Knowledge Base

Enabling 128-bit Encryption for Routing and Remote Access

Article ID: 169895

Article Last Modified on 3/29/2007

Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3

This article was previously published under Q169895

SUMMARY

If you upgrade a Remote Access Service (RAS) server that uses 128-bit encryption to Routing and Remote Access Service, you will have only 40-bit demand-dial and RAS encryption. The following information explains how to restore 128-bit encryption with Routing and Remote Access Service.

MORE INFORMATION

If you have the North American version of Windows NT Server version 4.0 Service Pack 3 it is possible to enable strong encryption (128-bit) for Routing and Remote Access Services.

Use the following steps to determine which version of encryption that is actually installed:

Start Windows NT Explorer and find the %Systemroot%\System32\Drivers directory.
Right-click on the file Ndiswan.sys, point to Properties, and then click.
Click the Version tab from the Properties sheet and look at the Description field.

The Description of the 40-bit version is:
MS WAN Wrapper Network Driver (Export Version)

The Description of the 128-bit version is:
MS WAN Wrapper Network Driver (Domestic Use Only)

To allow for the use of strong encryption in Routing and Remote Access:

Apply the North American version of Service Pack 3.
Install Routing and Remote Access Services.
In the %SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers directory, rename the 40-bit Ndiswan.sys file to Ndiswan.old.
Copy the 128-bit Ndiswan.sys file from the North American Service Pack 3 to the %SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers directory.
Restart your computer.

NOTE: If you install a network adapter or service after you have installed Routing and Remote Access Service, and if the adapter or service requires you to reinstall Service Pack 3, you must then update Routing and Remote Access Service. To update Routing and Remote Access, go to Control Panel, Network, Services, select Routing and Remote Access, and then click Update. Type the path to the Routing and Remote Access files. When you do this you will have to re-copy the 128-bit version of Ndiswan.sys from the service pack.

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

174474 Installing RRAS Disables 128-bit RAS Encryption

Additional query words: rras

Keywords: kbnetwork KB169895