BUG: Local COM Connections Timeout After Six Minutes

• Microsoft OLE Libraries included with: - Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

COM objects created locally are subject to the same "pinging" that remote objects are (see "Distributed Component Object Model Protocol -- DCOM/1.0" internet-draft, section 2.5 and 2.5.1 for a specification of this "pinging" mechanism in COM). This pinging currently includes three pings at two- minute intervals for a total of six minutes of waiting before an unresponsive client causes COM to release dead references on the server.

There is also a problem that manifests itself in the same timeout behavior, but it is apparently unjustified. In this problem scenario, the server and client are both active and responsive. However, the connection is terminated after six minutes for no apparent reason.

CAUSE

The problem resides in the COM subsystem and is triggered by the lack of networking software installed on the Windows platform.

RESOLUTION

To work around the problem, install and activate a networking protocol via the Control Panel's Network applet. Once this is done, the timeout should not occur unless the client has actually died.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in Microsoft COM Libraries. The problem is fixed in Service Pack 2 of Windows NT 4.0.

REFERENCES

The "Distributed Component Object Model Protocol -- DCOM/1.0" internet- draft is available at the following addresses:

  ftp://is.co.za/internet-drafts (Africa),

  ftp://nic.nordu.net/internet-drafts (Europe)

  ftp://munnari.oz.au/internet-drafts (Pacific Rim)

  ftp://ds.internic.net/internet-drafts (US East Coast)

  ftp://ftp.isi.edu/internet-drafts (US West Coast)