Microsoft KB Archive/244474

= How to force Kerberos to use TCP instead of UDP in Windows Server 2003, in Windows XP, and in Windows 2000 =

Article ID: 244474

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

-



This article was previously published under Q244474



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



SUMMARY
The Windows Kerberos authentication package is the default authentication package in Microsoft Windows Server 2003, in Microsoft Windows XP, and in Microsoft Windows 2000. It coexists with the NTLM challenge/response protocol and is used in instances where both a client and a server can negotiate Kerberos. Request for Comments (RFC) 1510 states that the client should send a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) datagram to port 88 at the IP address of the Key Distribution Center (KDC) when a client contacts the KDC. The KDC should respond with a reply datagram to the sending port at the sender's IP address. The RFC also states that UDP must be the first protocol that is tried.

A limitation on the UDP packet size may cause the following error message at domain logon:

Event Log Error 5719

Source NETLOGON

No Windows NT or Windows 2000 Domain Controller is available for domain. The following error occurred:

There are currently no logon servers available to service the logon request.

Additionally, the Netdiag tool may display the following error messages:

Error message 1

DC list test. . . . . . . . . . . : Failed [WARNING] Cannot call DsBind to COMPUTERNAMEDC.domain.com (159.140.176.32). [ERROR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_NOT_FOUND]

Error message 2

Kerberos test. . . . . . . . . . . : Failed [FATAL] Kerberos does not have a ticket for MEMBERSERVER$.]



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.

Important If you use UDP for Kerberos, your client computer may stop responding (hang) when you receive the following message:

Loading your personal settings.

By default, the maximum size of datagram packets for which Windows Server 2003 uses UDP is 1,465 bytes. For Windows XP and for Windows 2000, this maximum is 2,000 bytes. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is used for any datagrampacket that is larger than this maximum. The maximum size of datagram packets for which UDP is used can be changed by modifying a registry key and value.

By default, Kerberos uses connectionless UDP datagram packets. Depending on a variety of factors including security identifier (SID) history and group membership, some accounts will have larger Kerberos authentication packet sizes. Depending on the virtual private network (VPN) hardware configuration, these larger packets have to be fragmented when going through a VPN. The problem is caused by fragmentation of these large UDP Kerberos packets. Because UDP is a connectionless protocol, fragmented UDP packets will be dropped if they arrive at the destination out of order.

If you change MaxPacketSize to a value of 1, you force the client to use TCP to send Kerberos traffic through the VPN tunnel. Because TCP is connection oriented, it is a more reliable means of transport across the VPN tunnel. Even if the packets are dropped, the server will re-request the missing data packet.

You can change MaxPacketSize to 1 to force the clients to use Kerberos traffic over TCP. To do this, follow these steps:  Start Registry Editor. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

Note If the Parameters key does not exist, create it now. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. Type MaxPacketSize, and then press ENTER. Double-click MaxPacketSize, type 1 in the Value data box, click to select the Decimal option, and then click OK. Quit Registry Editor.</li> Restart your computer.</li></ol>

The following template is an administrative template that can be imported into Group Policy to let the MaxPacketSize value be set for all enterprise computers that are running Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000. To view the MaxPacketSize settings in Group Policy Object Editor, click Show Policies Only on the View menu so that Show Policies Only is not selected. This template modifies registry keys outside the Policies section. By default, Group Policy Object Editor does not display these registry settings. CLASS MACHINE CATEGORY !!KRB_PARAMS KEYNAME "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\Kerberos\Parameters" POLICY !!SET_MAXPACKETSIZE EXPLAIN !!MAXPACKETSIZE_HELP PART !!MAXPACKETSIZE NUMERIC REQUIRED VALUENAME "MaxPacketSize" MIN 1 MAX 2000 DEFAULT 2000 END PART PART !!MAXPACKETSIZE_TIP TEXT END PART END POLICY POLICY !!LOGLEVEL EXPLAIN !!LOGLEVEL_HELP VALUENAME "LogLevel" END POLICY END CATEGORY [strings] KRB_PARAMS="Kerberos Parameters" SET_MAXPACKETSIZE="Set MaxPacketSize" MAXPACKETSIZE_HELP="The Windows 2000 Kerberos Authentication package is the default in Windows 2000. It coexists with challenge/response (NTLM) and is used in instances in which both a client and server can negotiate Kerberos. Request for Comments (RFC) 1510 states that when a client contacts the Key Distribution Center (KDC), it should send a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) datagram to port 88 at the KDC's IP address. The KDC should respond with a reply datagram to the sending port at the sender's IP  address.\n\nWindows 2000, by default, uses UDP when the data can be fit in  packets under 2,000 bytes. Any data above this value uses TCP to carry the packets. The value of 2,000 bytes is configurable via this policy." MAXPACKETSIZE="Bytes: " MAXPACKETSIZE_TIP="Range is from 1 to 2000. Use 1 to force Kerberos to use TCP." LOGLEVEL="Kerberos Event Logging" LOGLEVEL_HELP="Windows 2000 offers the capability of tracing detailed Kerberos events through the event log mechanism. You can use this information when you troubleshoot Kerberos. All Kerberos errors are logged to the System log." For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

320903 Clients cannot log on by using Kerberos over TCP

Keywords: kbenv kbinfo KB244474

-

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

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.