Microsoft KB Archive/241024

= Slow file access from Macintosh clients connected to a Windows NT Server =

Article ID: 241024

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q241024



IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry



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
Note This hotfix is only for Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0. Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows 2000 Server do not require this hotfix.

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. 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: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

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 then restart SFM.</li></ol>

NOTE: In Windows 2000 the administrator applies only the Registry setting to enable this option. In Windows NT 4.0 the adminstrator must apply the binaries and the registry entry.

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STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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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 following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

158796 Macintosh clients connected to Windows NT Server appear to hang

Keywords: kbhotfixserver kbqfe kbbug kbfix KB241024

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