DOCUMENT:Q151677 09-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :NWLink SPX Ignores Allocation Number Sent By Peer PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::4.0,4.0 SP3 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbnetwork kbWinNT400sp4fix ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 SP3 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 SP3 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== Under certain conditions, computers that connect to a process on a Windows NT computer may fail. For example, the computer may time-out, applications may stop responding, or the computer may disconnect. On the network you may also see increased retransmissions. This has been observed with SQL Server where clients access the database using ODBC over SPX but it may happen with any SPX-based communication. CAUSE ===== The SQL server numbers the frames (for example, 23) when it sends data to the client. The client indicates that it has received the frame and specifies with an Allocation Number if it can receive another frame (for example, 24). If the client-side SPX protocol cannot receive another frame because the process did not copy the data and gave it another buffer, it does not increment its Allocation Number (for example, send 23). This is especially true for database applications as they may perform a considerable amount of work locally. The sending station should refrain from sending frames until it receives another frame with an updated Allocation Number. The problem introduced in Service Pack 2 is that Windows NT NWLink SPX ignores the Allocation Number field and continues to send frames. After this happens, one of the stations eventually decides that the session is out of synch and disconnects. When the connection starts over the two stations are likely to run into the same problem again. 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. MORE INFORMATION ================ For more information, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article: Q177113Incomplete Print Jobs Using JetDirect over SPX NOTE: JetDirect is no longer supported by HP. SDI (Simple Device Installation) is now used to install network printers. For more information on this, see: http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/cposupport/ccsearch/getdoc?doc=bpj05973 or http://www.hp.com/cposupport/networking/support_doc/bpj06765.html HP recommends a new software admin package (TCP/IP / IPX/SPX based). For further information see: http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/cposupport/ccsearch/getdoc?doc=bpj06723 or http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/cposupport/ccsearch/getdoc?doc=bpj06724 Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbnetwork kbWinNT400sp4fix Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp3 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400sp3 kbWinNTS400search kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch Version : :4.0,4.0 SP3 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbfix ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.