DOCUMENT:Q161179 25-MAR-2002 [win95x] TITLE :WinSock Zero-Length Packet Not Sent on Network PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product PROD/VER:: OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbnetwork osr2 win95 kbAPI kbSDKPlatform kbWinsock kbGrpDSNetkbfixlist ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows 95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== In Windows 95, if the Windows Sockets Send() function is used to send zero-length packets using a stream-oriented socket over IPX/SPX, the function returns a success status, but no packet is sent on the network. CAUSE ===== The WinSock specifications do not require that a Send() function with a length of zero actually result in a packet being sent over the network when the Send() function is called on a stream-oriented socket. Windows 95 does not actually send a packet across the network when the Send() function is called with a length of zero over a stream-oriented socket over SPX/IPX. RESOLUTION ========== STATUS ====== This problem no longer occurs in Windows 98. To resolve this problem, install the current version of Windows. For information about the current version of Windows, visit http://www.microsoft.com/windows. MORE INFORMATION ================ According to the WinSock 2.0 specification, calling the Send() function with a length of zero is to be treated by implementations as successful. In this case, the Send() function may return 0 as a valid return value. For message-oriented sockets, a zero-length transport datagram is sent. Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbnetwork osr2 win95 kbAPI kbSDKPlatform kbWinsock kbGrpDSNet kbfixlist Technology : kbWin95search kbZNotKeyword3 Version : : Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= 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 2002.