Microsoft KB Archive/890584

= &quot;TOO_MANY_OPEN_FILES&quot; error message when the redirector component in Windows Server 2003 uses the SMB protocol to open a file in a shared network folder =

Article ID: 890584

Article Last Modified on 7/24/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition

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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
When the redirector component in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 uses the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol to open a file that is located in a shared network folder, you may receive the following error message:

The system cannot open the file.

When you use Network Monitor to trace the network traffic, you may receive the following error message:

TOO_MANY_OPEN_FILES

Additionally, when you use the Open Handles (OH) monitoring tool (Oh.exe) to view the open handles of the client process, no open handles are reported.

Note The OH monitoring tool shows the handles of all open windows. Alternatively, you can limit the OH display to show only information relating to a particular process, object type, or object name. This feature is useful when a sharing violation occurs because you can find the process that has a file open at the time of violation.

However, when you run the Net Files command at a command prompt on the Windows Server 2003-based computer to view the handles that are opened by clients, there may be hundreds or even thousands of files open.



CAUSE
This problem occurs when the files in the dormant file cache are not closed correctly.

By default, the redirector component in Windows Server 2003 does not immediately close files on the server for performance reasons. However, the closed files are cached in this scenario. This problem may occur on the Windows Server 2003-based computer even though no error message is displayed.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement
You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003, 64-bit editions
  Date         Time   Version            Size    File name -  24-Nov-2004  01:39  5.2.3790.235    1,124,864  Mrxsmb.sys 24-Nov-2004 01:39  5.2.3790.235      465,408  Rdbss.sys

Windows Server 2003, 32-bit editions
  Date         Time   Version            Size    File name -  24-Nov-2004  01:34  5.2.3790.235      395,776  Mrxsmb.sys 24-Nov-2004 01:34  5.2.3790.235      158,720  Rdbss.sys



MORE INFORMATION
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. By default, the number of closed files that can be cached is 45. This setting is controlled by the DormantFileLimit registry value. This registry value is located under the following subkey:



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



MORE INFORMATION
For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbqfe kbhotfixserver kbbug kbfix kbwinserv2003presp1fix KB890584

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