How to enable debug mode for Remote Install Servers

You can enable a Windows 2000 Remote Install Server (RIS) to run in Debug mode for troubleshooting purposes. This can be useful when you are trying to troubleshoot client/server issues (such as pre-staged systems not connecting to the RIS server, or clients not receiving information sent to or from the RIS server).
There are two debugging modes that you can enable. The first is Normal Debug mode, which logs output to a file. The other is Full Debug mode, which displays output via NTSD or Kernel Debugger. Both of these options require manual editing of the registry.

Setting RIS for Normal Debug Mode

Normal Debug mode enables the BinlSvc (Boot information Negotiation Layer) service to log information to a %SystemRoot%\Debug\Binlsvc.log file. To enable this mode:

1. Using the Computer Management snap-in, expand Services and Applications, and then click Services. Locate and stop the Boot Information Negotiation Layer service. Or, you can stop the service by typing the following line at a command prompt:
   net stop binlsvc
   Note If DHCP services are also running on the RIS server, you must stop the DHCP services so that the binlsvc will be able to properly initialize the debug log.
2. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
3. Locate the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Binlsvc\Parameters
4. On the Edit menu, point to New, click DWORD Value, and then add the following registry value:
   Value Name: Debug
   Data Type: Reg_Dword
   Value: 0x80FFFFFF
5. Quit Registry Editor.
6. Start the Binlsvc service. Start DHCP services if they were stopped in step 1. To start the services, use the Computer Management snap-in or type the following lines at a command prompt. Press ENTER after each line.
   net start binlsvc
   net start "DHCP Client"

View the Binlsvc service output in the %SystemRoot%\Debug\Binlsvc.log file to assist in troubleshooting.

NOTE: The output log file does not have standard control characters. If you use a text viewer such as Notepad.exe the file may be difficult to read. You may want to stop the Binlsvc service again and view the file with Write.exe or WordPad.exe.

Setting RIS for Full Debug Mode

Full Debug mode sends information out an NTSD window on the console. Most problems can be solved by using the first debug method, but in rare cases in which more debug information is required you can use the method outlined below.

1. Using the Computer Management snap-in, expand Services and Applications, and then click Services. Locate and stop the Boot Information Negotiation Layer service. Or, you can stop the service by typing the following line at a command prompt:
   net stop binlsvc
2. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
3. Locate and click the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Binlsvc\Parameters
4. On the Edit menu, point to New, click DWORD Value, and then add the following registry value:
   Value Name: Debug
   Data Type: Reg_Dword
   Value: 00FFFFFF
5. Locate the ImagePath value under the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Binlsvc
   By default, the setting for the ImagePath value is "%SystemRoot%\System32\tcpsvcs.exe"
6. On the Edit menu, click String, type ntsd -g -G %SystemRoot%\System32\tcpsvcs.exe, and then click OK.
7. Verify that the ImagePath value contains the new setting.
8. Quit Registry Editor.
9. Using the Computer Management snap-in, expand Services and Applications, and then click Services.
10. Double-click the Boot Information Negotiation Layer service, click the Logon tab, and then click to select Allow Service to interact with desktop.
11. Start the Binlsvc service by either using the Computer Management snap-in or by typing the following line at a command prompt:
    net start binlsvc

Try to reproduce the problem. When the problem occurs, look for errors creating machine accounts and LDAP errors.