PPTP May Refuse Connections When VPNs Are Free

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

SYMPTOMS

Your Windows NT Server computer running the Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) may encounter periods where all new client connections will be refused. These periods only last three to five seconds but can happen even when there are Virtual Private Network (VPN) adapters still available.

CAUSE

This problem only happens when clients are dialing in using NetBEUI. The clean up period after a VPN bound to NetBEUI can last three to five seconds. During this period, the VPN will refuse any connections. When the VPN refuses the connection, the server then thinks that all the connections are being used and refuses the entire connection instead of passing the connection on to another VPN.

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.

Additional query words: RAS PPTP NetBeui

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