System Hang Results from Large Number of Notify Syncs

• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 SP3
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

SYMPTOMS

Your computer running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 (SP3) that is configured as a domain controller may stop responding (hang) when approximately 400 users with a centralized desktop scheme are connected to the domain controller.

CAUSE

With this centralized desktop scheme, the most significant network load came about when the Start Menu and Desktop were refreshed. The Explorer shell from the client causes a series of NotifyChangeDirectoryFile calls to be made to the file system of the server during these refresh cycles. Each call causes a notify sync object to be allocated and places an IRP in the notify queue.

In this configuration, the 400 users generated a significant number of notify syncs, which eventually would create a mismatch between an associated IRP and its notify synch object because of a timing issue.

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 kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00.sp4
Version : WinNT:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug