Microsoft KB Archive/887602

= The DFS service may consume many of the CPU and memory resources on a Windows Server 2003-based domain controller =

Article ID: 887602

Article Last Modified on 6/27/2007

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems

-





SYMPTOMS
On a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based domain controller that has Distributed File System (DFS) site costing enabled, the DFS service may consume many of the CPU and memory resources. Additionally, the client computers may take a long time to log on to the domain.



CAUSE
The problem occurs when the client referral request workload becomes too large. The probability that the problem will occur relates directly to the number of sites in the Active Directory directory service forest.

This problem occurs because DFS site cost lookups of client referral requests do not correctly release references. This behavior leads to redundant cache entry copies and excess memory use. The high CPU use is caused by lookups in oversized cache lists.



Service pack information
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

889100 How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003

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

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
There are no prerequisites.

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

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes. 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, x86-based versions
  Date         Time   Version            Size    File name --  08-Nov-2004  22:37  5.2.3790.231      137,216  Dfssvc.exe

Windows Server 2003, Itanium-based versions
  Date         Time   Version            Size    File name --  08-Nov-2004  06:35  5.2.3790.231      461,824  Dfssvc.exe       IA-64 08-Nov-2004 06:37  5.2.3790.231      137,216  Wdfssvc.exe      x86



WORKAROUND
To temporarily resolve this problem, restart the DFS service on the affected domain controller. You can also disable site costing at the DFS root. If multiple namespaces (roots) are configured, referral activity for a particular root should closely match excess memory and CPU usage.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.

Additional query words: hang, W2K3, slow logon, high CPU utilization, site cost costing, memory leak

Keywords: kbfix kbbug kbmemory kbhotfixserver kbqfe KB887602

-

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

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.