Slow File Access from Macintosh Clients Connected to a Windows NT Server

ID: Q241024

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

Macintosh clients may experience slow performance when they attempt to gain access to files on a Windows NT server running Services for Macintosh (SFM) if other clients are using AppleScripts to query for files on the server.

CAUSE

A program that uses AppleScript to use the Apple File Protocol (AFP) CatSearch command (such as Macintosh File Find) may reduce the server's responsiveness to other Macintosh clients on the network, causing them to appear to stop responding (hang) for brief periods of time. This problem occurs only when there is a large number of Macintosh clients connected to a Macintosh volume that contains a very large number of files and folders.

If the AppleScript program is written to use a CatSearch command, it ignores the "DisableCatSearch=1" setting, which indicates that no CatSearch commands are allowed. Setting the "DisableCatSearch=1" setting in the registry disables Macintosh clients from using CatSearch commands, but not custom programs that use AppleScripts.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows NT 4.0 service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:


   Date      Time                 Size    File name     Platform
   -------------------------------------------------------------
   09/28/99  11:49a              134,416  Sfmsrv.sys    x86
   09/28/99  11:48a              241,744  Sfmsrv.sys    Alpha

To Disable CatSearch Commands for All Clients on an SFM Volume

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

NOTE: This change is only valid on systems running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2 or later.

Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).

Locate the volume on which you want to disable CatSearch commands under the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MacFile\Parameters\Volumes

On the Edit menu, click Multi String, type DisableCatSearch=1, and then click OK.

Quit Registry Editor.

Stop and restart SFM.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

This new functionality gives administrators the ability to turn off the CatSearch command. If this feature is disabled, AppleScript-based programs may not work. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q158796 Macintosh Clients Connected to Windows NT Server Appear to Hang

Additional query words:

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