WINS Fails on RAS Server with Multiport Adapter Installed

• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51

SYMPTOMS

If the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) service is installed on a Remote Access (RAS) server that has a multiport adapter, such as a Digiboard or a Chiliports, it usually fails to start.

The event log contains multiple WINS errors. There is no pattern to the errors in the event log, but they are usually related to the WINS service failing to start. The WINS service may run correctly until a seventh modem is added to the server. At this point, the WINS service fail. If six or fewer modems are used, the WINS service seems to function normally, but may still fail.

Errors in the system log may include:

   Event ID: 4146

   WINS error 33 processes cannot access file because another process
   has locked the file

   7023:  THE WINDOWS INTERNET NAME SERVICE TERMINATED WITH THE
   FOLLOWING ERROR:  (No error information is given in the message.)

CAUSE

The failure occurs because WINS does not allocate enough storage while reading the registry value for the Export key under Linkage for NetBT.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem:

• Use six or fewer modems on the RAS/WINS server.

  -or-

• Separate the RAS and WINS services (move the WINS service to a separate computer).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT versions 3.50 and 3.51. A supported fix is now available, but is not fully regression- tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the service pack release containing this fix. Contact Microsoft Product Support Services for more information.