DOCUMENT:Q241024 13-JUN-2002 [winnt] TITLE :Slow File Access from Macintosh Client on Windows NT Server PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::2000,4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbWinNT400PreSP7Fix ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows 2000 Server ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry SYMPTOMS ======== Macintosh clients may experience slow performance when they attempt to gain access to files on a Windows NT server running Services for Macintosh (SFM) if other clients are using AppleScripts to query for files on the server. CAUSE ===== A program that uses AppleScript to use the Apple File Protocol (AFP) CatSearch command (such as Macintosh File Find) may reduce the server's responsiveness to other Macintosh clients on the network, causing them to appear to stop responding (hang) for brief periods of time. This problem occurs only when there is a large number of Macintosh clients connected to a Macintosh volume that contains a very large number of files and folders. If the AppleScript program is written to use a CatSearch command, it ignores the "DisableCatSearch=1" setting, which indicates that no CatSearch commands are allowed. Setting the "DisableCatSearch=1" setting in the registry disables Macintosh clients from using CatSearch commands, but not custom programs that use AppleScripts. RESOLUTION ========== A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem described in this article and should be applied only to systems 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 on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS NOTE: In special cases, charges that are normally incurred for support calls may be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. Normal 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 ------------------------------------------------------------- 09/28/99 11:49a 134,416 Sfmsrv.sys x86 09/28/99 11:48a 241,744 Sfmsrv.sys Alpha To Disable CatSearch Commands for All Clients on an SFM Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. NOTE: This change is only valid on systems running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2 or later. 1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe). 2. Locate the volume on which you want to disable CatSearch commands under the following key in the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MacFile\Parameters\Volumes 3. On the Edit menu, click Multi String, type "DisableCatSearch=1" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK. 4. Quit Registry Editor. 5. Stop and then restart SFM. NOTE: In Windows 2000 the administrator applies only the Registry setting to enable this option. In Windows NT 4.0 the adminstrator must apply the binaries and the registry entry. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. MORE INFORMATION ================ This new functionality gives administrators the ability to turn off the CatSearch command. If this feature is disabled, AppleScript-based programs may not work. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q158796 Macintosh Clients Connected to Windows NT Server Appear to Hang Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbWinNT400PreSP7Fix Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbwin2000Serv kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbwin2000ServSearch kbwin2000Search Version : :2000,4.0 Hardware : ALPHA x86 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbfix ============================================================================= 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 2002.