WLBS Does Not Respond to ARP Requests (244091)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Load Balancing Service

This article was previously published under Q244091

SYMPTOMS

A Windows Load Balancing Service (WLBS) cluster host may not respond to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests under stress. A client must be able to map the cluster's virtual IP address to the cluster's media access control (MAC) address with ARP to be able to access services that are being load balanced. All other network communication may function normally.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when the cluster host tries to reply to ARP requests but ARP send packets are retained in Ndis.sys.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:
   Date      Time                Size     File name     Platform
   -------------------------------------------------------------
   10/12/99  9:43PM              121,744  Ndis.sys      Intel
   10/12/99  9:41PM              213,680  Ndis.sys      Alpha
				

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/26/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbnetwork KB244091