOUT	The session number was out of range.
NRC_NORES	No resource was available.
NRC_SCLOSED	The session was closed.
NRC_CMDCAN	The command was canceled.
NRC_DUPNAME	A duplicate name existed in the local name table.
NRC_NAMTFUL	The name table was full.
NRC_ACTSES	The command finished; the name has active sessions and is no longer registered.
NRC_LOCTFUL	The local session table was full.
NRC_REMTFUL	The remote session table was full. The request to open a session was rejected.
NRC_ILLNN	An illegal name number was specified.
NRC_NOCALL	The system did not find the name that was called.
NRC_NOWILD	Wildcards are not permitted in the ncb_name member.
NRC_INUSE	The name was already in use on the remote adapter.
NRC_NAMERR	The name was deleted.
NRC_SABORT	The session ended abnormally.
NRC_NAMCONF	A name conflict was detected.
NRC_IFBUSY	The interface was busy.
NRC_TOOMANY	Too many commands were outstanding; the application can retry the command later.
NRC_BRIDGE	The ncb_lana_num member did not specify a valid network number.
NRC_CANOCCR	The command finished while a cancel operation was occurring.
NRC_CANCEL	The NCBCANCEL command was not valid; the command was not canceled.
NRC_DUPENV	The name was defined by another local process.
NRC_ENVNOTDEF	The environment was not defined. A reset command must be issued.
NRC_OSRESNOTAV	Operating system resources were exhausted. The application can retry the command later.
NRC_MAXAPPS	The maximum number of applications was exceeded.
NRC_NOSAPS	No service access points (SAPs) were available for NetBIOS.
NRC_NORESOURCES	The requested resources were not available.
NRC_INVADDRESS	The NCB address was not valid.
	This return code is not part of the IBM NetBIOS 3.0 specification and is not returned in the NCB structure. Instead, it is returned by Netbios.
NRC_INVDDID	The NCB DDID was invalid.
NRC_LOCKFAIL	The attempt to lock the user area failed.
NRC_OPENERR	An error occurred during an open operation being performed by the device driver. This error code is not part of the NetBIOS 3.0 specification.
NRC_SYSTEM	A system error occurred.
NRC_PENDING	An asynchronous operation is not yet finished.

ncb_lsn

Identifies the local session number. This number uniquely identifies a session within an environment. This number is returned by Netbios after a successful NCBCALL command.

ncb_num

Specifies the number for the local network name. This number is returned by Netbios after a successful NCBADDNAME or NCBADDGRNAME command. This number, not the name, must be used with all datagram commands and for NCBRECVANY commands.

The number for NAME_NUMBER_1 is always 0x01. Netbios assigns values in the range 0x02 to 0xFE for the remaining names.

ncb_buffer

Points to the message buffer. The buffer must have write access. Its uses are as follows:

Command	Purpose
NCBSEND	Contains the message to be sent.
NCBRECV	Receives the message.
NCBSSTAT	Receives the requested status information.

ncb_length

Specifies the size, in bytes, of the message buffer. For receive commands, this member is set by the Netbios function to indicate the number of bytes received.

If the buffer length is incorrect, the Netbios function returns the NRC_BUFLEN error code.

ncb_callname

Specifies the name of the remote application. Trailing-space characters should be supplied to make the length of the string equal to NCBNAMSZ.

ncb_name

Specifies the name by which the application is known. Trailing-space characters should be supplied to make the length of the string equal to NCBNAMSZ.

ncb_rto

Specifies the time-out period for receive operations, in 500-millisecond units, for the session. A value of zero implies no time-out. Specify with the NCBCALL or NCBLISTEN command. Affects subsequent NCBRECV commands.

ncb_sto

Specifies the time-out period for send operations, in 500-millisecond units, for the session. A value of zero implies no time-out. Specify with the NCBCALL or NCBLISTEN command. Affects subsequent NCBSEND and NCBCHAINSEND commands.

ncb_post

Specifies the address of the post routine to call when the asynchronous command is completed. The post routine is defined as:

NCB_POST PostRoutine( PNCB pncb );

where the pncb parameter is a pointer to the completed network control block.

ncb_lana_num

Specifies the LAN adapter number. This zero-based number corresponds to a particular transport provider using a particular LAN adapter board.

ncb_cmd_cplt

Specifies the command complete flag. This value is the same as the ncb_retcode member.

ncb_reserve

Reserved; must be zero.

ncb_event

Specifies a handle to a Windows event that is set to the nonsignaled state when an asynchronous command is accepted, and it is set to the signaled state when the asynchronous command is completed. The event is signaled if the Netbios function returns a nonzero value. Only manual reset events should be used for synchronization. A specified event should not be associated with more than one active asynchronous command.

The ncb_event member must be zero if the ncb_command member does not have the ASYNCH flag set or if ncb_post is nonzero. Otherwise, Netbios returns the NRC_ILLCMD error code.

Remarks

Using ncb_event to issue asynchronous requests requires fewer system resources than using ncb_post. In addition, when ncb_event is nonzero, the pending request is canceled if the thread terminates before the request is processed. This is not true for asynchronous requests sent using ncb_post.

NCB info Overview Group

Members

Remarks

See Also