DOCUMENT:Q168348 09-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :RasDial( ) Leaks Resources on WinNT 4.0 PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:winnt:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbbuglist ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When an application repeatedly calls the RasDial( ) and RasHangup( ) APIs, memory and handle leaks may be observed. One consequence of these leaks is that Remote Access Service (RAS) can no longer dial out after a certain number of iterations. You may experience this problem as your Windows NT RAS client makes repeated connections without rebooting the computer. CAUSE ===== The Win32 API RAS APIs that are used for connection management do not de-allocate all of the memory they use. Any process that repeatedly establishes and tears down connections will cause an increased use of memory and resources. An increase in the number of system handles used by the process may also be observed. RESOLUTION ========== Update to the latest Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 U.S. Service Pack. 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 MORE INFORMATION ================ To identify this as the cause of the problem, perform the following steps: 1. Open Task Manager (right click the Taskbar and select Task Manager). 2. Click Processes. 3. Click View, select Select Columns. 4. Check Handle Count. 5. Click OK. 6. Watch the Handle Count for applications that use RAS to establish connections. If one process (usually Rasman.exe) appears to show its Handle Count increasing over time, and not decreasing, you are probably experiencing this problem. This issue may also be caused (or contributed to) by another similar RAS API issue. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q165483 RasEnumEntries() API leaks memory Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbbuglist Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 Version : winnt:4.0 Issue type : kbbug ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.