Deadlock in TCP/IP on Multiprocessor Computers

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

SYMPTOMS

Under stressful conditions in Windows NT 4.0, TCP/IP may cause a deadlock on a multiprocessor computer, putting the computer into a non-usable state.

CAUSE

This problem happens because the thread on one processor has already allocated a tcb_lock and then the calling function tries to lock the TCBTableLock. Then, on the second processor the thread has a lock on the TCBTableLock and the calling function tries to get a tcb_lock.

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

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.

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