TCP/IP Causes Time Wait States to Exceed Four Minutes Under Stress

ID: Q169274

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

SYMPTOMS

There is a small time window in Afd.sys (the Microsoft Winsock2 service provider for TDI transport) where it does not indicate data received immediately after a connection is accepted. This window should affect only applications that use AcceptEx with buffer space for receiving data after a connection is accepted.

CAUSE

In TCP/IP, timewait state queue management has a problem that causes time wait states to exceed four minutes under stress.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

For your convenience, the English version of this post-SP3 hotfix has been posted to the following Internet location. However, Microsoft recommends that you install Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 to correct this problem.

ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/NT40/hotfixes-postSP3/iis4-fix/

NOTE: The above link is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.

Additional query words: prodnt 4.00

Keywords : NT4SP4Fix kbbug4.00 nttcp kbfix4.00.sp4 NTSrv
Version : WinNT:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug