Microsoft KB Archive/202840

= A client connected to an Ethernet switch may receive several logon-related error messages during startup =

Article ID: 202840

Article Last Modified on 10/11/2007

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional for Itanium-based systems
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64-Bit Edition (Itanium)
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition for Itanium-Based Systems
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
 * Windows Vista Ultimate
 * Windows Vista Starter
 * Windows Vista Home Premium
 * Windows Vista Home Basic
 * Windows Vista Enterprise
 * Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Business
 * Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q202840



Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure that you back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry



SYMPTOMS
On a client computer that is connected to an Ethernet switch, you may receive several logon-related error messages during Startup.

In the event log, you may receive the following error message:

5719 - No domain controller available

NOTE: The source of this error may be the NetLogon service and how the NetLogon service sets up its secure channel.

Also, if you log on to the console before Startup has completed, you may receive one of the following error messages:  

No domain controller was available to validate your logon.

A domain controller for your domain could not be contacted. You have been logged on using cached account information. Changes to your profile since you last logged on may not be available.



You may receive this error message only when you make the initial attempt to log on to the computer. When you make subsequent attempts to log on to the computer, you may not receive this error message.



CAUSE
This behavior can occur because some Ethernet switches have a feature that checks the ports for a loop condition when the ports become active (the Learning mode for the Spanning Tree Algorithm feature). If a loop is found, all traffic is blocked from accessing the port. This process of checking for a loop condition takes approximately 10 to 15 seconds during which the Windows NT Workstation-based computer seems to be on the network, yet no traffic is being passed. The NetLogon service packets (along with any other traffic during that time) are lost.

If you have a hub at the end of the port, the hub has already brought the port up. Your connection is only unsuccessful when your computer is connected directly to the switch.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this behavior, disable the Spanning Tree Algorithm feature of your Ethernet switch.

For information about how to disable the Spanning Tree Algorithm feature on a switch, contact the switch manufacturer.



WORKAROUND
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To work around this behavior, on the clients add the following parameter to the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netlogon\Parameters

Value Name: ExpectedDialupDelay

Data Type: Reg_Dword

Data Value is in seconds (default = 0)

Data Range is between 0 and 600 seconds (10 minutes)

This workaround forces the NetLogon service to pause for the specified amount of time before the service attempts to establish its secure channel.

NOTE: Unless you reconfigure your switch, you may still experience the symptoms described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

168455 DHCP renewal failures on switched networks

Keywords: kberrmsg kbnetwork kbprb KB202840

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.