NT Networking Problem
NT Networking Problem
(OP)
We are experiencing the following re-occuring problem that hopefully you can help with:
In our NT network, we have a NT workstation setup to solely run a program called Flex/LM. It is a commercially written program that manages software licenses for the CAD package Pro/E. It also is the repository for many library part files used in Pro/E. Each user(approx 7) has the library directory mapped into their NT workstations so the user can access these files. About once a day (not the same time) we suddenly lose contact with the remote computer as evidenced by an error message 'The remote computer is unavailable'. The machine is still able to manage licenses, but we cannot access the library parts. Each user can successfully ping the remote computer as well. The only fix is to reboot the server computer.
A check of the event viewer shows a warning of 'The server is unable to allocate a work item' with an Event ID of 2021. The machine was an old DEC Alpha. Knowing the machine was old , and wanting to replace it, we thought it might be the source of our problems. The machine was replaced with an Intel based machine with NT 4.0 workstation, service pack 5 installed. Unfortunately, the problem quickly re-appeared.
I then searched Microsoft's knowledge base for the error I was getting. I hit on an article that closely matched what we were seeing (if interested, the article was Q216171)
The article described making the following change to the registry:
***
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanManServer\Parameters\MaxWorkItems
value is not large enough to provide efficient server operation. This value determines the maximum number of receive buffers that a server can allocate. If this limit is reached, server performance may be degraded.
***
Inspection of our registry showed this key did not even exist. So I added the key with the recommended value setting of 8192
Again, the problem has re-appeared.
Has anyone else had this problem? Is their any problem running NT workstation versus NT server? The file sharing requirements are pretty light and I can't imagine NT server would be required for this application. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.
In our NT network, we have a NT workstation setup to solely run a program called Flex/LM. It is a commercially written program that manages software licenses for the CAD package Pro/E. It also is the repository for many library part files used in Pro/E. Each user(approx 7) has the library directory mapped into their NT workstations so the user can access these files. About once a day (not the same time) we suddenly lose contact with the remote computer as evidenced by an error message 'The remote computer is unavailable'. The machine is still able to manage licenses, but we cannot access the library parts. Each user can successfully ping the remote computer as well. The only fix is to reboot the server computer.
A check of the event viewer shows a warning of 'The server is unable to allocate a work item' with an Event ID of 2021. The machine was an old DEC Alpha. Knowing the machine was old , and wanting to replace it, we thought it might be the source of our problems. The machine was replaced with an Intel based machine with NT 4.0 workstation, service pack 5 installed. Unfortunately, the problem quickly re-appeared.
I then searched Microsoft's knowledge base for the error I was getting. I hit on an article that closely matched what we were seeing (if interested, the article was Q216171)
The article described making the following change to the registry:
***
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanManServer\Parameters\MaxWorkItems
value is not large enough to provide efficient server operation. This value determines the maximum number of receive buffers that a server can allocate. If this limit is reached, server performance may be degraded.
***
Inspection of our registry showed this key did not even exist. So I added the key with the recommended value setting of 8192
Again, the problem has re-appeared.
Has anyone else had this problem? Is their any problem running NT workstation versus NT server? The file sharing requirements are pretty light and I can't imagine NT server would be required for this application. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.





RE: NT Networking Problem
did you solve the problem with the event 2021 on a Windows NT 4.0 workstation and how?
Sincerly!
Paul Mitterberger
RE: NT Networking Problem
The workstations were clean installs - only application installed was Sophos AV. Using kix to map drives & add printers - this seemed to be the main cause.
Have fun ;)
RE: NT Networking Problem
RE: NT Networking Problem