Files Open with UNC Path May Be Closed Prematurely (179873)

SYMPTOMS

Files opened with a UNC name may be closed prematurely. This problem only occurs when a directory that is part of the UNC path is subsequently connected and then disconnected.

CAUSE

When the UNC file is opened, a tree ID is created by the server and is sent to the client Redirector. The tree ID represents the root or mount point on the server. In the above example, a tree ID will be returned for the directory dir. For file references, the Redirector includes the tree ID to tell the server where the path starts on the server. A tree ID has to be obtained before files can be accessed on the server. A tree ID is also needed to access a directory mapped to a drive letter. For optimization, the server will return the same tree ID for both accesses. The problem occurs on the net use /d. The Redirector will send a tree disconnect request to the server. This request closes all files in the tree, even files opened with UNC names.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.