Connecting to a Server is Slow over RAS Using LMHOSTS File

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you dial into a remote site, the initial attempt to connect to a server share point can take up to 90 seconds to complete.

CAUSE

If the name of the server being connected to is resolved by using the local LMHOSTS file, when attempting to connect, Windows NT must wait for the connection attempt over the local LAN to timeout before the connection over RAS is accepted. If you use the normal default TCP/IP values for TcpMaxConnectRetransmissions, it will take 90 seconds to time out.

This problem is not experienced if WINS or broadcast name resolution is used to locate the computer being connected to.

RESOLUTION

You can work around this problem by lowering the value of TcpMaxConnectRetransmissions. Setting this to a value of 1 reduces the delay to 18 seconds. However, lowering this value may cause problems when establishing a connection to a server over a slow link.

To resolve this problem, obtain the following fix or wait for the next Windows NT service pack.

This fix should have the following time stamp:

   12/18/97  08:43p               119,856 Netbt.sys (Intel)
   12/18/97  08:40p               220,048 Netbt.sys (Alpha)

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. A supported fix is now available, but has not been 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 next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.

Keywords          : kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00 NTRAS NTSrvWkst
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Platform          : winnt
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix