FIX: Message processing may slow or stop after you install BizTalk Server 2004 Service Pack 1 (898106)

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

CAUSE

BizTalk Server 2004 SP1 introduced FTP adapter throttling. FTP adapter throttling improves the response time of the FTP adapter and minimizes the use of system resources when you use the FTP adapter. This problem occurs because FTP adapter throttling causes remote FTP server connections to remain open on the remote FTP server.

FTP adapter throttling is enabled when you create or set the FtpMaxConcurrentConnections registry entry. This registry entry establishes the maximum number of send ports that the FTP adapter can use on a specified server at the same time. This setting does not necessarily limit the number of FTP connections to the remote FTP server. This setting only limits the number of send ports that can send a message to the remote FTP server at the same time. As soon as a connection to the remote FTP server is successfully established, the connection will remain connected until the send port is stopped or until the remote FTP server forcefully disconnects. This new behavior causes remote FTP server connections to remain open on the remote FTP server and to consume resources.

For more information about BizTalk Server 2004 SP1, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/c/8/ec89b0b8-393a-4daf-adee-6b405f192f22/ReadmeSP1.htm

RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

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 BizTalk 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.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have BizTalk Server 2004 SP1 installed on the computer.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

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
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------
   22-Apr-2005  20:57  3.0.6120.0  122,880  Microsoft.biztalk.coreadapter.dll

MORE INFORMATION

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

For this hotfix to fix the issue addressed in the Symptoms section, you must add the new FTPReuseConnection registry entry after you apply this hotfix. The FTPReuseConnection registry entry closes the FTP client connection when the FTP adapter has completed the send.

Setting this registry entry can cause a decrease in performance because the change causes the FTP send adapter to open the connection and to close the connection for every message that is sent. This registry entry should only be used when the destination URL frequently changes.

To add this registry entry, follow these steps:

Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BTSSvc{GUID}
Note In this registry subkey, GUID is a placeholder for the GUID of the host instance.
On the Edit menu, click New, and then click DWORD Value.
Type FtpReuseConnection, and then press ENTER.

Note By default, a value of 0 turns off FTP connection reuse.
On the File menu, click Exit.

For more information about the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates