Windows NT 4.0 DNS Server Stops Responding to Queries

• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

Windows NT 4.0 Domain Name Service (DNS) server may stop responding to queries, or you may notice DNS taking up large amounts of memory when multiple IP addresses are bound to the network adapter.

CAUSE

DNS server must open a socket on every address that will receive DNS queries. This can take up a lot of memory when multiple IP addresses or multiple network adapters are used.

More Information

Windows NT 4.0 uses large buffers by default to avoid dropping packets when under high load. These buffer sizes have been reduced in Service Pack 3 when binding to more than three IP addresses.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 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

Keywords          : kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00 kbfix4.00.sp2 ntnetserv NTSrv nttcp kbbuglist kbnetwork
Version           : 4.0
Platform          : winnt
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbservicepack