Event ID 3216 and 3208 Logged For Replicator Service (132950)

SYMPTOMS

When you replicate logon scripts using the Replicator service in Windows NT, although the replication occurs, the following events appear in the Event Viewer system log:

Event ID: 3216
Source: Replicator
Type: Error
Description: System Error 32 occurred.

Event ID: 3208
Source: Replicator
Type: Error
Description: The replication service could not update Directory
Scripts from the source on Computer_name due to error 32.

If you have alerts configured, the following error messages may appear:

The replication service could not update directory Scripts from the Source on <computer_name> due to error 32.

Replicated data has changed in Directory Scripts.

CAUSE

The replicator service requires exclusive use of resources, such as directories and all of their subdirectories being imported or exported, and files on the REPL$ and NETLOGON shares. Any violation of this exclusive use, such as File Manager having one of these directories open, or users connected to the NETLOGON share, causes this problem.

MORE INFORMATION

Some things you can do to minimize these nuisance messages are:

Make sure nothing on the export server is keeping the REPL\EXPORT directory or subdirectories open.
If user logon scripts are being used, make sure the client fully exits the batch file and doesn't keep it open.
Make sure there are no persistent connections established to the NETLOGON share from any clients.
Tune the replication service to replicate at longer intervals - see associated article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
138125 How to Set Replication Interval to Minimum

For additional information on Event ID 3216, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

159926 Event ID 3216 - System Error 53 Occurred

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.