FIX: Clients may receive an error message or may experience unusually long delays when an administrator saves configuration changes in a large Host Integration Server 2004 configuration (904632)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004

SYMPTOMS

When a Microsoft Host Integration Server administrator saves configuration changes in a large Host Integration Server configuration, you may experience the following behavior:
  • Host Integration Server clients receive the following error message when the client SnaBase process tries to connect to the SnaBase service on a computer that is running Host Integration Server 2004:
    Host Integration Server - ERROR # 1003

    SnaBase could not open a sponsor connection to server ServerName
  • Host Integration Server clients that start SNA applications, such as a 3270 emulator, may experience unusually long delays before the application can obtain a host session.
  • The SnaBase service on the Host Integration Server 2004-based servers will experience increased CPU utilization and memory use as long as the updated Host Integration Server configuration file (Com.cfg) is processed.
You may experience this behavior for several seconds or for more than 30 minutes.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the SnaBase process locks the newly updated Host Integration Server configuration database as long as the database is read to memory. This behavior causes a deadlock because any other threads that require the lock stop responding until the lock is released.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Host Integration Server 2004 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

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 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.
   Date         Time   Version     Size     File name
   ----------------------------------------------------
   02-Aug-2005  23:53  6.0.1975.0  215,040  Snabase.exe
Note Because of file dependencies, the most recent fix that contains these files may also contain additional files.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

You may not experience this problem with all large Host Integration Server configurations. The problem cannot be isolated to a specific number of objects that are contained in the configuration file. The problem also cannot be isolated to a specific Com.cfg file size.

The size of the Com.cfg file, the number of configuration objects, and the types of configuration objects all help determine how long Host Integration Server 2004 re-reads an updated configuration into memory. You experience the problem that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section as long as the configuration file is re-read into memory.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/25/2006
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbfix kbbug kbpubtypekc KB904632 kbAudDeveloper
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