Microsoft KB Archive/162189

= Macintosh Clients May Hang Temporarily with Multiple Mac Volumes =

Article ID: 162189

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q162189



SYMPTOMS
On a Windows NT MacFile server with multiple Macintosh volumes, Macintosh clients may experience wait times showing network busy (-><-) for varied lengths of time while Afp calls requiring an exclusive lock retry. This issue can be verified in a network trace where Macintosh clients are seen to be issuing retry calls AfpGetFileDirParms and AfpCloseFork until an exclusive volume lock on the MacFile server is released.



CAUSE
Where multiple volumes exist, as file status changes were being processed across various Macintosh volumes, an exclusive and volume-specific lock was being applied during volume change notify processing. In a particular instance, a volume-specific lock was not being released. This lock was released as more volume changes were processed; however, wait times varied.



RESOLUTION
The issue was addressed in a code change that manages the change notify processing more efficiently and resolves the held lock condition.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT versions 3.51 and 4.0. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K



MORE INFORMATION
In addition, performing the following actions can have a positive impact on Macintosh performance:
 * 1) Disabling the Catsearch Function - this requires the hotfix for Windows NT version 3.51 or Service Pack 3 or later for Windows NT version 4.0 and a registry change.
 * 2) Disabling EnableOplocks on the NT Server (registry change only).
 * 3) Reducing AppleTalk Traffic by using a 3rd party application called Less Talk on the Mac client.
 * 4) If Microsoft Mail is being used -- reset the PC Polling interval on the MS Mail client to reduce the frequency of polling for new mail.
 * 5) Apply a hotfix that resolved a record locking issue -- "Record Unlock After PC Release" (this fix should be included in the hotfix under item number one.

For more information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: 158796

TITLE : Macintosh Clients Connected to WinNT Server Appear to Hang

ARTICLE-ID: 129202

TITLE : PC Ext: Explanation of Opportunistic Locking on Windows NT

ARTICLE-ID: 150879

TITLE : SFM: Macintosh Computers Create a Lot of Network Traffic

ARTICLE-ID: 150978

TITLE : SFM: Optimizing Polling Rate for Macintosh Clients for PCMail

ARTICLE-ID: 159994

TITLE : SFM Does Not Unlock Record After PC Releases Lock

Additional query words: prodnt sfm ntsfm

Keywords: kbbug kbnetwork KB162189

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