Error Occurs During SSL Connection

ID: Q207523

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Information Server version 4.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer Plus 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to connect to an IIS Web site using an SSL connection, one of the following symptoms occurs, depending on the browser being used:

In Internet Explorer, the following error message occurs:

Internet Explorer could not open the Internet site: <URL>
The data area passed to a system call is too small.

Netscape Communicator stops responding when you attempt to make the connection.

CAUSE

The browser is trying to use a 128-bit session key, but the Web server is set up to use a 40-bit key.

RESOLUTION

NOTE: Due to export restrictions, the 128-bit key strength encryption feature is available only in the United States and Canada.

To resolve this problem, install the 128-bit version of the latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack (SP). This will enable the Web server to create 128-bit connections.

Installing the 128-bit version of the Windows NT SP updates the Schannel.dll file, which is used by IIS to create SSL connections.

MORE INFORMATION

For information about obtaining the latest Service Pack, go to the Windows NT Server Service Packs Web site at the following site:

http://support.microsoft.com/Support/NTServer/Content/ServicePacks/

For more information about setting encryption strength, see the online documentation for IIS at:

http://localhost/iishelp/iis/htm/core/iistesc.htm

For information on how to determine the security strength that IIS is using, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q184311 Remote Key Request Generation Affected by Schannel.dll

Additional query words: schannel.dll 40 128 128bit 40bit security hangs freezes quits north america

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:4.0; winnt:4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbprb