Open File Is Slow When Using Novell IntranetWare Client

Opening files off a Novell file server using the Novell IntraNetWare client takes a long time. This does not happen when Microsoft client for Novell is used instead of Novell IntraNetWare client.

The delay experienced by the user when using the Novell IntraNetWare client is caused by the Novell provided DLL (Novnpnt.dll). The Novell provided DLL doesn't export the entry point NPGetConnectionPerformance.

This was a new entry point added in Windows 95 and Windows NT version 4.0 to implement the MultinetGetConnectionPerformance API. Microsoft Version of Novell redirector provided (Nwprovau.dll) does export that entry point. As a result, when MPR calls this entry point, it succeeds quickly.

Because the Novell provided DLL (Novnpnt.dll) does not provide this entry point, MPR skips it and calls the next provider in the order that, in most cases, is the server message block provider DLL (ntlanman.dll), which takes a long time to fail.